Tips for Transitioning to a Kid-Free Home
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Monday, 30 November 2020
When your children leave home to start their own lives as adults, the transition to having an empty house can be challenging. It can also be very exciting! Similar to retirement, divorce, or any life transition, the range of emotions can vary, and how you manage your time, feelings, finances, and relationships through the transition can have an impact on your well-being and lifestyle.
If you’re a new empty-nester or will be soon, it’s good to begin preparing for the changes you’ll experience. Read on for three tips to help you navigate this new phase of life.
How Forethought and Planning Can Give You the Retirement of Your Dreams
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Monday, 09 November 2020
The great retirement paradox is that there is so much time, and yet so very little of it. Yes, we are living longer, healthier lives, yet at some point, it will come to an end. So, what do we do with this new chapter of life that may last another twenty or thirty years? While that thirty-year horizon is full of possibilities, it can also be daunting and full of questions: Did I save enough? How will I spend my time? Where will I live? What kind of legacy will I leave?
Answering these questions will help you begin to identify your ideal retirement lifestyle and shed light on what steps you need to take to build it.
Strategies for moving through your current life transition
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Monday, 19 October 2020
In our line of work, we meet and help many people who are in the midst of experiencing big changes in their career, family, or lifestyle. We refer to these changes as life transitions, and they come in many forms. Whether your transition is due to the sale of a business, the loss of a spouse, a painful divorce, the receipt of an inheritance, or a combination of several transitions, it is often a difficult and challenging time that leads to much stress.
Below, we’ll discuss three ways to successfully move through a difficult transition, as well as six coping mechanisms to help you manage that inevitable transitional stress.
Face Money Topics Head-On to Accomplish Your Family Financial Goals
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Monday, 21 September 2020
Do families and finances strike you as two words that don’t belong together? If so, you’re not alone. Money is a topic people often avoid discussing with family members – and even with their spouse or partner. It could be because they find it confusing or overwhelming, or because it often leads to disagreements and bad feelings. The fact that personal finance isn’t taught in most schools can also lead people to believe it’s not important.
All of these things are true: money is a charged topic that can leave us feeling confused, overwhelmed, or even angry, and most of us aren’t educated enough about money topics. Yet, these are the exact same reasons it is crucial to maintain open communication about financial issues within your family. Avoiding or ignoring this very real element of family life only sets you up for failure, whereas talking openly with your spouse and children is the best way to accomplish your financial and life goals together.
Below, we’ll discuss why you should consider finances a family affair, and why communication is the foundation of any family’s financial success.
It's Important to Consider Financial Matters Before Making this Big Decision
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Monday, 24 August 2020
If you’ve got a teen thinking about college, chances are they’re more focused on details like dorm room size and meal plan options than the cost of tuition and fees. Of course, you want your kids to choose a college experience that they’re excited about, but it’s important to remember the financial impact, too. If you’ll be helping with college costs, you certainly have a stake in the discussion. If your child will be relying on student loans, start a conversation about the realities of debt so that they truly understand how much college costs could affect them many years after graduation. While cost certainly isn’t the only factor to consider when choosing a college, it’s not one that can be ignored either.
