If you’ve ever met with a financial advisor, you’ve probably heard something like, “Your plan has an 85% chance of success.” That sounds pretty reassuring—but what does it actually mean? The answer usually comes from a Monte Carlo simulation. Monte Carlo software is a way to test thousands of possible futures instead of pretending anyone…
With back-to-school season in full swing, I bet you are thinking, “Wow, I don’t miss those days of studying and tests.” Not so fast! In honor of Fall, I present to you a quiz on your financial progress over the past year. Question 1: Over the past 12 months, I have done the following (check…
Here is a short list of fraught, nearly unanswerable questions a financial advisor gets at a dinner party: Is $ 1 million enough for me to retire? Will Social Security be there for me? How much will I spend on health care in retirement? How does anyone afford long-term care costs? Is it a good…
Do you think that moving in with a romantic partner is less legally complicated than marriage? Or perhaps you want to go in with your best friend to buy a house in an expensive real estate market. What if your adult child moves in with you to help take care of you in your dotage?…
My friends over at GHP Investment Advisors are killing it with their newsletters lately. I highly encourage you to read the essay by Reed McCoy in the link below. He has so much good information that I don’t want to junk it up with my stuff, so just a few thoughts from me on this…
True, this isn’t a gardening column, but I’m all about living a life of enjoyment today, while still saving for the future. So, let’s get the pretty plants out for a happy summer, but for goodness’ sake, only buy the plants once. If you’ve ever stepped outside in July and immediately questioned your life choices,…
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…
Stay organized and prepared for retirement with my comprehensive checklist and timeline. Enter your name and email below to get instant access.
