Is there any hope for my child? That may be the question you’re asking after reading our first two installments about the trend of overwhelming student loan debt and how it affects the Millennial generation. There is hope! In our final post about student loans, we...
As Millennials enter the workforce, the burden of student loan debt shapes their view of their lives, including careers and finances. A survey recently conducted by American Student Assistance® notes that 75% of respondents say student loan debt affected their...
College may be one of the best economic decisions a person can make. Having a bachelor’s degree will on average increase lifetime earnings by 66% and even higher with advanced degrees. Students seem to agree; in 2015, 69% of high school graduates enrolled in a college...
When I first worked as a financial advisor at a broker dealer firm, I was taught the “two hat” training. When I discussed financial planning with clients, I wore my fiduciary hat. This meant the advice I gave had to be in the best interest of the clients. But as soon...
A recent article from the Wall Street Journal interviews the creators of the 401k plan. Several of the original proponents acknowledge that 401ks are not being used as originally hoped. The article questions whether or not 401ks have helped Americans retire or if they...
A Donor Advised Fund is another way to gift money to your favorite charities and be financially beneficial to you at the same time. The DAF allows you to set aside money to contribute to a charity in the future, even without knowing the details of who you want to...
Last fall, I asked a 5th grade class via Twitter what they thought the best money advice a financial planner could give was. They sent back the following list: Buy things that last Separate needs from wants Spend money on the things you will use Spend money wisely...
As I’ve been examining why I have been resistant to goals, I have started re-thinking how I approach them, and I’ll tell you why. A goal is a clearly defined personal objective, something you want to achieve in a specific time period. What I have recently realized is...
I have struggled with goals lately. As a financial planner, I’m naturally wired to set goals. An integral part of working with my clients is looking at their goals and the financial ramifications of those goals. In fact, some of the most powerful meetings a financial...
Clients describe the meeting as shocking, even while admitting that they knew it was coming. It’s the financial planning meeting in which we look at their retirement projections to see if they are on track to meet their financial goals. Some couples have figured it...
