How Developing a Family Values Plan Can Help Keep Your Family on Track
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Wednesday, 22 June 2022
You’ve probably heard all of the most common financial advice for growing families: max out your 401(k)s, invest money into a 529 college savings plan, buy life insurance, make sure your will is up to date, and so on. These are all important steps for cementing a firm financial foundation for your family, of course, but there’s more to consider.
Another important piece of a growing family’s financial puzzle is to determine what values they hold dear, and then commit to using those values to make financial decisions. Below, we’ll discuss why taking this step matters and how to get started.
How to Move Beyond Best Intentions Toward Best Practices
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Wednesday, 08 June 2022
If you want to stop overspending so you can save more money, you’re not alone. Yet even with the best intentions, it’s often not as simple or straightforward as it seems. Avoiding your favorite online stores and not splurging on special items can feel like you’re depriving yourself. When you give into all of your spending temptations, however, it’s easy to blow your budget and spend more money than you intend to.
If your balance keeps dipping lower than you’d like it to, read on for six strategies that can help you turn things around and meet this important money goal.
Consider These Seven Factors Before Making Your Decision
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Wednesday, 25 May 2022
How do you know it’s time to retire? While most of us enter into retirement at some point in our lives, the timing is different for everyone. It’s a personal decision based on your unique situation, and it can involve many complex factors. Age might be the biggest factor for you, or maybe it comes down to saving a certain amount, waiting until your youngest child moves out, or something else.
If you’re beginning to think about your retirement timeline, here are seven things to consider:
7 Money Lies You May Be Telling Yourself
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Wednesday, 11 May 2022
No one sets out to tell themselves money lies, but beliefs can sometimes overwhelm facts when it comes to personal finance. Because money is such a big part of life, our wishes, hopes, dreams, and fears can sometimes make it hard to see the truth for what it is. Oftentimes, this happens without us realizing it, but the consequences can nonetheless be very real.
Money lies have a way of living well beyond when they should. Since we rarely talk about money with family, friends, or acquaintances, the lies can take on a life of their own and have a significant impact on our day-to-day lives.
Let’s take a look at seven of the most common missteps and misconceptions. If any of these money lies sound familiar, it might be time to set the record straight and start embracing better choices. Your financial health and future will thank you.
These Money Moves Can Empower Women to Take Control of Their Financial Futures
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Tuesday, 19 April 2022
It’s no secret that women have come a long way in terms of gaining power and agency in society, and with that has come more financial security, too. What it means to be a woman now is a very different concept than what it meant to be a woman in the 1950s. And while this progress is definitely something we should celebrate, the updated concept of “the modern woman” comes with its own stifling definitions. Today’s women feel the pressure to juggle many different identities: the doting wife, the nurturing mother, the selfless caregiver, and the career woman.
