Since the stock market volatility of October, my financial planner friends and I have been pretty crabby. “Well, of course,” you say, “down stock markets are terrible for investment advisors.” Nope, that’s not the problem at all. Getting mad at the stock market for going down is like being angry at a toddler whose…
In times of uncertainty (rising interest rates, tariff wars), investors understandably want predictability, even if it means sacrificing return. Cash (savings accounts, money markets) offer stability, but not much interest. For people who are working, I suggest you keep 3-6 months of expenses in cash for emergencies and invest the rest for longer term…
More and more employers are making the Roth option available in their 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plans. What does this mean? Well, the default contribution to retirement plans has always been tax-deferred. Meaning, you are legally hiding income for the current year, enjoying paying no taxes on the dividends and capital gains on…
As I sit here and eat the Take 5 bars that I will not be giving to trick-or-treaters, it seemed appropriate to offer a quick market commentary about what has been scary and sweet so far in the 2018 investment world. Scary: International stocks, which have been hurt by the rising US dollar…
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…
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…
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.…
A term we financial planners throw at our clients a lot is Asset Allocation. What does that even mean? Well, it’s only the most important decision you make with your investments! Asset Allocation Asset Allocation is simply the percentage of your money you decide to put into different areas of the investment markets. A…
I’m happy to welcome back Certified Nutritionist and author of A Fresh Wellness Mindset, Tam John. Our theme this month, in honor of Spring Cleaning, is Streamlining, both physical and financial wellness. Let’s start with Tam’s 3 tips to get more of what you want, with financial comments from Kristi thrown in: Let go…
Welcome to Part 3 of my interview with Dr. Alec Baker of Peak Living Psychology. To finish off Dr. Baker’s interview, I wanted to end on a positive note. KS: What are some shared characteristics you see of individuals who are good with their money? AB: People who are good with their money…
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