By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Thursday, 08 November 2018
A quick guide for spending with intent, being present and having meaningful conversations with those you love.
It feels like the period of thankfulness and thoughtfulness brought on by a Thanksgiving feast is getting shorter every year. Black Friday looms large, ready to bombard us with shopping and deals. Consumption once again saddles in and takes precedence. In 2017, on Thanksgiving Day, online revenue grew by 28%. [i] If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed at the thought of another year of maxing out credit cards and rushing into the bargain-hunting fray to fight it out for the perfect gift item that no one really needs, then read on. For those who want a little more thankfulness and thoughtfulness this holiday season, I will discuss five ways to promote and nurture gratitude through the holidays and beyond.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Friday, 26 October 2018
People are getting married less and living together more. This is true for all demographics, including retirement-age couples.
The choice to remarry among those over 50 has been replaced by the choice to instead, live together unmarried has increased by 75% between 2007 and 2016.[i] Baby Boomers continue to divorce at double the rate they did in 1990 (what’s called Gray Divorce for couples over 50).[ii] There is an increased social acceptance regarding living together without marrying for older couples. But the other reason is women not wanting to marry later in life.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Wednesday, 26 September 2018
Once thought to be the exclusive arena of the ultra-wealthy, charitable giving has become a national phenomenon across all tax brackets and households. In fact, charitable giving surged to a record high of over $400 billion in 2017 alone, and Individual giving accounts for the majority of those donations.
Philanthropy and giving are not only good for the charities and organizations receiving the donations, but for the givers themselves. Research has shown that charitable giving can help you feel better, improve life satisfaction and even activate the reward centers of your brain. [ii]
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Monday, 17 September 2018
Susan decided to do something for herself after years of working in an office, raising a family, and focusing on other people. She wanted to get into better shape and knew the health benefits, specifically for women, of incorporating strength and resistance training into her exercise routine. Weight training makes bones denser and helps the body build muscle; since 80% of people suffering from osteoporosis are women, anything to help improve bone health with age is a good option.[i] After trying a few exercise classes and rotating through the gym equipment, she decided to raise the stakes and train for a triathlon. Triathlons involve running, biking and swimming, and are a challenging test of endurance for even the most seasoned athletes. Susan had a goal and she stuck to it, training in preparation for months. She gained muscle, lost inches and felt empowered. She completed the triathlon and started looking for her next challenge.
Tuesday, 28 August 2018
I am happy to confirm that my first book Flourish Financially: Values, Transitions, and Big Conversations was published just a few weeks ago and will be officially released on September 17. In writing the book, I had the benefit of reflecting on my own money story as well as the money stories of the many clients with whom I've worked over the years. Upon reflection, I identified one very common thread among all these stories—Communication. Whether it was the lack thereof, the abundance of it, or an ineffective or inconsistent approach, communication was the cornerstone of each and every story.
Why do you think money conversations are so difficult? I pondered this same question and while the answer seems obvious, as communication is the foundation of relationships, the real answer lies in something more nuanced. Money and finances come with a great deal of emotion, on top of the practical details to get along in the real world. Communicating about money and finances comes with even more emotion because one must become vulnerable and open about their strengths, weaknesses, challenges, successes, and failures with money. One must also let go of judgment to truly have an open and honest discussion about financial decisions and their impact on life.
