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When Can You Live Off Your Investments?
1. What’s the most important factor in determining whether someone can safely live off their investments? The single most important factor? I think it's a good idea to plan ahead. Clients must map their monthly or yearly income need,...
Read MoreReader Submission – Paying Off Mortgage Before Retirement
Reader's Question:I'm 55, married with a 17 year old and a 4-year old step son. I was fortunate enough to work 24 years at a pharmaceutical company during which I contributed to my 401(k). I’m no longer with the company, but my 401(k)...
Read MoreWhy Passive Income Could Be the Key to a Comfortable Retirement
1. Why do you consider passive income an essential part of a comfortable retirement plan? When considering retirement needs, one of the most apparent requirements is a steady income. During the planning process, we examine potential...
Read MoreLong-Term Investing Strategies That Work
Were you considering long-term investment strategies? The following principles and things to know are important to consider when making a long-term investment. Time in the market can be far more important than timing the market....
Read MoreSaving vs. Investing – What’s the Difference?
1. What type of financial goals is saving most appropriate for? Savings should be used for future known expenses with a shorter timeframe. It matters less what the goal is and more when the money is needed. It is essential to plan...
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Outdated Financial Advice??
What piece of financial advice or tool do you think is outdated, but investors still use, and why? When I look at this question, more than one issue comes to mind. So I will provide a few. One outdated bit of financial advice could be...
Read MoreThe Power of Starting Early: Investing for Your Child’s Future
1. Why might parents want to get their kids investing ASAP? Investing as early as possible is a great idea for children because of the rule of 72 and the time value of money. The rule of 72 tells us how many years it takes for a...
Read More2025 Tax Reform & What It Means For Your Retirement
ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL I believe it’s important to keep you informed about changes that could affect your financial future. Earlier this year, new tax reform legislation was passed for 2025, and it introduces several updates that may...
Read MoreShould Gold Allocation Change in Today’s Economy?
1. Common Questions around Gold: In your opinion (and generally speaking), do you think people’s gold investment allocation should change in today’s economy? Why or why not? (Base this question on the traditional recommended...
Read MoreThe Deep Look On Sliver As An Investment
I do not recommend buying silver as part of a portfolio. My research indicates that, depending on the dates chosen within the last 40 to 50 years, the compound annual growth rate ranges from 3% to 4.12%. Silver prices have historically...
Read MoreWhy Tracking Finances Can Feel Stressful
Various factors can cause stress by tracking spending. Overspending on unnecessary items can be a source of shame or failure. Insufficient income for basic needs or desires is a huge stressor and has been contributed to by the last few...
Read MoreDon't Let Missed Expenses Blow Up Your Budget!
When creating your budget, I recommend looking beyond the obvious categories like food, clothing, utilities, etc. Review the last few years and think of times when your monthly budget was strained, or you even came up short because of...
Read MoreShould You Do Your Own Financial Planning or Hire Someone?
It is a misconception that only the wealthy or elderly need a financial plan. I think the case can be made that anyone who wishes to have financial success in life, meet their goals, and then retire with dignity needs a financial plan....
Read MoreThe Power of the Rule of 72
The Rule of 72, in simple form, divides 72 by the rate of return, and it will roughly show the number of years it will take for a portfolio to double in value. An example is an 8% return in a portfolio would double every 9 years (72...
Read MoreCommon Roth IRA Setup Mistakes
1. What’s the most common mistake people make when opening a Roth IRA? The most common mistake I see is people opening Roth IRA accounts without qualifying due to the higher modified adjusted gross income limits. Be sure to check the...
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Let's Review Your Life
Life doesn’t stand still. Neither do your life insurance needs.If you have a quote or policy and haven’t reviewed it lately, you may be surprised to discover that what worked for you then may not not meet your needs now...
Read MoreWhere There's A Will
"Where there's a will, there's a way." Sage advice that applies not only to our lives but to your estate strategy.When was the last time you reviewed your will or estate strategy? August is National "Make a Will" Month, an excellent...
Read MoreLife Insurance at an Early Age
Perhaps you’ve heard the maxim, “Preparation is the key to success.” But when it comes to life insurance, knowing when to prepare is almost more important than the preparation, itself.Sure, it can be difficult to...
Read MoreHow SECURE 2.0 Might Change Retirement
The SECURE Act of 2019 represented the biggest update to retirement law in over a decade. Now, Congress is deliberating on what “SECURE 2.0” legislation might entail.In March, the House passed the Securing a Strong...
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