Half of a Whole: When You Lose a Spouse
Whether it’s sudden and unexpected, the culmination of a lengthy illness or merely the result of old-age and the normal cycle of life, there’s nothing that can prepare you for losing your spouse.
DetailsJackie Goldstick, CFP®
When You Know Better …
“When you know better, you do better.” These words, famously spoken by Maya Angelou, suggest that the more knowledge we have, the better we can do for ourselves. If we know something is bad for us, we will avoid it, if we know something can enrich our lives, we will seek it out and as we learn more about the world around us, boundaries will continue to be stretched and advancements will continue to characterize our society. But knowledge in and of itself is not enough. We must use this knowledge to change our behavior.
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The Sources of Retirement Cash Flows
When you hear the word “diversification” in the context of investing, one thinks of owning multiple holdings across asset classes, geographical locations, and industry sectors. The concept of diversification also applies to the sources of cash flows that are generated from an investment portfolio. Michael Kitces, a well-renowned author, and industry thought leader, suggests that there are 4 pillars of retirement cash flow that can come from an investment portfolio: interest, dividends, capital gains and principal.
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Preparing for a Market Downturn
Warren Buffett’s annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholder letters often offer sage advice. His most recent 2016 letter was no exception, including this powerful insight about market downturns: “During such scary periods, you should never forget two things: First, widespread fear is your friend as an investor, because it serves up bargain purchases. Second, personal fear is your enemy.”
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Give Yourself Permission To Hire a Real Financial Advisor
Setting goals are important. It gives you something to work towards. But there is a huge misconception about goals that most people don’t figure out until it is too late. Achievement of your goal will not bring you happiness. Having a certain amount of money in the bank, getting a promotion, owning your dream home, retiring at age 50 – those may be your goals, but what happens once you get there? Then what?
DetailsUnderstanding the DOL Fiduciary Rule
The DOL Fiduciary Rule, requires that all financial professionals who work with retirement plans or provide retirement planning advice must act as a fiduciary.
DetailsStandard of Care – Fiduciary or Suitability
Financial advisor, financial planner, financial consultant, wealth manager, etc. – there are many names used by investment professionals today. But what’s more important than the title that a professional gives him or herself is the standard of care the investment professional is held to a fiduciary standard or a suitability standard.
DetailsFinancial Planning for College Funding and Retirement – Can the Two Go Hand-in Hand?
How can you save for college while also ensuring that you will have adequate resources for retirement and adequate cash flow to fund “life” while your children are growing up?
DetailsUnderstanding What Market Indexes Do…and Don’t Do
You probably have heard that the Dow Jones Industrial Average topped 20,000 for the first time on January 25, 2017. When a popular index, like the Dow is on a tear, up or down, what does it really mean to you and your investments? What Is an Index? First, let’s define what an index is.…
DetailsDoes a Soon-To-Be Retiree Need a Financial Planner?
You are about to retire – things are going to change. Do you need a financial planner to have a successful retirement?
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