I came across an article in Money Magazine online and thought you may be interested – an interview with University of Chicago professor Harold Pollack explaining his financial cheat sheet that went viral. Those of you who know me personally know I love this kind of stuff. Anything that boils down a broad concept into a nice […]
How to Control the Cost of Investing and Maximize Your Portfolio
One of the more frequent and important discussions we have with our clients concerns the cost of investing. Even a seemingly innocent one percent in unnecessary fees can crush your investments over time. Because we know this, managing the cost of investing is a key piece of the service we offer our clients. We believe […]
Are You Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft?
There is a new kind of thief out there, and instead of picking locks and smashing windows, he just uses the fact that you aren’t paying attention. When was the last time you looked at your credit report? I have to admit it had been a while since I looked at mine prior to last week. […]
Interest Rates Have Dropped a Full Half Percent in the Last Week
Time to refinance? Mortgage rates for new purchases and refinancing are below 4%! I wanted to pass along a quick update to let you know that mortgage interest rates have recently dropped. It could be a great time to buy a home or refinance your current mortgage. The Wall Street Journal offers more information on […]
When it Rains it Pours: Considering Umbrella Coverage
Umbrella liability coverage, like all insurance, is something you hope to never need. But when you do need it, it can be a life saver. It isn’t as well known as other types of insurance such as home and auto insurance, but it can be just as important. Our job as financial planners is to […]
Prioritizing Retirement vs. Education Saving
Financial planning is not about meeting every goal you have. Instead it’s about setting priorities to achieve the ones that are most important to you. Every financial decision requires a cost versus benefit analysis. Most people simply can’t afford to do EVERYTHING on their goal list. One of our jobs as financial planners is to […]
Saving for Retirement: Roth vs. Traditional IRAs
A question I get asked frequently is whether a client should invest in a Traditional IRA or Roth IRA. Unfortunately, this isn’t always an easy choice. Anyone who has spoken to me (at least about retirement accounts) knows that I am a big fan of Roth IRAs. But as much as I think Roth IRAs […]
Think You Don’t Need Disability Coverage? Time to Rethink.
As a working individual, especially one with a family depending on your income, one of your greatest assets is your ability to earn a paycheck. This asset is even more important as you consider that you have about a one in five chance of becoming disabled between the ages of 35 and 65. In fact, […]
Don’t Be Caught (dead) Without These Essential Estate Planning Documents
It’s no surprise that every financial planner suggests that clients have appropriate estate planning documents in place. But folks are often surprised that the suggestion applies to them. Many people don’t think they have sufficient assets to justify an “estate” plan. Some already have a will, never mind that it’s older than some of their (grown) […]
