This week I am happy to offer an article by guest blogger Sara Zessar, an expert in the field of finding the college fit for students and money to help pay the tuition. Read more about Sara at the end of this piece. What is a merit scholarship? In essence, it’s a scholarship…
Life expectancy is a concept that seems basic but is not well understood. If we all knew the exact date of our death, the whole financial advice industry could cease to exist. After all, if you know exactly how many more days you need your money to last, all planning can be done with an…
I can’t believe it. My niece, who was just an infant yesterday, is now lifeguarding at the neighborhood pool where I grew up! The family is promising her lots of visits in our string bikinis to support her and she is thrilled at the prospect. What else are kids doing for money this summer? …
There is no doubt that I am getting crabby in my middle age, and one thing that gets my goat is when people tell me that saving is too hard, and they are just going to keep working until they die. Physically, I am giving the speaker a bland smile and nodding, but inside I’m…
If you’re thinking that the job you have is only going to be short-term and you’re wondering if you should contribute to your retirement account, check out the video below!
Impact investing has been around for a while. The idea is to direct your money to causes that are important to you and away from companies with products you dislike. In a December 2017 I gave examples of mutual funds and ETFs that focus on the environment, certain religious beliefs, and gender equality. I…
Frequently when I’m talking to a new client, he or she will start of by saying “I’m sorry, I don’t have more saved. Or, “I’m sorry, I made these mistakes in the past.” Believe me, we all, even financial planners, have made money moves we regret. One that came up recently in a phone…
I hate clutter. And most anything that doesn’t have immediate use to me is clutter. My mom once said about me, “Don’t stand still in Kristi’s house for more than two minutes or she’ll donate you to Goodwill.” Some people might be insulted by that statement, but it made me proud. Now it’s summer…
Not that long ago, words like “retirement” and “caregivers” weren’t part of our vocabulary. People worked until they could no longer physically do so and then died shortly after. Generations of families lived together, so Grandma took care of the grandkids while parents worked (no exorbitant day care costs!). When Grandma got sick, the kids…
No, the title isn’t a typo! Recently two concepts have been in the news that make me ponder how much small change can change your future. The first is a poll conducted by YouGov Omnibus in January of 2018 which found that 89% of Americans would stop to pick up a coin off the ground.…
