You are invincible, right? We all like to think we are… at least until we aren’t. Did you know twenty percent of men die before retirement age? Twenty percent! That’s two in ten men!1. The odds in Vegas can be worse than that and thousands of people still show up to gamble every day. So…
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A fellow advisor once told me a story about trying to help his grandmother with her life planning. “She refused,” he said. “She insisted that John, who had been her advisor and friend for years, was doing just fine for her. Besides, she couldn’t take away the business from a lifelong friend.” He continued by…
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How much house can I afford? How much car can I afford? How much horse trailer can I afford? Can I afford a second home? Can I afford a recreational vehicle? I think most of us ask ourselves this at one time or another in our lives, or at least we should. Honestly though, I…
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Regulations often change and it’s no different with the regulations involving retirement accounts like IRAs, 401(k)s, and 403(b)s among others. Staying up to date on how these changes will affect your retirement accounts and your financial planning in general is an important aspect of maintaining your financial wellness. It may be a good idea to…
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It is inevitable. Change is coming for 2021 and beyond. The problem is no one knows for sure exactly what that change will be. There are several things we have a good hunch will happen, and we will discuss a few key notes. No matter, the big question is how do you plan around a…
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We’ve all heard the old adage, “Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.” These words speak truly great advice and have led to many a success. However, it has led many others to scratch their heads and wonder, “So, what baskets should I use? And how many are we talking about?” In this…
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Today’s 70 is yesterday’s 50. Today’s 70-year-olds are performing mentally and even physically the way 50-year-olds did in the past. Most of us will live 20-30 years longer than our grandparents and parents; thus, retirement will be 20 to 30 years longer than it was for generations before us. It is no longer enough to…
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Money Magazine interviewed several successful individuals, asking them about the smartest financial advice they have ever received. Billionaire and founder of the Virgin Group, Richard Branson shared a story about his lack of knowledge in the financial realm and being humble about what you don’t know. Wow! Billionaire Richard Branson! Everyone else in the world…
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$400,000 and $3.5 Million A few weeks ago, we were working with a family that could have severe estate tax issues in the future. When this risk was first exposed, the immediate response was this: We have until 2026 before anything can be changed, right? Unfortunately, this is a misconception. The tax code can be…
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Is it healthy? Or…? John Hancock came up with a “healthy living” concept for their life insurance holders a few years ago. The healthier you live, the less your premiums will be, along with a few other perks – not the least of which is their effort provide ongoing information about everything that affects your…
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