It’s a simple question—but for most people, it’s surprisingly hard to answer with confidence. The reality is this: assets are not automatically protected. Without intentional planning, what you’ve worked so hard to build could be exposed to unnecessary risk. The good news? Many of the most common gaps are fixable—once you know where to look.…
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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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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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(Probably Not—And Here’s Why) It’s a question most people avoid asking: Do I need life insurance—or more of it? The truth? Nearly 102 million Americans say they’re either uninsured or underinsured. That’s 42% of the country!1 And since that number is based on people self-reporting, the real figure is likely even higher. But here’s the…
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I love starting my day with a little time in the Word, and recently I was listening to a sermon that hit me right between the eyes. The pastor asked a simple but powerful question: Where are you getting your advice? It made me pause. Every day, we let different voices shape our thoughts and…
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Graduation caps have flown, and suddenly, it hits you: adulthood is here—whether you’re paying your own bills or not. Sure, you probably already know you can vote, join the military, and open a bank account at 18. But there are crucial things about turning 18 that don’t get talked about enough—and they can have a…
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Do you really know? Your first response may be, “everything” or “a lot of things.” But is that really the heart of the matter? Take Stan. Stan is a successful business owner living in a small town, raising two wonderful kids with his wife. Owning a business is “a lot.” Most business owners wear multiple…
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While looking for some entertaining statistics on how much exercise equipment is bought in January, I found out why Presidents Day sales are so good. It falls in line with all the returns made on the New Years Resolution items from January. In one way or another this rings true for all of us. I…
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Too often money is looked and considered for just what it is: money. A financial plan focuses on numbers, targets, returns, risk, etc., with a lot of hype placed on the latest and greatest investments, and returns on your money. After all, almost everyone wants their money to grow and they want to protect it,…
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This is certainly a loaded question… and it’s meant to be. You might immediately think of the people you treasure, the things you love to do, the places you want to see, or the memories you have yet to make. There’s nothing wrong with a little mental wandering when you consider the question, but you…
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