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Thursday, May 18, 2023

Recently I was asked, "How much should I be involved in my aging parent's finances?" Well, it's not a complicated answer, but every set of parents is different, and a lot depends on your relationship.For example, some parents don't...

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

After a long successful career, many ask: Where did the time go?Throughout your career, you probably had to plan for the future…but why do so many find themselves uncertain as they enter retirement?Often our careers feel like a...

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Our oldest son is really into monster trucks.  It’s tons of fun to play with him and see the tricks he can do with those little diecast treasures – backflips, wheelies, and donuts are just a few stunts frequently on...

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Quick question for you – do you know how your assets and accounts will be distributed at your death?  OK, that’s heavy – I know.  But we know that for many, the legacy you leave behind for your heirs is...

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Life insurance is one of those “someday” things for many people – but in our opinion the cheapest time to buy it is probably right now. After all, you’ll never be younger than you are right now.  To find...

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Tuesday, January 31, 2023

I am a big fan of Health Savings Accounts, also called HSAs. So much so that my wife had to kindly ask me not to submit my application to update my license plate to read “HSA4EVR”. Now that might be a slight exaggeration,...

Thursday, January 12, 2023

We get a lot of questions about Social Security – and rightfully so!  Social Security income can be key to a successful retirement, and we are here to help you navigate social security rules and strategies.We are most...

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Congratulations – you survived 2022!  In a year characterized by uncooperative financial markets, geopolitical tensions, and a midterm election, we can all look forward to 2023 in hopes it will usher in more positivity than...

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

Have you ever wondered if a Roth 401(k) could be right for you? An increasingly common 401(k) feature in recent years has been the option for Roth 401(k) contributions. A Roth 401(k) has some of the same characteristics of its close...

Monday, December 5, 2022

As we approach the end of another year, it’s a good idea to review your tax-advantaged savings and be sure you’re maximizing all opportunities for which you are eligible. Additionally, there have been quite a few changes to...

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

If you’re nearing this major milestone, it’s likely that you’ve spent some time dreaming of the days of no alarm clocks, no commute, and no punching the clock, but how can you be sure you’re really ready?There...

Friday, November 4, 2022

Have you ever remodeled part of your home?  Or maybe you’ve even built a home?  Even if you’ve just watched a bunch of HGTV, you understand the importance of a general contractor.  They are the quarterback of...

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

What is open enrollment? The time period each year when you’re allowed to start, stop, or change your health insurance plan.There are two important open enrollment categories of which we would like to...

Thursday, September 22, 2022

What is the FAFSA®?The FAFSA® is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and is required as part of the process for applying for student loans, grants, and work study.Many schools hand out aid or grants as they receive...

Thursday, August 25, 2022

When it comes to retirement, one of the most common questions we hear is “how do I get income?” You’ve saved and accumulated, so how do we now transition your investment accounts into income. Well, there are many...

Thursday, June 16, 2022

An increasingly common 401(k) feature in recent years has been the option for Roth 401(k) contributions within this popular workplace retirement plan. A Roth 401(k) has many of the same characteristics of its close relative - the Roth...

Friday, May 13, 2022

Lifestyle creep, also called lifestyle inflation, is a financial planning term, and according to BusinessDictionary means “an improvement in the standard of living of people to the extent that luxury goods turn into necessary...

Thursday, April 28, 2022

A year ago, I wrote the following in our quarterly newsletter: “We are seeing higher costs in almost everything we do, from prices to autos, lumber, metals, fuel, food, clothing, appliances, home goods, etc. Milk seems to be the...

Thursday, March 31, 2022

Thursday, February 17, 2022

February is one of my favorite months of the year. Two of my favorite people, my mom and sister, celebrate their birthdays this month, we get Super Bowl Sunday, and best of all, we enjoy a day that’s all about LOVE. Love comes in...

Friday, December 17, 2021

With interest rates so incredibly low we are often asked “How can I make more off my cash savings?” One solution might be to consider I-Bonds offered via the U.S. Treasury Department that are backed by the U.S. government....

Thursday, August 26, 2021

Parenthood is a funny thing. Regardless of how much you plan, visualize, and anticipate life with a newborn, nothing can truly prepare you for the experience of holding your child for the first time… or for the challenge of...

Thursday, June 24, 2021

So, part I of Dream Planning was the easy part. Think about what you want to do, save the money, and decide on the timing. But let me tell you, for a dream to become the ultimate experience it takes a LOT of RESEARCH, EDUCATION and...

Thursday, June 17, 2021

Before you have free time to do what you REALLY love, it is best to make a plan so when that time comes, you have everything in place to enjoy your dreams! But for many of us, life gets in the way of planning for and making such...

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

For many, Social Security is core to their retirement plan. The fixed stream of payments provided by Social Security can be a key element in helping cover expenses during retirement. One question we hear frequently is “When...

Friday, May 28, 2021

Spring is a time of excitement and celebrations – Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Wedding Season, and Graduation. As many teens celebrate the culmination of their high school careers, we’d like to address...

Thursday, May 20, 2021

I find myself often talking or writing about the many powerful benefits of a Health Savings Account (HSA). Here is a quick refresher on some of those benefits: Contributions are tax deductible. Any growth inside of the account is tax...

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

As an advocate for the great outdoors and someone that loves to explore nature’s wonders, I want to celebrate the 52nd Anniversary of Earth Day by highlighting a few things I’ve recently learned and personally witnessed....

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

It’s that time of year – tax season – and completing taxes for 2020 is likely to be complex and confusing for many Americans. For example, did you know: Unemployment benefits are taxable.1 Stimulus relief checks are...

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

I’ve read the book The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko multiple times and it never seems to get old. It’s loaded with very factual, qualitative statistics on millionaires in the United States...

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Once in a very great while, there comes a year in the economy and the markets that may serve as a tutorial—in effect, a master class in the principles of successful long-term, goal-focused investing. 2020 was just such a year. On...

Monday, December 28, 2020

No matter what stage of your career you are in, I’m sure the thought of retirement has crossed your mind a time or two. The retirement party, the vacations, sleeping in, spending time on your golf game – you’ve worked...

Friday, November 6, 2020

And just like that, 2020 is (finally) coming to a close. As you get your financial house in-order and work through year-end planning, you may want to consider a Roth IRA conversion. Tax Planning is Key The primary consideration in a...

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Whether you leave an employer for a wonderful new opportunity or lose a position because of the pandemic, it’s easy to forget about the money you have saved in your retirement plan. Sometimes, retirement plan savings can stay in...

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

A few weeks ago, we distributed a link to our “Half-time Report” video where we touched on factors that could impact market performance for the remainder of 2020. If you missed that and would like to view our full...

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Choosing a financial advisor is a weighty decision. After all, you are entrusting an advisor with your future, hoping that they will help protect and grow what you have worked so hard to accumulate over the years, so you can realize...

Friday, May 1, 2020

As we continue to navigate the changes of the COVID-19 situation, we have recently written about the various changes the new CARES Act brought about for retirement accounts and Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). I wanted to touch...

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Other Considerations for Retirement Accounts Lauren initially wrote about the CARES Act, in this BLOG which focused primarily on a change brought about in this new law that impacts many of our clients – the waiving of Required...

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

I originally drafted this blog back in early February with the intention of posting it just prior to the normal tax deadline. Rereading it now I’ve had to make some edits, but fortunately much financial advice is timeless....

Friday, April 3, 2020

I’m sure by now that most of you aware of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was signed into law last Friday. This emergency aid includes provisions such as support for small businesses, expanded...

Thursday, March 19, 2020

As you might expect, we are getting calls and emails from many clients who are all reacting differently to what is happening in the world today. A number are feeling very uncomfortable with all the news that is circulating, and the...