A while back, Money Magazine asked several successful people a simple question: What’s the smartest financial advice you’ve ever received? One response stood out. Richard Branson, billionaire founder of the Virgin Group, admitted that early in his career he simply didn’t know much about finance—and the best thing he learned was to stay humble about…
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If you’ve felt the squeeze lately, you’re not alone. Just a few years ago, most Americans felt pretty confident. Wages were strong. Money was flowing through the economy. Prices felt manageable. Bank accounts looked healthier than they had in a long time. Fast forward to today, and that season feels like a distant memory. Inflation…
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Ever notice how Presidents Day sales are suspiciously good? There’s a reason. January is when everyone buys exercise equipment for their New Year’s resolutions… and February is when a lot of it gets returned. Sound familiar? In one way or another, we’ve all been there. Big goals. Fresh motivation. Strong start. And then—life. I don’t…
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Fame and fortune don’t protect anyone from poor planning. When it comes to death and taxes, celebrities face the same rules the rest of us do—just on a much bigger, more public stage. Here are ten estate planning lessons straight from the headlines: #10 – No Will, No Control Both Aretha Franklin and Prince died…
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Today, nearly 63 million Americans — about one in four adults — serve as caregivers, and most provide that care unpaid. Many find themselves balancing the needs of their children while caring for aging parents, creating what is often called the “Sandwich Generation.” We call it the Responsibility Club — and membership can be overwhelming.…
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A fellow advisor once shared a story that has always stuck with me. He tried to help his grandmother with her financial and life planning, but she refused. “She insisted that John—her advisor and friend for decades—was doing just fine,” he said. “Besides, she couldn’t imagine taking business away from someone she trusted for so…
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Legendary basketball coach John Wooden once said, “It is what we learn after we know it all that counts.” That quote perfectly captures one of the greatest challenges in retirement planning. As human beings, we like to feel respected and knowledgeable—and we really don’t like being wrong. That feeling often grows stronger as we get…
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If you read any investing publications, you often see headlines like “Value Investing is Dead” or “Dividend Stocks—The Safe Way to Invest” or “3 Growth Stocks That Can’t Be Stopped.” A little-known secret is that all of these headlines are illusory. Just because something is or is not working in the investment world does not…
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As the end of the year approaches, it’s natural to reflect on our financial successes—and to look for smart ways to save on taxes. The clock is ticking, but here are five strategies you may want to consider before year-end. #1… Charitable Giving Opportunities Are Changing The rules around charitable giving are shifting next year.…
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At first glance, this might sound like a rhetorical question — of course things are different! But let me tell you, the answer isn’t as simple as you might think. When I first entered this business back in 2006, retirement planning looked very different. We built every plan by hand — I’m talking budgets, calculators,…
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