Believe it or not, the holidays are right around the corner. We all know how the end of every year tends to go – in a frenzied sprint, leaving most non-holiday related tasks shelved until January. How about getting your personal finances buttoned up now, before all the hustle and bustle? Then you can Read More
Posts Categorized: Financial Planning
What financial freedom looks like (and how to achieve it)
The notion of financial freedom has evolved quite a bit recently. Wealth accumulation alone no longer dictates whether someone is successful. Instead, it has become less about the amount of money in your bank account and more about your purpose-driven financial lifestyle. Projecting an appearance of wealth is far less important to many Americans. Utilizing Read More
Early retirement dreams: Five expenses you may be overlooking
The pandemic has caused us all to reevaluate our life trajectories. The desire for flexibility to pursue passions and interests outside of employment has increased dramatically. Many people have added early retirement to their list of financial aspirations. If you are dreaming of leaving the workforce early, it is an absolute must to map out Read More
Renting vs. homeowning: The right financial move for me?
Homeownership has long been viewed as a major component of the American Dream, complete with the image of a quaint house, white picket fence and a friendly neighborhood. Renting tends to play second fiddle in our society, being seen as a temporary housing solution while people save for a down payment or otherwise financially prepare Read More
Carpe diem: Keeping our celebratory spending urges in check
After more than a year of pandemic chaos, Americans are well on their way to getting back out into the world. Letting loose, seeing old friends, taking big trips, living it up. All those long months of worry have left us with a carpe diem attitude toward life in general. Attempting to make up for Read More
Wants and needs: How pandemic life has taught us what matters
Living in a pandemic has highlighted a stark reality. Financial stability is integral to our overall wellness. Money impacts our personal relationships, stress levels, and ability to interact with the rest of the world. When COVID-19 hit, our days were turned upside down. Those creature comforts we often took for granted – visiting friends and Read More
Nest egg growing: When your money is needed for everything else
When I talk with millennials about growing a retirement nest egg, their eyes tend to glaze over. It is the ultimate “I’ll worry about that later” topic. Believe me, I get it. Most of us cannot even imagine the day when we hang it up. There are so many shorter-term goals our generation is working Read More
Unpacking the refi: 5 common reasons why homeowners refinance
“Refinance – yes, no, maybe”? With interest rates at historic lows, I field this question a lot. My response is always the same: “Well, it depends”. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the refi question. A multitude of factors are at play here: What are you trying to accomplish? What are the details of your Read More
Goodbye 2020: Financial thoughts for the New Year
We have almost made it. 2020 has certainly been tough for our community, our country, and our world. A post-pandemic future appears to be somewhere on the horizon. We still have a long way to go to get there. For now, with a new year right around the corner, I have a few thoughts to Read More
Longevity and the American retirement savings gap
It is the refrain heard your entire adult life: Save, save, save for retirement! And for good reason. It takes most people their entire career to build up a big enough nest egg to live off of after exiting the workforce. With Americans living much longer and still retiring at about the same age as Read More