Blog
IS IT WORTH THE WORRY?
These days, looking at economic reports and considering future uncertainties, it’s no surprise that some Americans are feeling anxiety. But worrying is a huge time suck that yields little return. A study by Penn State...
Read MoreTHE "CONVERSATION"
Last week, when the latest U.S. GDP numbers were announced, the dreaded conversation about a recession got a little louder. Regardless of the “are we or aren’t we” discussion, you may be feeling the pressure of...
Read MoreSOME THINGS ARE WORTH THE WAIT
Have you ever heard of the marshmallow test?Fifty years ago, Walter Mischel and colleagues used it to measure how well young children could resist temptation by placing a marshmallow on a table and giving them two options:1. Eat one...
Read MoreIS INFLATION HEATING UP YOUR SUMMER EXPENSES?
Inflation, this summer’s biggest party crasher, is putting a damper on backyard barbecues everywhere with higher food and energy costs while busting many vacation budgets with unpredictable flights, hotels, and gas prices...
Read MoreFINDING THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL
Is now a good time for you?How you answer that question in 2022 is sounding more like how you answer the age-old phrase “Is the glass half-empty or half-full?” or "Can you see the light at the end of the tunnel?"Your...
Read MoreShow All
THE REUNION OF THE SUMMER
“Hi, it’s your friends and family, in person, not on screen. Remember us?” Regardless of the chaos facing air travel customers this summer, it is the first time in years that in-person reunions are possible with fewer...
Read MoreFAMILY, FREEDOM, AND FIREWORKS
The culmination of every great Fourth of July celebration (and what we expectantly wait for all day) is a bright, brilliant firework display — the bigger the better. There’s no greater illustration of America’s power,...
Read MoreROLL WITH THE PUNCHES
Mike Tyson famously said, “everyone has a plan ’till they get punched in the mouth.” And this week you could be feeling like that — punched with an uppercut of rising gas prices, talk of a recession and the...
Read MoreTIME WAITS FOR NO ONE!
Time has been described as many things: The great equalizer, precious, a commodity, a healer, and fleeting.But there’s one thing time is not: limitless. The Wall Street Journal article below comes with great timing ahead of...
Read MoreARE YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW?
One of the more special parts of early summer is catching a glimpse of a mother duck and her ducklings swimming across a lake or river. That’s why the Wall St. Journal article below caught my eye.But as I read it, it occurred to...
Read MoreUNPLUG, REBOOT, REPEAT
Summer is heating up and apparently, so is the cost of just about everything. Forbes Advisor surveyed 2,000 Americans about their summer vacation plans, and more than half (54%) say the increased cost of trips is affecting their...
Read MoreMAKING A MEMORABLE MEMORIAL DAY
Memorial Day is coming this year with perfect timing. For millions of Americans, the holiday is an opportunity to find respite from our labor and remember those in the military who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.For others,...
Read MoreBE WISE WITH YOUR HOLIDAY BUDGET!
How’s that budget holding up right about now? If you didn’t overindulge in Black Friday or Cyber Monday shopping, kudos to you. The temptation to break the bank and slide down the slippery slope into uncontrolled holiday...
Read MoreLET GO OF NEGATIVE MONEY FEELINGS
Here’s a question you may not have been asked. How do you feel about money? It’s no secret that money is an emotional topic. Everything important in our lives is. It’s also no secret that we have to rely on our own...
Read MoreFINDING THE PERFECT BALANCE
In the push to go virtual and digitalize everything including work, scheduling, and banking, instead of technology making life easier, do you ever find yourself more stressed out? You’re not alone. In a world of touchless...
Read MoreMAKING THE MOST OF YOUR DAYLIGHT
Did you notice what happened last weekend? We stopped saving daylight. What began in March by springing ahead was returned as we enjoyed an “extra” hour on Sunday. How much did you relish and enjoy that time you saved? Time...
Read MoreWINTER IS COMING!
As we approach winter, which do you prefer: avalanche or snowball? Both are tried-and-true approaches to reducing debt. The difference between the two is the order in which you pay off each balance. The avalanche method starts at the...
Read MoreA "TO DO" LIST FOR YOU
When it comes to money, we know it literally pays to attend to even the smallest of details. Sometimes, like during busy seasons of life, finding the time to do everything can feel overwhelming, if not downright impossible. Yet tying...
Read MoreFACING FACTS OVER FEARS
It's almost Halloween, and there are spooky things everywhere you look. From festive decor to horror movies, we are face-to-face with frights and fears 24/7. Though this time of year is often intentionally scary, don’t let fear...
Read MoreARE YOU FINANCIALLY FIT?
Saving enough for a comfortable retirement and leaving a legacy for the future are the goals many of us have. How close or how far away you are from this aspiration can determine how financially fit you feel. So tell me, do you feel...
Read MoreTAKE CONTROL - THE TIME IS NOW
This modern life can sure take a toll. The pandemic’s continuing effect on, well, just about everything - notably stock market volatility, changing tax laws, the debt ceiling debate, and expected holiday shipping delays and...
Read MoreWELCOME TO OCTOBER
Goodbye September, hello October. The month snuck up on us about as quickly as the little ghosts and goblins soon will on Halloween. And not to spook you further, but the holidays are just around the corner - barely two months away -...
Read MoreFAMILY FINANCES: LET'S HAVE THE TALK
Talking is one of the first things babies learn how to do - most within the first year of life. So it stands to reason that the older we get, the better we would be at communicating, right? Sadly, that’s not always the case....
Read MoreMANAGING YOUR RISKS
It goes without saying that daily life has been irrevocably upended since the pandemic began. For me, it’s a perfect illustration of how to anticipate and prepare for risk in our financial lives. One of the key features in our...
Read MoreAPPROACHING AUTUMN
Remember what it was like walking into school for the first time? There was so much excitement and possibility in the air, and of course some nervousness-maybe even anxiety. That particular feeling of not knowing what to expect in...
Read MoreIS YOUR HARD WORK PAYING OFF?
Summer unofficially ends this weekend with Labor Day. Although Labor Day is now more associated with fireworks, cookouts, and visits to the beach, its origins are in the workers’ rights movement and it is a celebration of workers...
Read MoreWEATHERING THE STORM
I don’t know about you, but this isn’t exactly how I thought we’d be approaching autumn. The Delta variant is causing some of us to pivot and alter plans once again. Amid reports of extreme weather as seasons change...
Read MoreKEEP LEARNING- KEEP GROWING
Just like that, it’s back-to-school season. Tell me, where did the summer go? As kids of all ages go back to class, with all of the apprehension and excitement that it may bring in these turbulent times, it’s a great...
Read MoreTHE ECONOMIC RECOVERY GETS A JOLT
Why do we work? It’s a core question that many people ask themselves daily. The most fortunate of us have found the sweet spot where their passion and career coincide. But for many, work in its simplest form is a way to pay the...
Read MoreToday Is The Day To Get Back On Track
This time of year can be fun yet challenging, trying to balance work or family commitments with soaking up every possible minute of sunshine, and if you’re lucky, a vacation getaway or two. I hope you’ve found some time to...
Read MoreBIG THINGS OFTEN HAVE SMALL BEGINNINGS
What’s the secret to achieving big success in life? Baby steps. Certainly, no one would say U.S. track star Allyson Felix takes baby steps anymore. In fact, with speed and focus, Allyson is taking huge strides toward her goal of...
Read MoreNEVER STOP LOOKING UP
I decided to focus on the optimism of the word “up” this summer. And now, everywhere I look, things are looking up! The economy has opened up, many people’s spirits are up, friends and families are meeting up once...
Read MoreADD SPACE TO YOUR FINANCIAL PLAN
Richard Branson made news as the first rocket company owner to be launched into space. Many say this breakthrough could soon open up space travel to the masses. According to equity analysts at Vertical Research, about 2 million people...
Read MoreOVERTHINKING- THE ART OF CREATING PROBLEMS
So much information is at our fingertips today. Have a question about a health issue? I’m sure Google has a quick answer, Amazon has a perfectly matched product, or there are probably 50 blogs on the topic detailing every answer...
Read MoreMindset Is Everything
“Change your thoughts and you can change your world.” is a well-known quote from Norman Vincent Peale’s book The Power of Positive Thinking. A renewed sense of optimism and positivity has begun to build as cities and...
Read MoreSHARING THE WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE
We're at the tail end of graduation season and that signals change and new beginnings. I think it's safe to say that high school and college graduates are not the only ones looking forward to some change in the coming months. After all...
Read MoreHappy Father's Day
“Money doesn’t grow on trees.”“Waste not want not.”“What am I, made of money?” Fathers are famous for coming up with great one-liners like these and many others over the years. I’m sure...
Read MoreDADS AND GRADS
June is looking to be chock-full with celebrations including graduations, a wedding or two, Father's Day, and a rejuvenated economy combined with the gradual reopening of life. If you're like me, you've never been more ready for it. If...
Read MoreSUMMER ROAD TRIPS
Summer is the time to hit the open road and explore this big country. But with epic drives can come epic expenses - make sure you don't let unexpected costs creep in while planning the perfect road trip. The following articles have...
Read MoreMemorial Day Memories
It’s a great American pastime: spending Memorial Day weekend relaxing with friends, family, and perhaps a refreshing drink, watching baseball or the Indy 500, enjoying our hard-fought freedom over some BBQ-grilled burgers and hot...
Read MoreBE MINDFUL WHERE YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY
It seems as though energy and the environment are hot topics right now. From the U.S. gas shortage to how much energy it takes to mine cryptocurrencies, you’ve probably noticed that the impact of collective actions on our...
Read MoreThe Final Days Of Tax Season
We’re at the tail end of another tax season, thanks to the IRS extending the filing deadline this year to May 17. And if you’re like most people, I’m sure you’re feeling pretty good to put 2020 in your rearview...
Read MoreWHO'S THE CEO OF THE HOUSEHOLD? MOM
As we get ready to celebrate Mother's Day this Sunday, May 9, I've been thinking about how family dynamics have changed over the past year. A busy family is a kind of company. Multiple tasks to accomplish, goals to strive for, and...
Read MoreWHAT'S YOUR FINANCIAL IQ? READ BELOW TO FIND OUT
As Financial Literacy Month ends, I hope you were able to learn a few new things and apply them to your strategy. One of my goals in sharing this newsletter is to engage you with useful content so you are in the best position to grow...
Read MoreDigital Gaming Tactics For Saving
Albert Einstein once said, "Games are the most elevated form of investigation." We're in the thick of tax season after an extremely challenging year, so it's an odd time to think about playing games, isn't it? Actually, there's been a...
Read MoreSOW THE SEEDS
April is financial literacy month, and it’s a great coincidence that this month is also the time when many people are planting seeds in the ground, hoping for a lush summer garden and dreaming of a huge fall harvest. Growing...
Read MorePrepare, Don't Predict
The historical bull market, correction coming, beware of inflation - you may be seeing these words in headlines lately. About a year after the unprecedented market events of spring 2020, the economy is recovering, but there is a lot of...
Read MoreBetter Than March Madness
Every year, the NCAA basketball tournament — March Madness — brings excitement for basketball fans. Millions of people fill out their championship brackets, predicting who they think will win, hoping this year they make the...
Read MoreONE YEAR LATER...
Last week was a watershed moment. As we marked the one-year anniversary of the first Covid-19 lockdown, we no doubt considered the many challenges faced living through a global pandemic. But by the end of the week, we also watched as...
Read MoreIT'S MARCH - TIME TO MARK YOUR PROGRESS
We’re two months into the new year and now is a great time to ask: how are your resolutions for 2021 holding up? Whether it’s regarding your health, your future, or family, it’s important to take a step back...
Read MoreMARCH FORWARD
Let’s do a reality check. With tax season in full swing, markets doing their day-to-day dance and winter weather still causing havoc, it’s sometimes hard to know what’s going to happen next. And in light of the events...
Read MoreDo You Have a To-Don't List?
There’s lots of advice out there about organizing your workday, your family life, even your diet and exercise routine using to-do lists. Today, I’d like to suggest something different for your financial strategy — a...
Read MorePLANNING FOR BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD
This time of year, as winter bears down, it’s nice to look ahead to spring break or summer vacation. Time away lets us recharge, refresh and gain some perspective. As you dream, plan and save for the days ahead, let me assist you...
Read MoreLOVE, MONEY AND TAXES
This week is sure to evoke some kind of emotion. On Friday, Feb. 12, tax season officially kicks off In the U.S., and it’s followed a short two days later by Valentine’s Day on Sunday, Feb. 14th. Are you ready for both? Now...
Read More"Rational Exuberance"
Back in the dot-com bubble of the 90s, Alan Greenspan coined the term ‘irrational exuberance’. The recent social media-driven stock volatility is a good example of what he meant. Market volatility not driven by the...
Read MoreIT STARTS WITH A MAP
I wisely started with a map, and made the story fit." — J. R. R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings I’ve been hearing a lot of discussion recently around 2021 roadmaps. It seems every company is showcasing one or is...
Read MoreHOPE FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD
With the inauguration this week, a new chapter of American life opens up. And as the coronavirus vaccine is rolled out more widely, there is an expectation that our economy will continue to recover. What does this mean for your...
Read MoreRELY ON RESILIENCE
There’s no easy way to put it, 2021 has started with some disruption and confusion. The daily stream of news has me thinking about Winston Churchill who famously said, ‘if you are going through hell, keep going’....
Read MoreNAVIGATING THE NEW YEAR TOGETHER
We made it, 2021 is here! Many people are happy to see the end of 2020, but the date flipping to 2021 doesn’t necessarily mean that your financial goals have changed. There is a lot to learn by reflecting on the events of...
Read MoreTURNING THE PAGE ON AN UNPRECEDENTED YEAR
It’s been said over and over again —2020 was an unprecedented year. And it’s true, starting with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, to the economic crisis, market recovery, and now a light at the end of the tunnel...
Read MoreWARMEST WISHES FOR A VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY
I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very happy holiday and a prosperous and healthy new year. Although it's hard to avoid economic and market volatility news, I hope that you can take time to relax and enjoy...
Read MorePEACE, CONNECTIONS AND JOY FOR THE HOLIDAYS
I think we can agree, 2020 was a year like no other. Investors have been challenged like never before as the pandemic took the market from record highs to the brink of a depression and back. We survived — and many have even...
Read MoreIt's Almost Over
We’re in the final stretch of 2020, a year that has been one of the most challenging in recent memory. How are you handling the stress and emotions that come with the holiday season, possibly made even more intense by covid-19...
Read MoreThe Best Path To Change
If there’s one thing that 2020 has shown, it’s that big change can happen in the blink of an eye. When things change rapidly, we often make quick decisions about how to react. But the path to real, lasting, and positive...
Read MoreTALK ISN'T CHEAP
It’s that time of the year again. Regardless of whether it’s in person or virtually, the holidays are an opportunity for more conversations with loved ones. This year, let’s strive to put some positivity into our...
Read MoreAN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
We’re entering the holiday season, and starting with Thanksgiving, expressing gratitude is a year-end tradition. This year, it may seem like it’s a little more difficult to be grateful, but it’s worth it—for...
Read MoreWHAT HAPPENS NOW?
To say that last week's election was eventful is an understatement, and this week continues to be remarkable, with markets surging on a positive coronavirus vaccine announcement. Although our country still faces health and economic...
Read MoreFOCUS ON YOUR STRATEGY
The U.S. election has been one of the most important in our lifetimes. Emotions are high, and there is no shortage of opinions of how this will impact the future. What should you make of this for your financial strategy? Here’s...
Read MoreElections And Your Strategy - Nothing To Fear
Halloween is right around the corner, and like everything else, it’s markedly different this year. Some people find it thrilling to dress up and decorate the house, others think it’s just plain scary. It’s the unknown...
Read MoreElections And Your Strategy - Nothing To Fear
Halloween is right around the corner, and like everything else, it’s markedly different this year. Some people find it thrilling to dress up and decorate the house, others think it’s just plain scary. It’s the unknown...
Read MoreMake The Days Count
Muhammad Ali famously said: “Don’t count the days, make the days count.” Ali is known for his wit and wisdom, and, as we hit the seven-month mark of the pandemic, I think this quote has meaning well beyond sports. As...
Read MoreRetirement Security in a Scary World
Did you know that October is National Retirement Security Awareness month? Having it in the month of Halloween seems right to me because many people find thinking about retirement a little scary. Will you have enough to retire...
Read MoreWe Are Living In Interesting Times
These days, I’m reminded about the ancient curse: ‘May you live in interesting times’. The origin of the saying is murky, but the meaning behind it has endured—uncertain times can bring stress. As we approach...
Read MoreWhen To Say No...And When To Say Yes
Have you been feeling like you are being pulled in too many directions lately? It seems like each day brings new information that we’re supposed to understand and put to use in our health, family life, career, and money. As we...
Read MoreEmbrace Gratitude In Your Strategy
The coronavirus continues to affect the economy, most recently with the U.S. Federal Reserve’s announcement that they plan to keep interest rates low for the foreseeable future and expect inflation rates to rise. Is your...
Read MoreBe Prepared, Don't Panic
The rest of 2020 is shaping up to be filled with uncertainty: market volatility, a possible second wave of coronavirus, and the shifting landscape of work and school. But it’s not time to panic, it’s time to be prepared. As...
Read MoreHow To Thrive Through Transitions
September is a month of transitions, this year even more so. Think back to the beginning of 2020. Could you have imagined that a virus would shut down the global economy, completely change your daily routine, and put millions out of...
Read MoreA Fresh Start In September
Even as adults, September and the back-to-school season represent a fresh start. Not necessarily new binders, pencil crayons, and textbooks, but a fresh look at our routine at work and at home. This September is different than any year...
Read MoreClarify What Matters Most
For many families, the end of August is normally focused on back-to-school planning. This year is different, with a lot of uncertainty around how schools will work, and how it will affect parents’ jobs and the economy as a whole....
Read More9 FACTS ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY
Tip: How Much? Check your Social Security earnings and see an estimate of your benefits on the Web site, www.ssa.gov. Social Security’s been a fact of retirement life ever since it was established in 1935. We all think we know...
Read More