Surprised by your tax return?
2018 was Year 1 of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law in 2017, so we are just now seeing the results for families as they begin to file their tax returns. Here are a few of the biggest factors we have seen in our financial planning clients being surprised by the effect […]
Paying for college soon?
I attended a webinar yesterday hosted by Joe Messinger, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, co-founder of Capstone College Partners. He and his company provide expert advice and train other advisors in helping their clients navigate college funding. Their mission is to end the student loan crisis one family at a time. We fully support his mission of […]
Are you on F.I.R.E.?
Have you noticed the significant uptick in the number of articles in the past few years about young people who save 60+% of their income, limit their expenses to the bare minimum and retire before age 40? The name for this movement is F.I.R.E.: Financial Independence, Retire Early. There are a couple of great takeaways […]
New Membership in NAPFA
We are proud to have joined the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA). This organization of fee-only financial planners requires an ethics oath and continuing education beyond what is required by the CFP® Board. Here is a summary from the “About NAPFA” page of the organization’s web site. The National Association of Personal Financial […]
Consider writing an ethical will
Over the holidays, consider writing an ethical will for those you love. If you are like me, this month will be busy for you. At my house, we are buying gifts, mailing holiday cards, preparing our home for guests, decorating, and grocery shopping. My wife, Kerry, and I are also busy keeping up with our […]
More money, less time?
I don’t know anyone who has more money than they know what to do with. I know those people exist. I do know plenty of people who have enough money to do what they want to do. That is our job—helping people figure out how to do the things that are most important to them […]
How to cut your budget while keeping your kids
Marriage and budgets are tough enough. Throw a few kids in the mix, and you may find yourself feeling like your money is slipping away. Kids come with a lot of needs and wants and no ability to produce income. It is a both a joy and a challenge to meet their needs and to […]
How to cut expenses while keeping your marriage (Part III)
You are on the budgeting home stretch! You have read Part I and Part II and completed those first steps. Before you continue reading, pat yourself on the back and give your partner a hug or a high five. You have come together to tackle your budget. That can be a source of stress for […]
