There is a perception that if news isn’t worth acting on, then it must be useless or a waste of time. And there are a lot of advisors (I’ve been one of them) that have stated on more than one occasion that retirees might be better off if they turned off the news. While I still generally believe that to be true due to our proclivity to act, it is… Read More
A Letter to Grandparents
In September, it will be four years since my grandfather passed away and I still think about him every single day. He was my hero. His presence in my life and the impact that he had on me will stay with me forever. At his funeral, my brother and I were given the distinct honor of delivering the eulogy. My sister and our cousin were on stage with us as we… Read More
Will Social Security Still Be There When I Retire?
Social Security is a touchy subject. Because of its political and emotional attachments, it also one of the more misunderstood areas of financial planning. As I’ve watched the attitude toward Social Security evolve, retirees claiming benefits early seems to be a popular strategy due at least in part to the perceived insolvency of the program. “I’m going to get it while it’s still there.” is a popular refrain. Many times,… Read More
Should You Wait Until 70 for Social Security?
There are a lot of misconceptions about when to file for Social Security benefits. Should you file as soon as possible, at 66 or wait until 70? The truth is your answer is and should be unique to you. What your neighbors or even your other family members are doing probably should not be considered in your decision. My goal in this article isn’t to convince you to wait, but… Read More
Retirees Underestimate the Impact of Longevity & Inflation
Take a second and think to yourself, how long do you think you will live? I realize it’s a morose thought, but honestly what age do you think you’ll pass away? You may consider your current health, your family history or a variety of other factors to make the estimation. When I ask investors what age they believe they will live to, an overwhelming number of respondents estimate somewhere between… Read More
Why I Advocate For Passive Investing For Clients
Winston Churchill is often credited with the statement that democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others that have been tried. This is a lot like how I view the whole active vs passive management debate because there is no perfect way in which to manage a portfolio. But I believe there are significant guideposts to follow that can make the decision a little clearer. There… Read More
Faith in the Future
Faith rarely gets mentioned when discussing how to successfully invest for retirement. I’m not referring to faith in a religious sense, but faith that the markets will go up over time, albeit with temporary and sometimes drastic pullbacks. Ironically, as the market is still near record highs, pessimism, skepticism, and nervousness continue to be the prevailing sentiments. Virtually everyone I know has significant skepticism with regard to current market values. And… Read More
My Investing Principles
When choosing a financial advisor, it’s critical that you agree on a common set of beliefs to ensure that proper expectations are set. Therefore, I felt it would be helpful to make my specific planning and investing principles readily available. Below you’ll find my Investing Principles. If you’re interested in my Financial Planning Principles, click here. Investing Principles: Your Financial Plan Determines Your Portfolio – We build financial plans with your… Read More
My Financial Planning Principles
When choosing a financial advisor, it’s critical that you agree on a common set of beliefs to ensure that proper expectations are set. Therefore, I felt it would be helpful to make my specific planning and investing principles readily available. Below you’ll find my Financial Planning Principles. If you’re interested in my Investment Principles, click here. Financial Planning Principles: In order to be successful financially, you need a plan -… Read More
My Process - What You Can Expect
The process I use has been designed to help you make a comfortable decision regarding who you’d like to partner with for your retirement. There is no cost or obligation for going through this process as I want you to know exactly what you can expect before you pay us a single dollar. Step One - Initial “Fit” Meeting: Perhaps most importantly, I understand that for many people, the most… Read More
