Being a wealth advisor is not just about investing and financial planning, it’s about being able to offer comprehensive services for every aspect of a client’s financial life. Clients come to me with questions about every kind of personal issue you can imagine, from planning for a child’s college education to starting a business. We […]
A “Happy Thanksgiving” Note – So Much To Be Thankful For!
I try to provide educational articles throughout the year to help you make sense of financial planning, so you can secure the best possible future for yourself and your family. Now, as we approach Thanksgiving and the holiday season, I want to take a moment to give thanks. Thank you to my clients for your […]
Now That Our Daughter is in College… Will We Ever be Able to Retire?
My wife and I tried to do all the right things when it came to college planning. We started saving early on, opened 529 accounts, began campus visits when my daughter, Abby, was a freshman in high school, and signed up for her SAT training well ahead of time. But still, Although we feel very […]
How Important Are Your Children’s High School Grades?
(Written 10/1/14) Now that the school year has started again, I’ve been thinking a lot about how my wife Sally and I can help our son, Clay, to be as successful as possible in the college application process. After all, he just started the all-important sophomore year in high school, and with our daughter Abby […]
I Just Dropped My Daughter Off at College: From The Emotional To The Financial
It seems like I blinked, and our oldest child, Abby, went from a newborn to college. I still can’t believe this major family milestone has come and gone, and let me tell you, it’s been a whirlwind of emotions. As we got Abby settled in on move-in day, I couldn’t help but notice that there […]
Will You Be Able To Retire?
Aside from the question of whether your spouse is ready for you to be around all day, making the decision to retire requires an enormous amount of preparation. How do you know if you’re ready? First: Know your expenses Knowing what you spend money on and how much you actually need is critical for retirement […]
What You Need to Know About The Federal Student Loan Repayment Programs
Student loan debt burdens are becoming a major policy concern. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York estimates that student loan debt reached $1.08 trillion in 2013, and you can find plenty of news stories about crushing debt burdens for recent college grads. There has been a recent expansion to the federal government’s Pay As You […]
How Much Are You Paying? Knowing Your Asset Management & Mutual Fund Fees
When it comes to managing their investments, many people are simply unaware of what they’re paying. We are often tempted to turn a blind eye to fees, especially when feeling uncertain about how things work or even the questions we should be asking. Thus, in this article, I’d like to explain some of the commonly […]
Should a Financial Advisor be Handling Your College 529 Plan?
529 plans are an amazing way to help your child (or another young person in your life) save for college. These plans offer tax-free growth if you use the account for higher education expenses, meaning that any withdrawals you make are completely tax-free. Tax-free growth is superior to the tax-deferred growth you get in your […]
If You Don’t Have a Will, Healthcare Proxy, and Power of Attorney, You’d Better Read This!
I recently went through the heavy and mournful experience of making end-of-life decisions for a close family friend. Luckily, she had planned for the worst and provided clear instructions to the appropriate people about her wishes. It made things a bit easier, but it really drove home the importance of planning ahead and crafting a […]