Life has changed. You went from being all on your own and only responsible for your own needs to being responsible for other people. Now, it’s all about giving the people you love the very best you can. You want to give them things you never had and allow them to experience things you only dreamed of. The problem is,…
Managing your finances can be a hard thing to do on your own, especially when you add in complex topics like stock options, retirement planning, etc. This is why many people choose to hire a financial advisor; to make the complex feel simple. So, you finally decide to hire an advisor. But then, you start your search and immediately feel…
78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Ever wondered why? As a society, we have become so focused on what we have instead of what we have saved. Material possessions are our sign of status these days. We feel obligated to buy every new thing to keep up, as if we would be seen as less without them, and before…
Have you ever caught yourself using “When …Then” statements when talking about your finances? If you have, you are not alone. It’s so easy to get caught in this trap. One thing I hear all the time when talking to people is phrases like “When my income goes up, I will start saving” or “When my kids are out of…
A few posts back, I wrote about what I consider to be some low hanging fruit for young professionals. As I read through responses, I came across a ton of questions that required more than a quick response. I decided the best way to help was to take that post to another level. This time I created an example with…
The question of life’s purpose is one that initially seems big, daunting, and even scary. Honestly, most people have never sat down and really thought through what their personal purpose is. If you haven’t, that’s okay. Typically, people just do what they are “supposed to do” and believe life should follow a predetermined pattern. You go to school, you get…
What would you say if someone asked you “What is your most valuable asset ?” You might answer something like “my house, my 401(k), my bank account.” While all of these are solid answers, I like to think about assets that are more than money. Think about it. Those other three answers are things that you can lose and get…
Getting started as a young professional is overwhelming. We all know it. In what feels like seconds, we went from only worrying about how to pay for $1 wells at our local dive bar to having to decide about benefits, paying student loans, building savings, 401(k)s, etc. How are we supposed to understand what to do with the limited resources…
Let me start by saying, there is not one perfect way to approach financial planning. Each plan is different, as they should be. Over the past few years, I have developed a core belief system which acts as the foundation of each unique financial plan. The ten beliefs below are principles I share with my clients, so they can understand…