Retirement Happiness
Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance
What are the primary drivers of a happy retirement and overall wellness?
Chart of the Month – May 2024
While cash may offer stability and security in the short term, the DFA Returns Web chart from 1926 through February 2024 suggests that the growth potential in stocks offers a higher rewarding investment opportunity in the long run.
Five Ideas for Charitable Tax Savings
Five ideas for integrating your finances and your philanthropy.
Rates, Prices and Inventory: The Entire Housing Market Explained in About Two Minutes
Category: Financial Planning
The unprecedented relationship between a breakneck rise in home prices, a tripling in interest rates and historically low inventory levels have painted a landscape in housing that’s never been seen before in history. It’s a cautionary tale for some, and a once-in-a-generation opportunity for others, depending on your perspective. Let’s dive in.
Embracing Uncertainty
Educated optimism is an antidote for anxious uncertainty, and it can be of great help in enabling investors to embrace the uncertainty that is with us all the time.
Leave the Gift of Giving as part of your Estate Plan
Category: Financial Planning » Charitable Giving
One of the best strategies for charitable giving is to open and fund a Donor Advised Fund (DAF).
Passing on the Spirit of Generosity in a Tax Smart Manner
Category: Financial Planning » Charitable Giving
If you are giving to charities now or plan to in the future, you may possess the “Spirit of Generosity.” How do you pass that “Spirit of Generosity” on to your children and/or grandchildren?
The Promise of Small Beginnings
Category: Financial Planning » Charitable Giving
Spring and it's emerging signs of life are great reminders of how many things in our lives start small. But with a little attention year after year, small things can grow to become meaningful and enjoyable contributions to our lives and the lives of others.
What I Learned On The Road To The House on the Lake
Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance
In my life, I’ve always been a goal setter. You may be a goal setter, too. If you’re like me, you set goals on an annual basis. It may be hard to get going, but being purposeful about taking those first steps will produce results and help propel you from one success to the next. So where do you start?
Past Performance is Not Indicative of Future Results
Category: Foster Group
“Past performance is not indicative of future results.” Most people think of investing when they hear or read the sentence above, the ultimate statement of caution. What do you think of this statement when it comes to baseball?
Chart of the Month – Nov 2023
How Do Treasuries Lose Money? US Treasury bonds are generally regarded as safe. Sometimes they’re referred to as “risk-free” assets. This is a bit of a misnomer.
Psychology and Wealth
Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance
The different ways people react to and treat wealth and finances is fascinating. Although not everyone can be put in a box, there are five main personality types when it comes to psychology and wealth: Neuroticism/Emotional Stability, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Extraversion, and Openness.
War in Israel: Market Meltdown?
Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
Does war in Israel mean a big market meltdown? It’s hard to escape the war news. One way to think about the future is by looking at the past for similar circumstances.
Time to Revisit Your Cash Reserve Fund
Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow
Nearly four out of ten Americans lack enough money to cover an unexpected $400 expense? The statistics on this have remained consistent over the years. One of the first steps in building a strong financial foundation is creating an emergency fund. The idea is to prepare for the unexpected expenses of life.
The IRS Punted on 2023
Category: Financial Planning
The IRS is allowing some people to skip their Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from inherited IRAs. If you inherited an IRA in 2020 or later, you may not need to make a distribution this year. Read for some background.
Chart of the Month – Oct 2023
Have you ever said to yourself “If I would have just bought that stock, I would be set!” Or “How did I not see this coming? I was watching this stock years ago!” Or maybe “I should have never sold that stock!”
Money Silence Hurts Families – Three Tips to Break the Cycle
Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance
If you think talking about money with your spouse, parents, or children is difficult, you are not alone. Here are three tips to get started on a healthier money talk journey with your loved ones.
Celebrating Saying Goodbye Day
In our family, we have a tradition in which, the night before our kids’ birthdays, we pause for a moment to recap the last year by reminiscing about their successes and failures. It dawned on me that these are the same feelings investors experience and learn from on their financial journeys.
The Three To-Do’s in the Fourth Quarter
Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow
The beginning of the fourth quarter is a great time to check-in on your finances and make sure you consider planning opportunities before the end of the calendar year. Read this blog to see my top three priorities when it comes to fourth quarter planning.
Do Headlines Cause You to Take Action?
Takeaways from a smattering of the headlines across a wide range of news sources in 2022 and early 2023.
A “Real” Estate – Part One
Category: Foster Group
As a financial advisor for the past 28 years, I’ve been asked about real estate hundreds of times. Every type of real estate carries pros and cons, risks and rewards.