Sometimes it’s nice to just revisit the basics of good #personalfinance. This could be a refresher for you or something to talk to your kids about. This is a quick list of what to do (in order) if you have a windfall of money. Like, maybe, a tax refund. Pay off credit card debt…
Ever since the Global Financial Crisis of 2008, the US Federal Reserve kept interest rates at nearly 0% to stimulate the economy. As a result, safe money (cash you held for emergency funds or short-term needs) earned no interest whether that money was in a checking account, savings account, or money market fund. For so…
I’m trying to think of an expression, like “counting your chickens before the eggs hatch” that applies to considering inheritance as part of your financial plan. Or maybe, with egg prices what they are, we are just hoping to inherit a healthy chicken coop. Anyway, a topic of conversation that often comes up in planning…
This month, I’m pleased to feature the expertise of my friend and Realtor, Renee Cohen. Renee and I started our businesses around the same time, and I’ve always enjoyed exchanging ideas about growing our firms, serving clients, and the state of the economy. Recently, Renee added a certification to help divorcing clients with their real…
Ask my lovely CPA, I am NOT a tax expert. But, looking at the most common tax filing mistakes, a lot of these seem like clerical errors rather than complex tax decisions. Read on to save yourself some headaches after tax season. Inaccurate Personal Information: One of the most frequent errors is entering incorrect…
If people are going to panic about impending tax changes, I feel it’s more productive to know WHAT you are panicking about. Herewith, is a list of some of the changes that would happen if the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is allowed to sunset (as originally planned and signed into law) in 2026. Below…
Yes, a recent blog was just making fun of New Year’s Resolutions. But the new year does feel like a good time to embark on fresh starts, be it health, relationships, or money. I can only help with one. Resolution #1: Ignore all economic forecasts, prognostications, tea leaf reading, crystal ball predictions and financial…
What is a secret blunder lurking in many people’s investment accounts? Uninvested cash left sitting for months, years, even decades. How does this happen? A simple misunderstanding upon transferring or adding new money to brokerage accounts. Here is how money gets invested in a brokerage account: Here is what often happens: …
A huge red flag when I’m talking to potential new clients is when they are upset at their current advisor about their returns. Especially when I hear things like, “I’ve been with this guy 2 whole years and haven’t made any money.” Two years? That’s a blip in time in an investor’s return history. As…
I’ll admit, I’m one of those crazy people who thinks climate change is…a real thing. So, I was wondering what property insurance needs we might be overlooking as our environment, um, evolves. The most obvious to me is that people who didn’t need flood insurance before may need it now. As temps rise, the amount…
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