The first week in August every year is National Simplify Your Life Week. Here at Guiding Wealth, you know we’re big fans of simplicity (it’s one of our cardinal values), so we thought we’d share a few tips on how to simplify your financial life in honor of this...
Did you know that the average debt load for an American household (including mortgage) is $101,915? Other types of loans are included in that number: student loans, credit cards, car loans, personal loans, and medical debt. Even if you exclude mortgage debt, the...
In the financial planning world, “legacy” often means leaving behind a financial inheritance when you’re gone. Whether that’s real estate, personal belongings, or a retirement account, what you’re passing on to the next generation defines your legacy. However, there...
In this year’s annual letter to its shareholders, Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett had an eloquent yet simple perspective on looking at finances: “Focus on the forest, forget the trees.” Too often, investors who evaluate Berkshire Hathaway obsess on the details...
If you know anything about American history, you know that July 4th is the day that Congress approved the Declaration of Independence (fun fact: it wasn’t signed until August 2, 1776 — almost a month later!). But we celebrate the 4th as the day that the United States...
It’s conference season here at Guiding Wealth and we just got back from the first of many: FPA Retreat. This amazing conference is designed to help make financial planners the best that they can be — both in their skillset and knowledge, as well as in their client...
Talking about money, in any setting, can feel taboo at best. Whether you struggle with money or you have plenty, it can be hard to know who to talk to money about and when. You may have children or close family and friends you are supporting financially, or you could...
Did you know that the happiest people in the world aren’t just happy? Study after study suggests that happiness isn’t just an innate quality; it’s a matter of a person’s environment, their relationships, and what they do each and every day. What we do every day —...
My retired clients are some of the most vibrant and active people I know — and there’s no stopping them. Retirement also looks a lot different now than it did 50 years ago. People have a long list of trips they’re taking, events they’re attending, and visits they’re...
Most clients are surprised when they get to retirement and see that their taxes have changed. I have this conversation with almost all of my clients when they retire. They go from having a normal W2 income, where their taxes are withheld — and sometimes they even...
