Financial Planning Blog

If you’re like most people, you don’t think about risks that could affect your current income, much less retirement plan risks. While having an emergency fund available for things like job loss is highly recommended, few of...

When you hear the term money action plan, what does it make you think? Hopefully, it conjures thoughts of executing a plan. In our busy lives, we often have more time to think about a plan, than time to execute a plan. What’s your money...

        Often when I tell people that I am a certified financial planner, their response is: I know what to do. I know what certified is. I know, but I can’t afford one. I find each of these responses interesting when it doesn’t...

The phrase money independence may appear elusive to you. Why is that so? Do you envision a number that seems too far out of reach? Have you calculated a number? If you’re like many I talked to, they are too...

Most people that I talk to don’t have a spending plan and feel financial independence is a pipe dream. True financial independence means having enough wealth to live on without working. For you it may mean living a certain lifestyle. However, most of the people...

              Do you have a spending plan based on maintaining your lifestyle? How long can you sustain your current lifestyle? Have you stopped to envision what retirement lifestyle you want to enjoy? Is it visiting grandchildren,...

                           Saving for college costs is important, but there is more to college planning than just savings strategies. Here’s some actionable information that may help you significantly reduce your family’s out-of-pocket college...

The term financial planning gets thrown around casually. The terms financial advisor are often used interchangeably. Some financial planners deliver what I would call an assessment that does not have to be in your best interest a suitability assessment, rather than a best interest assessment....

Financial advice is often camouflaged. Would you have your electrician design and build your house if they charged no additional fee? At least none that you could see? While they may be a great electrician, what are their credentials for the other two functions? What...

I recently met a couple who had a strategy for their retirement investments, but no strategy for claiming Social Security. Using advanced software, I projected they would potentially increase their lifetime income sufficiently by using the replay strategy highlighted in “Get What’s Yours, The...

                 In my experience, most people focus on their children’s college goals at the expense of their retirement. Depending on you, you’re paying for private school, cars, homes and food that supports them today. Heck, you’re enjoying having...

                                 Flexible spending accounts aka FSA are underutilized. If I ask, “How would you like to save, say for example, 20% off your healthcare and summer camp bill, you may think...