Six Steps to Overcoming Stress and Fear Related to Money.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Wednesday, 07 April 2021
Do you tend to equate money with stress? If so, you’re not alone. The American Psychological Association’s latest Stress in America survey found that 72% of Americans have felt financial stress recently. When you feel anxiety related to money, it can be difficult to talk openly about it, or even to seek help. In my experience, much of this comes down to a lack of financial confidence – and it can make you feel paralyzed when it comes to financial decision-making. Luckily, there are steps you can take right now to increase your own financial confidence.
In this article, we’ll review six steps you can take to feel more empowered and confident in money matters and begin to overcome your financial stress and anxiety.
Use these tips to ensure you can make your retirement dreams a reality.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Wednesday, 24 March 2021
The following article is based on content in my book, Flourish Financially: Values, Transitions, and Big Conversations. If you’d like to read more, you may purchase a copy here.
If you’re like most people, you have a pretty good idea of what your dream retirement looks like; where you’ll live, how you’ll spend your time, which hobbies you’ll cultivate. However, visualizing your ideal retirement lifestyle isn’t the same as preparing your retirement finances to make that dream a reality.
Even if you’ve been disciplined about saving for retirement, it’s common to harbor worries about running out of money. In fact, it is the number one retirement concern. This uncertainty can be even more stressful if you don’t have a solid idea of how much retirement savings you truly need. If you would like clarity and more peace of mind, use the eight steps below to get your finances in order and create a successful and fruitful retirement plan.
Five Ways to Ensure Your Feelings Don't Get the Better of You
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Wednesday, 10 March 2021
Most of us don’t plan for divorce. Nearly every aspect of life changes in an instant when it happens, which is devastating and can take a toll on your willpower and decision-making skills. Divorce is mentally and emotionally draining. It is also fraught with practicalities that must be addressed so that, when the dust settles, you find yourself standing on solid ground between divorce and your finances.
Divorce nearly always impacts your money, undermining a great deal of the financial planning and wealth-building that a couple accomplished during the marriage. It can be emotionally challenging – even draining – to delve into all these issues. However, those who let financial decisions slide while they’re going through a divorce risk leaving their financial future in the hands of their ex-spouse. To avoid this situation and to keep your emotions in check, use the tips below to keep your feelings out of your financial decision-making when you’re navigating a divorce.
Tips for Making the Most Out of Your Philanthropy
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Wednesday, 24 February 2021
For many people, charitable giving is a financial value they hold dear. In fact, data from Philanthropy Roundtable has shown that two-thirds of Americans give money to charitable organizations annually. If philanthropy is important to you, below you’ll find six ways to get the most out of your giving.
Gaining Perspective on Your Money History and Values Helps You Better Articulate Your Goals
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Wednesday, 10 February 2021
The following article is based on content covered in my book, Flourish Financially: Values, Transitions, and Big Conversations. If you’d like to read more, you may purchase a copy here.
We all have a money story. It’s the history of financial decisions and financial influences that define how we view finance today. It also represents the emotional attachments we have to money, which impact how we spend and save.
When you understand your own money story, it can remove some of the barriers that get in the way of allowing you to make level-headed financial decisions. You will always have emotions surrounding money, but if you can separate the emotional from the rational, you’ll more clearly identify your true goals and make better financial decisions.
