Addressing the Developing Situation in Client Portfolios
By Jay Pluimer, AIF® CIMA®
Friday, 25 February 2022
The global balance for peace and economic stability was broken when Russian President Putin announced the beginning of military operations in Ukraine. This has been a developing situation over the past few months as Russia positioned itself as the savior of citizens in Eastern Europe against alleged aggression from NATO forces. Regardless of why the military actions started, our focus is on how to address the developing situation in client portfolios.
Planning Ahead Can Ease Your Financial and Emotional Transition into Retirement
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Wednesday, 23 February 2022
The transition into retirement can be an exciting time in many ways. After all, you’re finally going to have more free time to spend as you wish, whether that’s traveling, volunteering, taking up a new hobby, or simply spending more time with loved ones. Of course, this transition can also cause financial stress and emotional overwhelm if you aren’t properly prepared. That’s why it makes sense to plan out your exit strategy from the working world before the time comes.
How to Afford One of Your Most Expensive Investments for Your Children
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Wednesday, 09 February 2022
Over the past several decades, a college education has come to be seen as a necessity. If you want to secure a good job with the possibility of upward mobility, you’ll likely need at least a bachelor’s degree to help you get there. However, with tuition costs greatly outpacing the overall cost of inflation, actually affording college has become a real challenge for many individuals and families.
From estimating the overall cost for higher education a decade from now to trying to determine how much financial aid you will be able to secure, there’s a lot to consider when planning to fund an education. Review the five strategies below to start developing your plan of action for your children’s future college education.
The Path Toward Combining Finances Will Look Different for Every Couple
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Wednesday, 26 January 2022
Your money can feel like a very personal matter. Our behaviors and motivations around money are unique to us, encompassing our upbringing, experiences, and current situation in life. This can make merging finances as a couple a complicated process if it’s not approached in a thoughtful and intentional manner. If you and your significant other are considering merging finances as a couple, it’s important to understand that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. How you go about merging finances will depend on the comfort and trust present in the relationship, your relative income levels, the dynamics of your relationship, and more.
Ultimately, you have three options:
- Keeping your finances completely separate
- Keeping your finances partially separate
- Fully combining your finances
Below we’ll discuss the pros and cons of each option, as well as ways to determine which option might be best for you and your spouse or partner.
How to Navigate Financial Dynamics When Merging Two Families into One
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Wednesday, 12 January 2022
Preparing financially for marriage can always feel a bit challenging, and that can be an even bigger challenge for blended families, meaning families in which one or both spouses have been married before.
Today, about 40% of new marriages represent a second marriage for at least one spouse, meaning more people than ever before are facing the unique financial dynamics involved with blending two families into one. The money management tips for blended families below can help you navigate the hurdles you may face in your own blended family.
