As a Wealth Management Consultant, I'm often asked two questions "What is a financial plan?" and "Is a financial plan different from investment management?" In short, yes—financial planning and investment management are two distinct wealth management tools that work together to help you achieve your short- and long-term financial goals.
Most working Americans have only one source of steady income before they retire: their jobs. When you retire, however, your income will likely come from a number of sources, such as retirement accounts, social security benefits, pensions, and part-time work.
When deciding how to manage your various assets to ensure a steady retirement income stream, there are two main strategies to consider: the total return approach, or the investment pool—or bucket—approach.
While working with clients, I am often asked about social security benefits. To clarify the topic a bit, I've compiled the following list of my most frequently asked questions. This in-depth FAQ addresses common concerns about collecting social security retirement benefits, including the impact of part-time work and other earnings, the age at which you may begin collecting, and spousal benefits.
The sooner the better: it's a saying that applies to many facets of life, including educating children about money. By introducing sound financial habits early on, you'll give your child a head start on the path to becoming an informed investor. Here are some creative ideas, as well as book and website suggestions, for raising a financially saavy kid.
Given today's economy, it's fair to say that we are all more concerned about our financial situation than we have been in the past. Our awareness of the need to save and plan ahead has been heightened, and everyone, it seems, is looking for ways to economize.
As someone who works in the financial services realm, few things could give me more pleasure than this collective impulse toward saving, investing, and planning for the future. The focus on protecting your assets ties in nicely with the idea of protecting your income. You may have considered what would happen if you were downsized, but perhaps you've neglected to plan for what could happen if you became disabled. Understandably, this is not a popular subject, but it is one we must all consider.
Trusts are a great way to put conditions on how, when, and to whom your assets will be distributed after you pass away. However, there are several options and specific terms to know when it comes to setting up a trust, and many people aren't sure of the best path forward.
To help explain, I've put together some frequently asked questions and answers on the subject.
With every news story about the latest Powerball jackpot, it's only natural to wonder, "What would I do if I won the lottery?" Although your chances of hitting the jackpot may be slim, a financial windfall could come to you through more ordinary means, such as the settlement of a lawsuit, a severance package, a family inheritance, or simply a larger-than-expected tax refund. Unfortunately, along with the obvious rewards, a windfall can be accompanied by plenty of potential problems.
You've probably heard how important it is to establish and maintain an emergency fund. Unfortunately, most people don't fully realize this until a money emergency is upon them. Are you financially prepared for a leaky roof? How about a broken-down car? If you lost your job, how long would you be able to support yourself and your family until you got a new one?
An emergency fund is money that you've set aside to be used in these critical situations, be it to handle a minor home repair or to pay for something more serious, like medical bills. Despite the clear importance of having an emergency fund, however, more than three in five Americans have accumulated no savings for unforeseen expenses, according to a recent Bankrate report.
If you are one of the 60% who don't have an emergency fund, I've outined 4 easy ways that you can prepare for the unexpected:
You've worked long and hard and are nearing retirement age. Like many other baby boomers, with your kids out of the house and a surplus of empty space and time, you may be thinking about moving. To help you make up your mind—or make your transition go as smoothly as possible—we've compiled this list of tips.
Many of my clients have questions about Medicare. How much will it cost? When should I enroll? What are my options? The process for enrolling in Medicare is surprisingly easy, but there are several options you'll need to consider.
To shed some light on the topic, I've put together Medicare 101: A guide to enrolling in the Medicare plan that is right for you.
