Do You Know Your Investment Accounts?
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Millennials will be one of the first generations of Americans required to fund nearly 100% of our own retirement.
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Blog
The Basics of Stocks and Bonds
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Both of these investment types carry their own sets of advantages and disadvantages. These can depend on a myriad of things including an investor’s tolerance for risk, the market cycle, the financial strength of a company issuing the stock or bond, and even interest rates and inflation.
Read MoreOngoing Communication with Your Planner
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I began traveling in my early twenties and had no need for travel insurance. I thought, “Why add the extra expense since I am invincible?”
Read MoreQualified Charitable Distribution for Taxpayers Over 70 ½
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A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a direct transfer from your retirement account to a qualified charity. The benefit is that the distribution is not added to your taxable income.
Read MoreWhen is a Recession Declared a Recession?
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There have been a lot of discussions lately on whether or not we are headed for another recession. There has also been a lot of controversy over what defines a recession.
Read MoreConsulting an Expert or Hiring it Out
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I took a week off in May for a staycation. Of course, I had a list of things to do that week, with the biggest project being to tend to the craftsman-style columns on our front and back porches.
Read MoreWhat Should You Be Telling Your Financial Planner?
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Let’s face it, most of us have made a financial decision that we are not proud of. It happens to everyone. If you’re asking a financial planner for help, however, keeping secrets can prevent your planner from building an effective plan of action.
Read MoreExpanding Your Mortgage Vocabulary
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Not many of us have the good fortune of winning the lottery or making a salary large enough to pay cash for our homes. Chances are, if you’re ready to purchase your first home, you’re going to need a mortgage loan to pay for most of your purchase.
Read MoreFeeling Secure
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Like everyone, my personality, values, dreams, and hang-ups have been shaped by my childhood. For various reasons, I didn’t feel like I had much security in my life while growing up. I developed a strong sense that I had to fend for myself.
Read MoreQuarterly Estimated Tax Payments: Why, When, and How Much?
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As you know, we are in the thick of tax season, and I’m finding a lot of clients want to learn more about quarterly estimated tax payments. Perhaps the new tax laws changed their situation enough to warrant estimated tax payments, or perhaps they have experienced a life change, like retirement.
Read MoreDo You Know the Way to San Jose?
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When I hear the Dionne Warwick song “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” I am reminded of my early career as a Shipping Supervisor in Tennessee.
Read MoreDo Your Adult Children Have a Medical Advocate?
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It’s ski season and my family is heading out west for some fun in the snow. It always seems like there’s so much to pack (jackets, skis, poles, helmets, gloves, etc.), but there are two more items that I require my adult children to bring.
Read MoreDemystifying Diversification
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I recently attended a networking event and overheard another attendee say, “I have my investments with three different firms because I don’t want all my eggs in one basket.” I hear this and other common misconceptions of investment diversification because most investors know they should be diversified but they’re not really sure what that means.
Read MoreThe Road to Financial Security
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In my humble opinion, being financially secure is one of the most freeing feelings on the planet. But what does that really mean?
Read MorePet Insurance
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Furry members of the family can bring much love, happiness, and joy into a home. Unfortunately, they can also come with unexpected illnesses, injuries and accompanying veterinary medical bills.
Read MoreTime in the Market
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Here we are once more at the starting point of a fresh new year. We always begin with so much optimism… hoping and dreaming that this will be an awesome year.
Read MoreDon't Leave Your Loved Ones in a Puzzle
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Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I put blocks of sugar in my beehives. This common practice hives bees an additional source of food to get them through the winter. As I got into the first hive, I found my bees had already died. I was sad, but it had been my weakest hive, so I wasn’t entirely surprised.
Read MoreWhat It Means to Extend a Tax Return
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Filing an individual tax return extension is often misunderstood and sometimes abused. A federal tax extension is a form filed with the IRS to request additional time to file your income tax return.
Read MoreWhere Will the Market Be in 2019?
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Even with the dramatic market swings this year, it is hard to imagine we will end 2018 where we started. On December 31, 2017, the Dow closed at 24,719. As I write this article, the Dow is at 24,622. That is correct—it has been a flat performance year.
Read MoreTradition and Holiday Food
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My favorite part of the holidays is the food. It starts with a Thanksgiving feast and ends with a New Year’s Day brunch. For me, it’s no longer about one specific day. Instead, I reach out to friends and family the entire month to share a holiday meal.
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