Latest posts four columns

Estate planning is a topic often associated with older wealthy adults, but it’s a crucial task for individuals in their 40s and 50s. At this stage in life, you likely have more assets and responsibilities, making estate planning even more important. Let’s delve into why estate planning matters for Gen Xers and what key steps...

Lewis Howes is a name you may or may not have heard of before. He has a strong presence on Instagram, the social platform I use most frequently, with close to 3 million followers. I came across him on my “Search & Explore” feed. I googled his name and started reading about him. The more...

In my January 30th blog post, Lessons from the Old-Timers, I pointed out the historical trend in markets in the year after a bear market occurs. So far this year, stocks are confirming this historical correlation. Through August, the S&P 500 is up 18.7%. Overweight tech components in the index like Nvidia have delivered phenomenal...

It’s hard to believe that we are almost to the end of Summer. My year seems to be going especially fast as we just recently dropped my second kid off at college. As we dropped him off and got him set up in his apartment, I tried to think of all the things he would...

As we glide into the back half of 2023, the financial landscape will be evolving once again with the implementation of provisions from the SECURE 2.0 Act. Building on the foundation of the SECURE Act of 2019, this legislation aims to enhance retirement-savings opportunities and pave the way for more secure retirements. With 92 new...

Recently, I helped a client analyze upcoming changes to her retirement plan after a company merger and uncovered an obscure rule that was buried deep in the SECURE 2.0 Act. This little-known rule (Section 603) will have a significant impact on many employees over the age of 50 and force changes in how companies provide...

One of the greatest financial burdens American families face is that of college tuition. The average total cost of a 4-year, in-state public university can easily exceed $100,000 (which doesn’t include all the ancillary expenses such as books, housing etc.) This type of financial commitment is overwhelming to most parents, but many – if able...

As I’ve aged, it seems like life’s stresses have become more and more dominant in my life. To manage these, I’m continually trying to identify ways to lessen their burden. Vacations for me are a time to get away from the day-to-day requirements of job obligations and all of the things that we have filled...

Cat Stevens wrote a song about the perils of falling in love in 1967 titled, The First Cut Is The Deepest. A young soul artist named P. P. Arnold left her spot as an Ikette for the Ike and Tina Turner group to pick the song up. She released it later the same year. I...

In our journey to make informed decisions, it is crucial to understand the influence of biases. Biases, whether conscious or unconscious, shape our perceptions and lead to one-sided views based on personal experiences and societal influence. In my previous blog post, “The Hidden Influence: Navigating (Confirmation) Bias,” I explored how confirmation bias impacts our financial...

How much is enough? It’s a simple question that we can apply to almost every facet of life. How much time should we spend exercising each week or how much should we spend on the new car we’ve been eyeing? How much should your kids practice sports each week or study each night? And when it...

Over the last few years, I have met many people who use multiple financial advisors, rather than just one. As I ponder this, like I do most things, I think about the pros and cons of one decision versus another. Diversification is a term heard a lot in the investment world. Having a portfolio that...