Welcome to summertime during a pandemic! Chances are you are feeling stretched financially, your kids are bored with no camps to attend, you have to download an app to go to the ice cream store, and your neighborhood pool might still be on lockdown. How will we keep cool and sane in the months ahead?…
Some people really want to retire. Umbrella drinks on the beach, unlimited time to knit, tee times during non-peak hours, and never skiing on a weekend again. Sounds great, right? Not for everyone. More and more, clients tell me they don’t really want to retire. After all, retirement is what old people do, and…
The COVID crises reminds me of 9/11 in some ways. Things we never thought we’d do before (strip to nearly naked in the security line, anyone?) became second nature quickly. If you had told me 6 months ago that I’d be waiting in line to get into Target, I’d think it’s rude for people to…
This is the second in our three Rs series about coming out of 2020 with our sanity and finances intact. Today we talk about Recovery. Personal Remember that setbacks happen to everyone. If you lost your job or had to move in with your parents or had to dip into your 401(k), it’s…
We’ve all heard the phrase “hindsight is 2020.” There are tons of memes floating around alluding to getting the year 2020 in our rearview mirror, and I have to agree. One thing you may be feeling lately is fragile. Your finances, sense of self, confidence in our social systems, routines, hobbies, and plans have…
If you’ve owned your house for a long time, you probably have substantial equity in it. People who are 62 or older can tap that equity in the form of a reverse mortgage. Instead of you making monthly payments to the bank, the bank pays you: a lump sum, monthly payments, or a line of credit that…
Building wealth is essential to accomplish a variety of goals, from sending your kids to college to retiring in style. But establishing a solid financial foundation will also help you survive stock market corrections and bear markets, recessions, health emergencies and other setbacks. Our plan outlined here covers every aspect of your financial life, from…
For expenses you can change, look at your bank and credit card statements for unnecessary monthly subscriptions, like gym memberships, that come out automatically. “Call or go online immediately to suspend those,” suggests Kristi Sullivan, certified financial planner with Sullivan Financial Planning in Denver. She also suggests temporarily stopping any automatic payments for college savings or retirement…
So, how’s your 2020 been? As I write this blog, I’m getting used to yet another blow to personal freedom, the 9pm curfew. Even my parents didn’t have me home that early in my not-so-rebellious teenage years. It is easy to feel sorry for ourselves, and we should take some time to grieve. Things…
If you ever thought your friendly neighborhood financial advisor knows it all, think again! I learn new things from clients all the time. This little nugget came to my attention a few weeks ago. It will apply to very few people, but you might check it out if your 401(k) has an after-tax contribution provision.…
