Financial Planning

One of the most interesting things about financial planning is this: The value isn’t in having more information. It’s learning how to think differently about your relationship with money. There is no shortage of information today. Rules of thumb.... Continue Reading

If you’re exploring the idea of buying a business, there’s a good chance you’ve come across something called a ROBS, short for Rollovers as Business Startups. It’s a strategy that allows you to use money from a retirement account... Continue Reading

A 50-year mortgage might sound appealing at first glance: lower monthly payments, more “affordable” housing, and maybe even a way to finally buy that dream home. But when you look beneath the surface, it’s one of the worst financial... Continue Reading

When financial advisors talk about risk management, the focus is usually on diversification and insurance. We discuss how to protect your investments from volatility or how to cover financial losses with the right policies. But there’s another critical form... Continue Reading

This week the fed chose not to cut rates. To no surprise, President Trump made his displeasure publicly known, even suggesting the fed should immediately cut rates by 100 basis points (1%). So, what if the fed cut rates... Continue Reading

Are you tracking KPIs (key performance indicators) for your business? You can’t improve what you don’t measure. And yet, many business owners are flying blind—checking the bank balance, glancing at monthly revenue, and hoping for the best. If you... Continue Reading

When you hear the word debt, your first thought is probably something negative—credit card balances, loans, interest payments. And for many people, debt is a stressor. But in the right context, debt can actually work in your favor. In... Continue Reading

If you're a business owner, chances are you've struggled to find a financial advisor who truly understands your world. That’s because most advisors are trained to serve the average saver—employees with predictable paychecks, standard retirement plans, and investment portfolios... Continue Reading

Choosing between a Roth 401(k) and a Traditional (Pre-Tax) 401(k) is one of the most significant decisions in retirement planning. This is a strategic conversation I have with every client at some point, and while the right answer might... Continue Reading

Year-End is a pivotal time for financial planning, whether you’re managing a business or focusing on personal wealth. Reviewing key financial areas now can help you save on taxes, optimize cash flow, and set clear goals for the coming... Continue Reading

As a financial planner, I believe in looking ahead, setting a clear destination, and creating a step-by-step plan to get there. When planning for next year, the time to start is NOW! The start of the fourth quarter is... Continue Reading

Entrepreneurs and business owners face several common pain points when it comes to financial planning. Unlike salaried employees with consistent incomes and straightforward retirement plans, business owners have to juggle personal and business finances, manage irregular cash flow, and... Continue Reading

If you’re a real estate investor, you may have heard of “1031 exchanges.” It sounds complicated, but in reality, it’s a powerful tool to help you grow your investment portfolio while deferring taxes. I often hear a lot of... Continue Reading

When you find yourself with extra cash, whether from a bonus, a raise, or some unexpected savings, the question of where to allocate that money can be overwhelming. Should you pay off debt, build up your emergency fund, or... Continue Reading

Investing in real estate can be a powerful way to diversify your financial assets and generate additional income. However, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Understanding when it makes sense to invest in real estate and exploring the pros and... Continue Reading

Consider this: As a publicly traded company, would you be an investable asset? This may sound like an odd question, let me explain. When evaluating individual stocks, bonds, or alternatives for investment portfolios, I focus on the health of... Continue Reading

With potential changes to tax laws coming in 2026, now is the perfect time to revisit your estate planning strategies. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) increased the federal estate tax exemption to $13.61 million per... Continue Reading

Ever the heard the phrase "cash is trash"? For years that has been the case, certainly since the 2008/2009 time frame when interest rates were too low to pay a cash yield. For the past year or so, this... Continue Reading

Let’s deal with an uncomfortable question: What happens to your business when you die? The thought of death is unsettling - it’s the great unknown of this life. Because no one really wants to deal with their own mortality,... Continue Reading

Signs of economic uncertainty are showing up in more places throughout the BIG economy, which impacts the LOCAL economy that you and I intersect every day. From home prices to mortgage rates, car prices to auto loan rates, inflation... Continue Reading

Investment minimums are an old-school way for advisors to filter out prospective clients. Advisory firms and their advisors set investment minimums as a way to target growth of assets under management (AUM) and revenue per client. In fact, advisors... Continue Reading

Have you ever wondered how to choose the right financial advisor? Whether you’re looking to work with a financial advisor for the first time, or you are looking to change advisors, the looming question in your mind might be:... Continue Reading

Today I want to talk about using Kaizen to become a 1%er. I’m not talking about those that fall in the higher earning bracket…. Although that may be a goal for some… And, I’m not talking about that particular... Continue Reading

Federal Student Loan payments are scheduled to begin on October 1, 2023. After more than three years of extensions, delays, an executive order, and a pending Supreme Court hearing, you may be wondering what to expect. A few things... Continue Reading

If you're considering buying a house vs renting, here are several important considerations based on the seven key areas of financial planning. Even with mortgage interest rates at a higher level, buying a house can still be an opportunity.... Continue Reading

What services do you expect from your financial advisor? What are you actually getting? Think about it. Is there a gap between your advisory expectations and the reality? Research from SpectremGroup among wealthy investors shows there’s a massive advice gap in... Continue Reading

Changing jobs and wondering what to do with your 401(k)? You have four options available for your 401(k) plan when changing jobs. Yet, almost half of job changers cash out. A Harvard Business Review study found that approx. 41%... Continue Reading

Making better financial decisions requires an effective and structured process. Consistently following such a process can be challenging, especially when emotions come into play. Emotions can cloud our judgment and steer us away from the logical path. This generally... Continue Reading

The fiduciary standard is one of the more misunderstood and misquoted obligations in financial services. Many financial advisors would say they take on a fiduciary duty. At the same time, many advisors are not truly bound by the standard.... Continue Reading

Who should do financial planning? What is the point of financial planning, especially if you've already been investing for some time? In this video, I provide a visual aide for how your financial life and your investments work best... Continue Reading

Big changes are coming in 2024 to 529 plans and Roth IRAs. More importantly, for the first time ever these two savings vehicles will soon have a direct link. Here's a brief overview of what to expect in planning... Continue Reading

I'm here to tell you the end is near. No, this isn't a conspiracy theory. The end of the year is coming fast and there's nothing you can do to stop it from happening. You can, however, take steps... Continue Reading

Since 2010 the federal government has allowed people to complete Roth conversions, which is simply moving money from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. Because of contribution limits and income phaseout requirements, some tax payers simply don't qualify... Continue Reading

Are you eligible for a Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction? If you expect to earn business income of less than $170,050 single or $340,100 married filing jointly, you may qualify. Your type of business and source of income received... Continue Reading

The Biden Administration released a relief program, including the forgiveness of up to $10,000 federal student loan debt for most borrowers. How will the program work? What's included in the package? How will this impact the economy? What about... Continue Reading

I've been thinking of this concept that, for lack of better marketing, I'll call "the now vs the not yet." Or, for ease of common terminology, living now vs. waiting for retirement. Here's how the concept works - Grab... Continue Reading

One of the most common questions advisors ask prospective clients is: "what are your financial goals?" Financial services firms market a goal-centric approach to the general public. With this question, advisors are communicating that you need to have specific... Continue Reading

Think financial planning is only for people planning to build wealth? What if you already have wealth? I've written about how financial planning helps build and protect wealth; in this article I'll speak to wealth management for those who... Continue Reading

"I'm tired of these constant emails and meetings. I'm tired of the stress. I want out of this corporate job!" If you've ever said these words... or even have thought them in quiet desperation, you are not alone. In... Continue Reading

Many businesses begin with a well-crafted business plan including the product/service, pricing, supply chain, customer demographics, and marketing ideas. A sound business plan may also include a defined exit strategy, including selling your business. With good fortune and hard... Continue Reading

Here's the definition of financial planning, as expressed in the CFP Board’s updated Code and Standards published in October 2019: "Financial Planning is a collaborative process that helps maximize a Client’s potential for meeting life goals through Financial Advice... Continue Reading