Mr. Jones was a self-made man. He was a successful business owner, a loving husband, and a proud father of three sons who had families of their own. Through decades of hard work, he had built a successful business and eventually sold it for $3 million. After the sale, Mr. Jones paid approximately $450,000 in…
Read more
You’ve probably heard of the 80/20 Rule, also known as the Pareto Principle. It’s often used in business, health, finance, and productivity, suggesting that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. Whether or not the original principle applies to every area of life is up for debate. In fact, its origins had…
Read more
So, you’ve finally reached retirement—congratulations! But before you pop the champagne and splurge on a sports car or exotic vacation, take a deep breath. Retirement isn’t just a long vacation—it’s a whole new phase of life that needs a smart game plan. Here are five of the biggest pitfalls new retirees stumble into—and how you…
Read more
Everyone wants to be successful—but ask ten people to define success, and you’ll probably get ten different answers. Recently, we attended a leadership forum with some of the most accomplished professionals in our industry. Surprisingly, the conversation wasn’t about investments, business growth, or financial strategies. Instead, for nearly two hours, the group wrestled with one…
Read more
Remarriage often represents a fresh start — a second chance at love, partnership, and building a future together. But unlike first marriages, remarriages usually come with financial history attached. Assets, debts, spending habits, children, support obligations, retirement accounts, and even emotional baggage around money can all become part of the relationship. The reality is that…
Read more
Stress has a sneaky way of multiplying itself. You worry about work, money, family, or the future… then you start stressing about how stressed you are. It’s exhausting. Since it’s Mother’s Day season, maybe it’s worth asking: what would your mom say about all this? “Slow down.” “Take it down a notch.” “You don’t NEED…
Read more
“May you live in interesting times.” It sounds like a blessing—but it’s often said to be a curse. Because “interesting” rarely means peaceful. And let’s be honest—we’re living in some very interesting times. Turn on the news or scroll your phone and you’ll see it everywhere: global conflict, rapid advances in artificial intelligence, political tension,…
Read more
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,…
Read more
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…
Read more
Most people don’t even know how to answer that question, much less feel confident enough to answer with a resounding “yes.” The truth is that most assets are naturally not ‘asset protected.’ This means that unless you have done some planning and maneuvering specifically aimed at asset protection, well… These are the most common issues…
Read more
Securities offered through Calton & Associates, Inc. member FINRA and SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. SEC registration does not imply a certain level of skill or ability. Investment advisory services offered through Smart Money Group, LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Smart Money Group, LLC and Kennedy Financial Services are not owned or controlled by Calton & Associates, Inc.