What do you want your family’s holidays to look like after you’re gone? Most people answer that question without hesitation. “I want my kids to still gather around the table.” “I want them to enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas together.” “I don’t ever want money to come between them.” Those are wonderful goals. But here’s the…
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After decades of paying bills on time, managing debt responsibly, and building excellent credit, retirement may feel like the finish line. The mortgage is paid off, the kids are grown, and you may finally have enough savings to pay cash for most of what you need. So, does your credit score still matter? Absolutely. Many…
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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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Ah. New Years’ Resolutions. Everyone fills their list with lofty and hefty goals… often times, too many hefty goals. The end result is complete burnout before the month of January even ends. Did you know that the second Friday in January is actually called “Quitters Day”?! According to Inc.com, a whopping 91% of us won’t…
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The irony of stress is realizing it isn’t good for you, then stressing about being stressed. Keeping with the theme of Mother’s Day this week, ask yourself…what advice would your mom offer you? …Hold your horses. …Take it down a notch. …What part of ‘no’ don’t you understand? …Shut the door! Who do you thing…
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Money is tight for many families today. Just a couple of years ago, most Americans felt pretty good. We had higher than ever real wages, the government was pumping money into the economy, and prices were cheap. Today these are mere memories: Families are being squeezed by both inflation and the government pulling money out…
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It may sound a bit obvious, but I want to pose a question: How would that statement end if you were speaking to: …your children? …your grandchildren? …your successor? …your apprentice? …your co-workers? My bet is that those words come fairly quickly and easily for many, if not all, of those as you considered on…
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Actually, that was in the month of November. We couldn’t quite squeeze it into the Life Planning 101 podcast schedule, but that doesn’t mean it is any less important. We have a pandemic in this nation and for once, I am not talking about COVID. This Pandemic is the escalating need for long-term healthcare and…
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‘Tis the time of year to be thankful, but let’s face it, that isn’t always easy. Our nation – and the entire world actually – has had a pretty rough go of things over the past few years. COVID uprooted and changed our lives almost overnight. Many of us lost loved ones, friends, and neighbors.…
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$1 million is enough…This might sound like it is, but most of the time it really isn’t enough. Life insurance needs are calculated in various ways, but experience has taught us that most individuals want their spouse to be taken care of for the rest of his/her life if death were to occur. Moreover, they…
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