By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Friday, 16 March 2018
You have seen it a thousand times: “We help you reach your financial goals.” It is the tagline for the majority of financial advisors. And before you say to yourself, “Well Kathy, we have seen you use those exact words too.”, I will fully disclose that I am as guilty as the next guy or gal. We use it all the time. But it got me thinking about the relationships that we have with our clients and what financial goals planning really means. When we ask people what their goals are we are often given pretty broad answers that don’t quite get to the heart of the situation, much less provide enough information to set an action plan. Answers like, “I want to retire comfortably.”, “I want to save enough to leave money to my kids or to charity.”, or “I want to make sure that what we’re doing is right for the long-term.” are pretty common, but we strive to dig deeper.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Monday, 26 February 2018
A great deal of emphasis is placed on saving for retirement--as it should be. It is probably one of the most important long-term investments you will make in your life. But what is not discussed as frequently or in as much detail is how people withdraw money from their retirement savings accounts and other investments.
It is not a cut and dry process, as taking from one pot could cost you more than withdrawing from a different one. In fact, a study by Vanguard Research states that an effective withdrawal strategy can add up to 1.1% of annualized value without taking more risk.1 Withdrawing money to responsibly fund your retirement years takes discipline and some knowledge that may not be obvious to a lot of retirees. This article provides a breakdown of the basics so you can be better positioned to enjoy your retirement once you are ready.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Tuesday, 16 January 2018
When it comes to resolutions, many of us work hard to commit to exercising more regularly, eating better, reading more and spending more time doing the things that make us happy. An oft overlooked aspect of our lives is how we communicate with our loved ones, most importantly spouses, with regard to money and finances.
