Part 2: I’m in a Life Transition – Now What?
Years go by with casual spending and saving until one day a major life event materializes. It could be a happy moment such as a marriage, retirement or an additional child. A life event could also be a sorrow-filled experience of a death, a divorce or a loss of a job. Regardless of the event, […]
Part 1: A Coach Can Take You Farther!
No matter how good a swimmer Michael Phelps was, he would have never reached his level of success without a patient and willing coach like Bob Bowman. The coach-athlete interaction, which includes accountability, camaraderie and hard work, pays off in all aspect of sports. No one would question that Syracuse University’s basketball success was in […]
Why Do I Need a Financial Advisor?
This is a very common question, and rightly so. In this series of blog posts, we will highlight four distinct areas where financial advisors add true value to clients. After reading, hopefully you will be able to evaluate and recommend the benefits of a financial advisor with a new light. Part 1: A Coach Can […]
The Questions You Should Be Asking
The NY Times blog author Carl Richards hits the nail on the head when he highlights how emotions are once again taking over media and investor behavior as the stock market presses higher and higher. The question being asked is “Should we buy or should we sell?” as many rush into the market at its recent […]
What Grade Does Your Retirement Account Get?
Schools and parents have always taught students to strive for A’s and B’s. In fact, it would be hard to do well in school without using grades as goals or milestones. Unfortunately after school, grades fall off the radar. By translating retirement savings into something as simple as a letter grade, retirement preparation can be […]
Diversify your 401(k)
If you currently work for a publicly traded company, there is a good chance that you own some of their stock in your 401(k). You may even have incentives from the company to own more of it. In fact, some companies make their matches or profit sharing contributions in their own stock which just increases […]
Top Ten Money Excuses
Human beings have an astounding facility for self-deception when it comes to our own money. We tend to rationalize our own fears. So instead of just recognizing how we feel and reflecting on the thoughts that creates, we cut out the middle man and construct the façade of a logical-sounding argument over a vague feeling. These arguments […]
Market Commentary October 2012
The equity markets finished a very strong quarter in September, erasing the losses of the second quarter, and more, pushing returns solidly into double-digit territory for the year. If the S&P 500 could hold its 16% gain through the next quarter, it would be the third best annual result of the past decade, and above […]
Maximizing Social Security benefits requires financial planning
Social Security planning has become an increasingly complex area of financial planning. As more couples reach retirement age, it’s important to review all the scenarios to maximize your hard earned Social Security benefits. Mary Beth Franklin, editor of Investment News, explains how “with the right elections, married couples can dramatically up their (Social Security) payouts.” […]
Is our retirement system broken?
Professor Teresa Ghilarducci has an opinion piece in the NY Times this week lambasting our evolving approach to retirement. She has some good points. Our Ridiculous Approach to Retirement By TERESA GHILARDUCCI Published: July 21, 2012