A very common topic with my financial planning clients is how to pay for a big home renovation. Whether it’s finishing a basement, relandscaping, or adding a second floor, home improvement is a big wish for many people. And then the quotes start rolling in. Sticker shock often has homeowners saying, “Is the brown shag…
In the US, we are making a big-old-deal about our 250th Birthday. But we are not the only ones with meaningful/ridiculous Independence Day traditions. And we are by far, not the oldest. So let’s take a quick tour of what’s going on at other countries’ birthday bashes. India Independence Day falls on August 15, marking…
Disclosure from Kristi before you read this: I do not sell or have any easy entrée into private equity investments. Unless it’s traded on the regular-old public markets exchange, you won’t get advice to buy private equity from me. However, you may be wondering what it’s about, if you are missing the boat, etc. So,…
If you’ve ever looked at your paycheck and thought, “Why is the state taking enough money to sponsor a small yacht?” the idea of moving to a no-income-tax state can sound magical. States like Florida, Texas, and Tennessee market themselves like financial paradise: sunshine, freedom, and no state income tax. But before packing the moving…
While my kids were growing up, our family vacation planning went something like this: December: “We should plan ahead for a vacation with the boys this summer. Maybe this time it won’t feel so stressful and be so expensive.” June: “We have no plans and only one available week to go on a family vacation. …
Retirement often begins with a question many people have quietly postponed for years: “If we can live anywhere… where should we go?” For retirees, relocating is often part financial strategy, part lifestyle upgrade, and part realization that shoveling snow at age 72 has officially lost its charm. One of the biggest reasons retirees move is…
For your favorite financial advisor (I’m assuming that’s me), the life lessons keep on coming. First, it was parenting. “How hard can it be to keep your kids out of trouble/drugs/therapy?” thought I. “HA hahaahaha,” replied the universe. The latest has been my experience downsizing. I knew I needed to get out of my big…
The Mega-Back-Door Roth 401 (k). Oh, how the government likes to look like they are helping us create our own financial security in the face of a very small social safety net for our country’s ill and elderly. And you know who else loves it? That’s right, the financial news industry! Every time the government…
If you’re age 50 or older, you’ve probably heard of “catch-up contributions.” It’s the IRS saying, “You are making more money, maybe those expensive kids are launched, go ahead and pile on the retirement savings. We’ll let ya.” Up until this year, you could also protect those extra contributions from current income taxes. But, as…
What is the trickiest part of being a financial planner? Is it outsmarting the markets? Knowing the “best” investments to recommend to clients? Figuring out someone’s lost crypto-wallet password? None of the above! At least not for me. The hardest part of financial planning is helping people determine that just-right amount of retirement spending. That…
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