Posts Tagged ‘personal finance’
Buying A Home – Part II
There’s no doubt about it–owning a home is an exciting prospect. After all, you’ve always dreamed of having a place that you could truly call your own. But buying a home can be stressful, especially when you’re buying one for the first time. Fortunately, knowing what to expect can make it a lot easier. HOW…
Read MoreBuying A Home — Part I
WHAT IS IT? Finding the right home to buy can be a challenging prospect, but knowing what to expect can make the process easier. You can (1) buy through agents representing the seller and/or use a buyer’s broker, (2) buy directly from an owner, or (3) shop the auctions and foreclosure sales. Once you find…
Read MoreWhy A Comprehensive Financial Plan Should Include A Life Coach
One of the most important roles of a financial advisor is helping clients prepare for retirement. Advisors are trained to evaluate a client’s economic situation and develop a strategic plan to best position them to accomplish their goals. However, finances are only one piece of the puzzle. Oftentimes, an investor may financially have the ability…
Read MoreHaving the ‘Money Talk’
Adult children find it difficult to have the ‘money talk’ with aging parents because they feel it is not their place. However, it is extremely important to have this conversation in order to protect family assets, eliminate unnecessary administrative difficulties and minimize potential disputes with family members before it is too late. In our experience,…
Read MoreDon’t Let Your Power Of Attorney Become Powerless
One of the cornerstones of a solid financial plan is properly configured estate planning documentation—especially your medical and financial powers of attorney (POA). POAs give you the ability to legally authorize an individual to handle your affairs and make healthcare decisions in the event you become incapacitated and are unable to make them on your…
Read MoreIt’s Never Too Early to Plan for Retirement Income
In the world that today’s retirees live in, the probability is high that withdrawals from an investment portfolio will be an essential part of retirement cash flow. Pensions and Social Security are unlikely to be sufficient to meet the needs of most retirees. Unfortunately, there are many variables associated with portfolio withdrawals, and an understanding…
Read MoreMoney Surprises Do Not Make for Happy Marriages
In marriage, openness and honesty are the most important requirements for a sustained, happy and healthy long-term relationship. Secrecy and mystification are not good for the union and can lead to disaster, especially where finances are concerned. In 35 years of helping people with money, I have seen many things but one of the…
Read MoreWith Money, Be Tough on Adult Children
One of the things I have learned as a financial planner about parents and children is that the natural tendency for parents to help kids out financially may not always be the best course of action. Although the urge to help when your kids are in distress is almost irresistible, it should only be done…
Read MoreWith Volatility, Emotions Can Get in the Way
When we distill out all of the noise in the world of investment advice there remains an essential immutable truth: The presence of volatility in individual investments and portfolios is the reason most people don’t get the investment outcome they would like. Here’s why: Volatility in the investment lexicon means variance in returns above and…
Read MoreEstate Planning is Not Just About Death and Taxes
The primary purpose of estate planning is not the avoidance of taxes at death. Making sure that heirs and executors don’t face unnecessary and expensive administrative burdens when you die is our primary goal when consulting with clients on estate issues. Many investors we meet fail to recognize the importance of this, and their estate…
Read More