Why I Became a Financial Planner
My path to becoming a financial planner is boring compared to many others. This isn’t my second or third career like it is for many others. I know financial planners who started as musicians, served in the military, and worked in sales before transitioning to this wonderful career. My story involves a family member helping […]
What To Do When Your Loved One Dies + Checklist
When someone dies, they often leave behind a mess that needs to be sorted through. There is a web of personal belongings, bills, and financial accounts that need to be handled. You may be the widow, executor, a family member, or a friend that is tasked with picking up the pieces. After the death of […]
5 Reasons Why Stock Market Forecasts are Useless
Stock market forecasts are useless. Despite the amount of money, time, and energy that is spent each year by Wall Street economists, traders, and CEOs on stock market predictions, they are pointless. They provide no value other than to make us feel good by providing a narrative that helps us make sense of situations. Stock […]
5 Smart Ways to Invest for Your Grandchildren
You want to invest for your grandchildren’s future and financial success, but how? Helping out your grandchildren is an act of kindness. Before you give them cash or open an account for them, it’s important to understand how that might affect your future, as well as your grandchildren’s. Opening one type of account instead of […]
Charitable Giving Statistics in 2025
One of the most common questions I receive is, “How much should I be giving?” As with most questions, the answer is “it depends”, but something I’ve found helpful over the years is to be able to point to charitable giving statistics to help with the decision. People like points of comparison. Let’s dive into […]
How to Survive a Bear Market
The stock market is down, and it feels awful – truly awful. You’ve watched a 20% decline in stocks, and may be wondering, “what should I do now that I am in a bear market?” You are watching your hard earned money fall in value and depending on what is going on in the world, […]
Cybersecurity Statistics in 2025 and Tips to Protect Yourself Online
Protecting yourself online has never been more important. With more of your personal information online and cybersecurity attacks on the rise, it’s important to understand what cybersecurity risks exist and how you can protect yourself online. It’s estimated that cybercrime will cause $10.5 trillion worth of damage annually. Even more startling, an FBI agent who […]
Widow Brain: What To Expect After Your Spouse Dies & 9 Ideas to Help
Losing a spouse and becoming a widow is a life changing and emotional experience. Emotions come and go: anger, fear, sadness, grief, loneliness, pain, shock, guilt, worry, and more. Brain fog, or “widow brain” can appear, causing even more frustration. Let me begin by saying everyone experiences grief differently. Widow brain affects people differently. There […]
I Bonds: What You Need to Know
Who would have thought a government bond would be one of the most talked about investments in 2022? Now, how do I bonds look in 2024? When the annual inflation rate was 8.5% in March 2022, investors were wondering how best to keep up with inflation. The answer? Many were turning to I bonds. Let’s look […]
Capital Gains vs. Ordinary Income – The Differences + 3 Tax Planning Strategies
Capital gains vs. ordinary income – do you know the difference in how they are taxed? If you are like many people, you may be wondering if recognizing capital gains can affect your ordinary income taxes or vice versa. Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase “long-term capital gains are stacked on top of ordinary income”, but […]