Financial Advisor Blog
Topics include sudden wealth, retirement planning, personal and business finance.
The latest contribution to the CFP Board’s LetsMakeAPlan.org blog offers insights into the lessons we can learn from our 2017 tax return. While we have all our tax forms and documents handy, this is the perfect time to analyze last year’s finances and prepare for the big changes that will occur in the years to…
After the winds end and the waters recede, people affected by the two monster hurricanes in the southern United States will need to move fast, keep records and become their own advocates if they are to recover financially. Many people whose property has been damaged by a flood learn quickly that standard homeowners’ policies cover…
If you’ve been thinking that not much is happening in the market lately, you’re right. Through the first seven months of the year, none of three major stock market indexes has fallen by more than 5 percent. And one gauge of market movement, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), which measures investors’ expectation of the ups…
If you have won the lottery and want to know if you should take the lump-sum or the annuity (or even if you didn’t win and just want to dream a little), take the online Lump Sum vs. Annuity Quiz and see for yourself!
Summer often brings transitions. In between school years, families relocate, or consider looking for a different house. First-time buyers hit the streets, too. If you’re among those dipping your toe in the market, you might be noticing how frustrating it is: There’s a housing shortage. Home prices have increased by 40% in the last four…
If you’ve been lucky enough to receive an inheritance, you might be tempted to start spending. After all, a few small indulgences couldn’t hurt, right? Take a deep breath and slow down. Two of the most common inheritance mistakes we see are that people move too fast and spend or give too much. Instead, develop…
Robert was recently featured on Fit Small Business, offering expert advice on successfully setting the rules for a fair office lottery pool. Read the full article here: 21 Innovative Ideas for Fun Office Pools
If only money came with instructions. If it did, the route toward wealth would be clear and direct. Unfortunately, many people have inadequate financial knowledge, and for them, the path is more obscure. Are most people clueless about financial matters? That depends on what gauge you want to use to measure financial knowledge. The U.S.…
Some spouses share everything with each other – including the smallest details of their personal finances. Other spouses decide to keep some individual financial decisions and details to themselves, and their relationship is just fine. Just as a marriage requires understanding, respect, and compromise, so does the financial life of a married couple. If you…
Living trusts are created with a clearly defined objective: to avoid probate. Unfortunately, misconceptions about living trusts have spread to the point where people think they can accomplish much more than they can. If you fear probate, consider a revocable living trust. If you worry about your will being contested or your heirs fighting over…