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Life Lessons From Warren Buffett

Berkshire Hathaway's annual shareholders meeting is always closely watched by investors and economic pundits. But this year's edition was truly historic. For the first time in 60 years, the company has a new CEO, Greg Abel, following...

Important Update: The Trump Account

We are writing to share an important development in tax-advantaged savings: the Trump Account, a new savings vehicle for children that officially launches on July 4, 2026. Created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (also known as the...

What Would You Do With a Windfall?

After years of walking clients through inheritances, business sales, bonuses, and liquidity events, we have seen how these moments unfold in remarkably consistent ways. There is almost always a boat, or something like one. A vacation...

Half of Parents Are Still Funding Their Adult Kids: Here's What It's Costing Them

Why Does Graduation Matter to Parents' Finances? Graduation season is one of the most emotionally charged times of the year for families. But beneath the caps, gowns, and celebrations, something happens financially that often goes...

Staying Motivated with Group Exercise in Retirement

Staying Motivated with Group Exercise in Retirement Sometimes in retirement your bed is just too comfy, the couch is just too convenient, and the reasons to get up and move just aren't motivating enough. Group exercise can give you that...

Continuing Care Retirement Communities: What They Cost, How They Work, and When to Start Preparing

Why Is This Conversation So Important Right Now? The U.S. is in the middle of a sustained demographic shift. More than 61 million adults are aged 65 and older as of 2025, and that number is projected to reach approximately 82 million...

Home Improvements for ROL

Home Improvements for ROL We often think of home improvements strictly in terms of dollars and cents. How much is this going to cost? How much is it going to improve the value of my house? But an investment in your home is also an...

How to Use Leisure Time to be More Productive

How to Use Leisure Time to be More Productive The pressure to be as productive as possible from the moment we wake up until our heads hit our pillows again can make leisure feel like the enemy. When we do step away from our desks or...

When Should I Start Taking Social Security: 5 Factors to Consider

Social Security decisions are often framed as a single question: “When should I start drawing benefits?” That question matters, but it can also be limiting. The better question is: how does Social Security fit into my overall...

Using The Next Chapter for Personal Renewal

Using The Next Chapter for Personal Renewal Some people view retirement as the autumn or winter of their lives, a time of winding down, finishing life's harvest, and freezing into place. That is why we refer to this time of life as the...

Teaching Teens and Young Adults Financial Literacy Through Real-Life Decision Making

If you are a parent of a teen or young adult, how do you teach them to make confident money decisions before the stakes are high? Teaching teens and young adults about money is less about formal instruction and more about repeated...

Tackling Uncertainty for Personal Growth

Tackling Uncertainty for Personal Growth “Hey Google, what’s the weather forecast?” “Alexa, check the traffic on my route to work.” “Siri, read my list of appointments for the day.” Human beings are hardwired to crave certainty. That’s...

Helping Adult Children Buy a Home: How to Gift a Down Payment The Smart Way

Key TakeawaysHere are some questions this blog aims to answer:How can parents or grandparents help with a down payment for adult children?What are ways to gift a down payment, and how do the annual gift tax exclusion and lifetime...

Utilizing Skills for a Fulfilling Job in Retirement

Utilizing Skills for a Fulfilling Job in Retirement Many seniors head into retirement dreaming about an "endless vacation." I don’t even like the word retirement, it has a negative connotation in our society. At Fish and Associates, we...

Three Numbers Every Woman Should Know

Key TakeawaysHow much wealth are women on track to control in the next decade, and why does that matter?What does the life expectancy gap between women and men mean for how long money needs to last?How common is it for women to be...

The Importance of a Recharge for ROL

The Importance of a Recharge for ROL What does "working hard" even mean anymore? In our age of "life hacks," health trackers, and AI optimization, we're under constant pressure to do more, better and faster, even when we're not at work....

Tax Prep vs. Tax Strategy: The Difference Matters More Than You Think

Key TakeawaysTreat tax strategy as a continuous process, not a once-a-year filing exercise.Coordinate with financial and tax professionals throughout the year to identify opportunities for efficiency.Review contribution limits,...

Staying Engaged in Retirement

Staying Engaged in Retirement Work isn't the only thing that's suddenly gone the day after a senior retires. The alarm clock stops ringing. So does the phone. Inboxes are empty. Calendars are blank. No more deadlines, demands, or...

Understanding the Emotions Behind Financial Decisions

Key TakeawaysEmotions and biases might influence financial choices more often than most people realize.Behavioral patterns, such as loss aversion, familiarity bias, and herd mentality, can impact long-term results.Recognizing emotional...

AI and the New Face of Fraud: How to Protect Your Identity and Finances in 2026

Artificial intelligence (AI) may be the most revolutionary technology of our time, with industries scrambling to embrace its possibilities. AI’s early influence seems similar to the positive disruptions brought about by past...

Retire Like You Invest

Retire Like You Invest. The best habits often have applications in many different aspects of life. We certainly feel that's true about our Life-Centered Financial Planning Process! The transition to retirement is going to bring many...

Helping Kids Get ROL With Their Holiday Cash

Helping Kids Get ROL With Their Holiday Cash. You've quested long and hard for the perfect gift. But now that the holiday countdown is really on, and you're short on time and patience, it's time to admit it: Kids just want cash for...

Educational Webinar: Savvy Social Security: What Baby Boomers Need To Know

Savvy Social Security: What Baby Boomers Need To Know. Thursday, January 29th, at12:00 PM CST & 5:30 PM CST. Please join us at our next virtual educational webinar! Based on feedback from previous attendees, we will offer 2 options to...

2025 in Review and What You Should Know

As we begin a new year and consider the opportunities ahead, reflecting on the past year helps put today’s financial landscape into perspective and informs the strategies that can move us closer to our goals. 2025 was a year marked by...

Building on Small Successes

(Global) Building on Small Successes Most folks who are financially successful learn how to use the power of compounding to their advantage. By starting to save and invest early, making consistent contributions, and sticking to their...

Goal Setting That Sticks: Simple Ways to Turn January Motivation into Lasting Wins

Key Takeaways and Suggestions for Successful Goal Setting Use SMART Goals for Clarity and FocusSet goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This proven method helps break big ambitions into manageable...

Getting the Most ROL from Your Smile

Getting the Most ROL from Your Smile As Life-Centered Financial Planners, we always want your finances to bring a smile to your face. But for most seniors, it's your spending that's going to "smile" as you age through the Go-Go, the...

Year-End Giving Strategies: Tax-Smart and Impactful

Key Takeaways A third of annual donations: About one-third of all charitable contributions are made in December. Donating before December 31 may offer tax advantages. New rules starting in 2026 (via the OBBB Act) may affect deductions...

Do You Need a Microcation for ROL?

Do You Need a Microcation for ROL? Sometimes planning the break that you need from work just feels like ... more work. How are you going to find time to compare flights, book hotel rooms, and schedule visits to attractions when you're...

Should You Downsize Your Home in Retirement?

Should You Downsize Your Home in Retirement? Your home is more than just a house. It's where you started your life with your spouse, raised your family, hosted holiday parties, played catch, built snowmen, planted a garden, and spent...

The True Costs of Caring for Aging Parents

Key Takeaways Caring for aging parents is a growing reality for many Americans. The number of family caregivers in the U.S. has jumped to 63 million, a 45 percent increase over the past decade, making 1 in every 4 Americans a...

Money Talks: How to Use Holiday Gatherings to Start Family Financial Conversations

Key Takeaways Year-end holidays may be a good time to initiate a discussion about financial matters that may impact your family. If you have adult children, you may want to discuss your financial situation, estate strategy, and legal...

Should You Purchase a Second Home with Friends?

Should You Purchase a Second Home with Friends? Owning a home away from home can add some significant value to your portfolio and your ROL. A second home can be an escape, a change of scenery, a place to immerse yourself in specific...

Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Early?

Receiving a bonus, inheritance, or an increase in income often prompts a key financial question: Should I use this money to pay off my mortgage, or invest it? At first glance, the answer might seem simple. But in reality, it requires...

Choosing a Retirement Withdrawal Strategy for ROL

Choosing a Retirement Withdrawal Strategy for ROL What's the right balance between enjoying your wealth in retirement and making sure your nest egg lasts all the way through retirement? To answer that question, many seniors turn to a...

A 2025 Guide to Protecting Seniors from Fraud

If you’ve found yourself stepping into a more active role in your parents’ financial lives, you’re not alone. Some of us are helping aging parents navigate everything from healthcare decisions to bill payments—and increasingly, we’re...

Smart Moves to Consider Before Year-End

The final months of the year can sneak up quickly, and with them come deadlines, decisions, and distractions. Before the holiday season takes over your calendar, fall can be a valuable window to revisit your financial strategy and...

Breaking Down the One Big Beautiful Bill Act: What You Need to Know

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) included lower federal income tax brackets, bigger standard deductions, and higher gift and estate tax exemptions, among other provisions. The law stipulated that some of those tax breaks would...

Why More Families Are Choosing to Gift Wealth Earlier—and How to Do It

Estate management isn’t just about what happens after you’re gone— it’s also about what you can do now to help manage future estate taxes, transfer wealth strategically, and attempt to create a meaningful impact during your lifetime....

What You Need to Know About the 2025 Changes to Inherited IRA Rules

8/13 The rules regarding inherited IRAs have changed in the last five years, and failing to comply with the new requirements may result in IRS penalties. These changes affect people inheriting IRAs and those looking to leave retirement...

Beyond Salary: Understanding Your Total Compensation

Compensation is more than just a number on a paycheck. Whether you're exploring new opportunities, preparing for a promotion, or evaluating your current benefits, it’s important to understand the full value of your total...

Three Overlooked Areas of a Solid Financial Plan

Many folks judge the health of their financial plan based on how the markets and their investment accounts are performing. But a Life-Centered Financial Plan takes a much more holistic approach to your financial well-being -- including

How Much Do You Really Know About Stock Market Indexes?

While you may follow the various stock indexes on the nightly business news, how much do you know about their histories, how they work, and why they're important? We pulled together some information and interesting facts about some of...

How Do You Turn Retirement Savings into a Reliable Income Strategy?

You’ve likely spent years building your retirement nest egg—saving diligently, investing wisely, and contributing to retirement accounts along the way. But transitioning from earning a paycheck to relying on your savings can feel...

When to Get Help with Caregiving

Many Millennials and Gen Xers are part of a new cohort: "the sandwich generation." Due to a series of societal shifts, approximately 2.5 million U.S. adults find themselves sandwiched between taking care of their children and taking care of

“The Four Most Dangerous Words In Investing Are: ‘This Time It’s Different.’” – Sir John Templeton

Despite those who say the conventional wisdom that has guided investor actions over the years is no longer valid in 2025, remember the famous quote from legendary investor Sir John Templeton: "The four most dangerous words in investing...

(Global) Life Lessons From Warren Buffett's Career

 Warren Buffett always makes headlines during Berkshire Hathaway's Annual Shareholder Meeting. But the 2025 edition wasn't just noteworthy for Buffett's views on the markets. The 94-year-old "Oracle of Omaha" announced that he was asking

What’s the Job Market Look Like for 2025 Graduates?

It’s graduation season—a time of celebration and new beginnings. For families with college seniors, this time can bring both excitement and uncertainty. While some graduates have jobs lined up, many others still are navigating job...

Is It Smarter to Buy or Rent a Second Home?

As summer approaches, your thoughts may drift toward escaping your daily routine. Whether your idea of a perfect vacation is sitting on a pristine beach, fishing in a mountain lake, or playing the back nine between pickleball matches,...

From College Acceptances to Affordability: Considerations for Families in the Final Stretch

April is a pivotal time in the college admissions process. After years of preparation, saving, and investing—not to mention the countless hours spent on exam prep, campus visits, and perfecting applications and essays—the finish line...

Spring Into Financial Wellness: Actionable Steps for Financial Literacy Month

April isn’t just about filing taxes—it’s also Financial Literacy Month, a perfect opportunity to reflect on your financial habits, expand your knowledge, and take meaningful steps toward improving your financial well-being. Whether...

10 Things You Can Do Now to Help Simplify Your Estate for Your Heirs

One of the greatest gifts you can give your loved ones is a thoughtful estate strategy that outlines your wishes after you are gone. Discussing estate details with your team of professionals is another way to help manage your legacy...

The Evolving Role of Women in Family Finances

March is Women’s History Month, and according to a recent survey, 49% of women consider themselves to be the chief financial officer of their households, up from 41% in 2021.1 Those numbers are even more impressive when you consider...

Don’t Leave Money Behind: Finding Your Missing 401(k)s

You've worked hard throughout your life to build assets to support your retirement. As financial professionals, one of the most critical functions we provide is helping clients determine their retirement income needs and structuring a...

What is Your Premortem for 2025?

As you think back on 2025, why was this your worst year ever? That's not typically the thought exercise we go through when preparing for a New Year. But one possible reason over 90% of people fail at their New Year's resolutions is...

Tax season brings a new wave of identity theft risks

Tax season brings a new wave of identity theft risks, with criminals ready to exploit your personal data to file fraudulent tax returns in your name. Imagine the shock of discovering that a criminal beat you to filing your...

10 Facts You May Not Know About Social Security

Social Security is often misunderstood or underestimated in retirement strategy. However, as financial professionals, we've seen how it can play a crucial role in our clients' overall financial strategy, regardless of their income...

The Importance of a Good Thinking Partner

The Importance of a Good Thinking Partner "Two heads are better than one" is a widely accepted piece of wisdom that we probably don't lean on as much as we should. In an era of AI-assisted search and analytics, it's become easier and...

Think About Habits When Setting New Year Resolutions

Think About Habits When Setting New Year Resolutions Here's a resolution that could help you achieve more in 2025: No more resolutions. Whether you want to get into better shape, learn a new skill, pursue mastery of your favorite hobby...

Are Your Opportunity Costs Hurting Your ROL?

Are Your Opportunity Costs Hurting Your ROL? If you turn right at an intersection to take the scenic route, then you don't turn left and head straight home. If you have dinner at your favorite pizza restaurant tonight, then you don't...

Retire like you invest

Retire Like You Invest The best habits often have applications in many different aspects of life. We certainly feel that's true about our Life-Centered Financial Planning Process! The transition to retirement brings many changes,...

Why Income Planning Matters for Your Secure Retirement

I recently read an article in Financial Advisor Magazine about the failure of financial advisors to provide specialized advice and planning around the transition from “work to work optional”  as we like to say at our firm.

TRY NEW THINGS

Try New Things Many of us try to get more out of our days by optimizing our routines. Especially in the morning and before bed, we create time blocks to exercise, cook, practice hobbies, get a jump on work, unwind, or spend time with...

What Is Your Keystone Habit for a Better ROL?

What Is Your Keystone Habit for a Better ROL? Good habits can make our everyday experiences more positive and our progress towards long-term goals more tangible. But the most effective habits don't just add to our to-do lists. They...

Planning A Big Family Trip

Planning a Big Family Trip Study after study has found that spending money on experiences is far more rewarding than spending money on stuff. So imagine how rewarding it will feel to plan a big family vacation that creates lasting...

The Many Benefits of Enjoying Your Work

The Many Benefits of Enjoying Your Work Very few people love everything about their jobs. But even if you're someone who just clocks in and out for a paycheck, wouldn't it be nice to get a little more Return on Life from something you...

Is a Foundation Right for Your Family?

Is a Foundation Right for Your Family? Giving back and leaving a legacy that reflects your values can be a very meaningful part of your estate planning. In fact, putting some real thought and intention into what kind of an impact you'd...

Look at the Big Picture

Look at the Big Picture Market volatility can make anyone nervous, especially in our always-on, 24/7 news cycle. When some of our more experienced team members were first starting out in finance, average investors typically checked in...

August is Make a Will Month: What Will Your Legacy Be?

Summer is almost over, and August is nationally recognized as Make a Will Month. Although discussing wills may feel uncomfortable or seem far-off, it presents an important opportunity to reflect on our lives, our values, and the...

Help Kids Set Goals for New School Year

Help Kids Set Goals for New School Year Parents often judge their child's success by the letters they see on their report card. But helping kids develop strong habits and a can-do mindset can set them up for success inside and outside...

Simplify for Better ROL

Simplify for Better ROL "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication," proclaimed an Apple Computer marketing brochure back in 1977. In the ensuing decades, Steve Jobs' commitment to this ideal resulted in technology products that were...

What Does Financial Independence Mean to You?

What Does Financial Independence Mean to You? According to a recent poll of 2,000 U.S. adults, "financial independence" equates to earning $94,000 per year, or about $20,000 more than the median income in 2023. Some folks might feel...

Should You Buy or Build Your Dream Home?

Should You Buy or Build Your Dream Home? The choice between buying and building a house hasn't become much easier in 2024. While expert predictions that the housing market would cool off this year have mostly borne out, that's due in...

Plan Today, Peace Tomorrow: Guide to The Power of Estate Planning

Plan Today, Peace Tomorrow: Guide to The Power of Estate Planning We’ve all read or heard the stories. Someone passes away without a will, and potential heirs sharpen their knives in a free-for-all that can take years to play out in...

Managing a Family Retreat Across Generations

Managing a Family Retreat Across Generations A family might spend decades working and saving towards the goal of owning a vacation home. The memories made at that beachfront condo or cabin in the woods could be priceless. But the...

Plan a Camping Trip With Grandkids

Plan a Camping Trip With Grandkids One of the great joys of being a grandparent is sharing your passions with your grandchildren. If yours are old enough and mature enough to spend a few days away from their parents, this might be the...

Planning a Family Summer for ROL

Planning a Family Summer for ROL While kids may be eagerly anticipating the carefree -- and school-free -- summer months, their parents might already be stressing about how to fill all that time. Planning ahead can help families keep...

Improve Mindfulness for ROL

Improve Mindfulness for ROL Many of the thoughts that run through our heads at any given moment have nothing to do with the moment. We might be stuck in a "doom loop," worrying about things that may or may not happen. We might be stuck...

Giving While Living

Giving While Living If charity is part of your legacy plan, the best time to start giving back could be right now. Spending on other people is one of the most rewarding ways we can use our money. And seeing your generosity in action...

Can You Improve Your ROL by 1% Each Day?

Can You Improve Your ROL by 1% Each Day? Would you like to achieve a 37X change in your life by this time next year? According to productivity expert James Clear -- and a little bit of math -- that's how big of an impact just a 1%...

Lifelong Learning for a Higher ROL in Retirement

Lifelong Learning for a Higher ROL in Retirement Very few people stop learning once their formal education is over. Whether you took a few classes to burnish your professional credentials or collaborated with coworkers to bring...

How to Spend for Higher ROL

How to Spend for Higher ROL Financial planning isn't just about saving and investing for tomorrow. As we work towards long-term goals like retirement, it's important to use your money in ways that make every stage of your life more...

Renting vs. Owning in Retirement

Renting vs. Owning in Retirement For many people, buying a home fulfills a dream that's tied to important personal, professional, and financial goals. The feeling that they would be abandoning that dream can be a big reason why...

Combine Hobbies and Volunteering for More Purpose in Retirement

Combine Hobbies and Volunteering for More Purpose in Retirement Many retirees organize their new schedules around their hobbies and interests. Rather than squeezing all your practice and learning into off hours and weekends, you can...

What's Your Routine for a Better ROL?

What's Your Routine for a Better ROL? Establishing a consistent morning routine can give your physical and mental health a massive boost. Routines help us to organize and prioritize what we want to accomplish, which can reduce stress...

Fraud Schemes and How to Protect Yourself!

March 3-9 is National Consumer Protection Week and a great to time to increase your awareness around scams and fraud. Financial fraud can have devastating consequences, sometimes causing irreparable damage to an individual's savings...

Gen Z, Millennial Couples Prefer Financial Autonomy

Over the years, I've come to believe that learning to navigate financial discussions and events in a relationship is a "must" that transcends generations. However, recent data shows that Gen Z and Millennial couples are forging their...

Teach Kids About Investing

Teach Kids About Investing Providing for your children's education is an important part of your financial plan. But, for the most part, that education won't teach your children very much about basic financial literacy. The money...

Beating the Winter Blues

Beating the Winter Blues Even folks who love speeding down the slopes, gliding across frozen ponds, or building snowmen with their kids can experience mental health struggles during the winter months. Shorter days and gray skies mean...

House Passes New Child Tax Credit

Over the last week or so, I've seen multiple headlines celebrating a new child tax credit— just one part of a larger $78 billion tax package recently passed by the House of Representatives.1 Undoubtedly, this could be great news...

Creative Pursuits to Increase ROL in Retirement

Creative Pursuits to Increase ROL in Retirement You don't have to be an artist to add some art to your retirement. From singing in a choir to taking an improv class, creative activities can improve your health, encourage...

When to Take Risks to Increase ROL

When to Take Risks to Increase ROL Sometimes the biggest risk is not taking one. Try as we may, it's almost impossible to protect our lives, careers, and financial planning from some degree of volatility. If you're not willing to...

Should I Remodel or Move?

Should I Remodel or Move? If your growing family has outgrown your available bedroom space or your kitchen can't keep up with your culinary skills, you might start feeling like you're not getting enough Return on Life from your house....

Review Your Priorities for 2024

Review Your Priorities for 2024  According to researchers, approximately 80% of resolutions are abandoned before the end of January. Many of these failed resolutions weren't specific enough to be achievable. Others were too...

Do You Hear What I Hear? Why Hearing Aids Matter

Do You Hear What I Hear? Why Hearing Aids Matter      You develop good relationships with your clients and want to offer them information that make a difference in their lives, not just their portfolios. Have you...

Use KPIs to Achieve Your New Year's Resolutions

Use KPIs to Achieve Your New Year's Resolutions  According to Forbes, improving fitness, finances, and mental health are the top New Year's resolutions for 2024. Unfortunately, Forbes also found that the odds of folks achieving...

Reflect on 2023 to Set Your New Year's Goals

Reflect on 2023 to Set Your New Year's Goals Folks can get so excited about setting goals and resolutions for the New Year that they sometimes skip over an essential first step: reflecting on the year that's ending. Before you turn the...

Gifting a Family Trip for Christmas

Gifting a Family Trip for Christmas Next holiday season, instead of packing up clothes your kids have outgrown and tossing toys that already broke, you could be reminiscing about giving your family something far more durable: a dream...

Setting a Short-Term Financial Goal for 2024

Setting a Short-Term Financial Goal for 2024   Many of the most significant items on your $Lifeline are plotted years, if not decades, into the future: buying a house, having children, paying for college, helping elderly relatives...

Gifts That Keep on Giving

Gifts That Keep on Giving  Financial education is a present that will never break down or go out of style. In fact, long after many of this year's presents have been donated or recycled, a gift that teaches the value of money...

IRS Releases 2024 Tax Brackets, Retirement Contribution Limits

The Internal Revenue Service recently released updated income tax brackets, standard deduction, and retirement contribution limits for the 2024 tax year. While these taxes are not due for some time, it may benefit you to start thinking

Start a Gratitude Journal to Be Thankful Year Round

Start a Gratitude Journal to Be Thankful Year Round   Not feeling very thankful this Thanksgiving season? You probably have more to be grateful for than you realize. But the stress of the holidays and the seemingly non-stop run of...

When to Keep or Replace Family Traditions

When to Keep or Replace Family Traditions   Family traditions are a beloved part of our holiday celebrations. Until they aren't anymore. Just because your family has been doing something for years doesn't mean you should keep...

Setting Fitness Goals in Retirement

Setting Fitness Goals in Retirement  As your career goals begin to recede during the transition to retirement, you may find yourself setting new goals that will help you live your best life longer. Improving your fitness can help...

Don’t Let Fears Get in the Way of Your Goals

Don’t Let Fears Get in the Way of Your Goals  Why do so many of us love wandering through a "haunted" house on Halloween?  Because no matter how much we're willing to suspend our disbelief, we always know that the...

Developing Work-Life Balance as a Doctor

Developing Work-Life Balance as a Doctor  The work that doctors and dentists do can pull you in so many directions at once that it's easy to lose your work-life balance. But if you don't schedule time for yourself away from your...

Preparing Your Adult Children for Inherited Wealth

Preparing Your Adult Children for Inherited Wealth  Most children learn the ins and outs of responsible wealth-building from their parents. As kids grow, simple conversations about saving and spending often branch out into...

Is an Unretirement Right for You?

Is an Unretirement Right for You?  According to a recent report by T. Rowe Price, the COVID-19 pandemic created 2.4 million "excess" retirements in 2020. Some folks retired due to family health issues. Others retired from...

Thinking Positively to Improve Healthspan and ROL

Thinking Positively to Improve Healthspan and ROL  There's real power in learning to embrace positive thinking. A growing body of research suggests that positivity can boost mental well-being, improve physical health, and help us...

Legacy Planning is More Than Estate Planning

Legacy Planning is More Than Estate Planning  Your legacy is bigger than your balance sheet. That's why we believe that an effective estate plan, which protects and distributes your assets, is only one part of your larger legacy...

Being a Good Steward of Your Time in Retirement

Being a Good Steward of Your Time in Retirement When you're a new retiree, staring at that blank page where your work schedule used to be, time might seem so abundant that you forget just how valuable it really is. But if you treat...

Can AI Help You Improve ROL?

Can AI Help You Improve ROL?  There's been so much chatter about potential drawbacks of AI like ChatGPT and Google Bard that many people are overlooking how AI can improve Return on Life. From automating mundane tasks to...

Plan a Last-Minute Labor Day Trip

Plan a Last-Minute Labor Day Trip We’ll have almost a month of official summer left to enjoy after Labor Day on September 4th. But most folks fill those days getting kids ready for school and prepping for the big Q4 push at work....

Get a Younger Mentor

Get a Younger Mentor  In business and in life, knowledge is power and experience is priceless. That's why many folks nearing retirement age often look to mentorship as a way to stay connected to their professions and pass on their...

Why August Can Be a Volatile Month

Why is August a volatile month? One simple reason: many people are on vacation. And when people are out of the office, the financial markets often see less trading, which can cause big price swings following news events. The Fitch...

Develop Healthy Hobbies as a Family

Develop Healthy Hobbies as a Family We may feel like we spend lots of time with our family members. But squeezing in a few hugs and meals on our way to and from work, school, and soccer practice isn't really the same as scheduling...

How Does Your View of Independence Affect Your ROL?

How Does Your View of Independence Affect Your ROL? Independence is an important value to all Americans. It's also a value that's central to how we feel about and use our money. When we feel financially free, we can make a wider...

How's Your Year Going?

How's Your Year Going?4th of July weekend is both the unofficial midpoint of summer and the unofficial midpoint of your whole year. With vacations in full swing and the kids busy with friends, camps, and summer jobs, your work and...

Longer Lifespans Require Planning for a High ROL in Retirement

Longer Lifespans Require Planning for a High ROL in Retirement Advancements in healthcare, exercise, diet, and quality of living have transformed retirement from the end of one's life into the beginning of an exciting new chapter....

How to Pick a Summer Camp

How to Pick a Summer Camp Enrolling your kids in camp can give everyone a little more ROL this summer. Children get to spend time doing things they enjoy with other kids, usually without their eyes glued to a screen. And parents...

Journaling in Retirement

Journaling in RetirementWe often think about our lives like stories, complete with a cast of characters, a variety of settings, highs and lows, twists and turns. Writing down that story can be a meaningful way to reflect, practice...

Write a Summer Bucket List

Write a Summer Bucket ListSummer doesn’t officially start until June 21st. But all those Memorial Day barbeques do tend to kick off the season and remind us to make the most of the warm months ahead. If you don't start...

5 Best Reasons to Use a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional for Income Distribution Planning

The Five Best Reasons to Use a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional for Income Distribution PlanningEffective income distribution planning is crucial for individuals and families seeking financial stability and...

New Beginnings for Your Wealth

New Beginnings for Your Wealth Spring often inspires thoughts of rebirth, renewal, and transformation. That spirit of new beginnings can apply to your relationship to your money as well. After all, earning more and improving your...

Become a SuperAger for a Higher ROL

Become a SuperAger for a Higher ROL Northwestern University's SuperAging Study defines a "SuperAger" as a person in their 80s whose cognitive function is comparable to an average middle-aged person. These are the "sharp" seniors...

Ensure Your Life Wishes Are Granted Through Effective Estate Planning

Ensure Your Life Wishes Are Granted Through Effective Estate Planning Legacy planning is often the last piece folks tackle in their financial planning, because it’s the least appealing to think about. Planning for a...

Learn Healthy New Recipes to Stay Young

Learn Healthy New Recipes to Stay YoungIf you truly are what you eat, then what do your meals say about your retirement right now?Same old, same old?Reheated?Leftover?Stale?Frozen?Boring?Then maybe it's time to spice up your weekly...

Building a Social Life after Relocating

Building a Social Life after Relocating Relocating is a goal that we help many seniors plot on their retirement $Lifelines. However, moving into that dream retirement home can create a new set of challenges for folks who haven't...

Daily Gratitude Can Increase ROL

Daily Gratitude Can Increase ROL Is gratitude a part of your daily routine? In a world that inundates us with bad news and angry vibes, maybe it should be. Whether you keep a daily gratitude journal or reflect on all you have over...

Do You Need a Sabbatical in Retirement?

Do You Need a Sabbatical in RetirementWe usually associate a sabbatical with a career break that allows a professional to step outside their job, learn something new, recharge, and refocus on new goals. But a sabbatical can also be a...

Older Americans Month

Each May is Older Americans Month, a time to celebrate the wisdom of aging people, recognize their many contributions, and facilitate discussions related to older adults. This year’s observance coincides with the 2023 Retirement...

A Smaller Social Security Bump May Be On the Way

I wanted to take a moment to update you on the potential changes to Social Security benefits for 2024. As I'm sure you know, the Social Security Administration calculates annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) based on the Consumer...

“Better” Is the Best Word on Wall Street

From my perspective, we can't hear the word "better" enough in the weeks ahead."Better than expected." "Better than feared." "Better than forecasted."These are winning phrases that can be used by market pundits when they compare a...

Having Financial Conversations with Adult Children

A recent survey reported that 68% of parents had made financial sacrifices to support their adult children.

CEOs Talk Inflation

Over the next several weeks, we will hear from corporate leaders as they update investors on their first-quarter financials and provide a glimpse into the rest of the year.But this quarter, the actual financial results may be of only...

Searching for a Goldilocks Moment

If you're an investor looking for something to worry about, you never have to go more than a few days on Wall Street.As you can see from the accompanying chart, 11 economic reports are scheduled for release during 19 trading days in...

Social Entrepreneurship Can Increase ROL

Do you want to give back more than just your time and money? Social entrepreneurship is a way for experienced leaders and ambitious philanthropists to create businesses and other organizations that solve important problems.

Increase Your Activity to Increase ROL

In a recent poll, 31% of surveyed adults reported that they exercise less in the winter than they do during the rest of the year.

DOES FOMO HOLD

What are you missing out on? Probably not as much as you think.

Spring into financial transparency

The time following Valentine's Day has always served as a reminder that Spring is on the way. The days are getting longer, the birds and the bees are doing their thing, and people everywhere are thinking about future travel and...

Celebrating Black History Month - 2023

The history of the United States is a tapestry embroidered with many cultures. One of the most vivid and complicated historical threads is those belonging to Black Americans.

Identity Theft Awareness Week

January 30 to February 3, 2023, is Identity Theft Awareness Week. Anytime is a good time to tighten up your identity security, but if you haven’t been as careful as you intended, consider this your annual reminder. Here are a few...

Don't Forget Those in Need After the Holidays

The outpouring of giving and goodwill during the holidays always makes a special time of the year feel even more precious. Unfortunately, holiday generosity isn't enough to sustain the important missions that charities and nonprofits carry

Steps to Start 2023 Strong

Why do you always fall short on your "save more money this year" resolution? Because it's not SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timed.

SECURE Act 2.0: An Overview

In the final days of 2022, Congress passed a new set of retirement rules designed to make it easier to contribute to retirement plans and access those funds earmarked for retirement.

SMART Goals for New Year's Resolutions

 SMART Goals for New Year's Resolutions Are you setting a goal to “get healthy” in the New Year? You might be setting yourself up for failure before the New Year even starts. It's not that your goal is...

Give Experiences Not Stuff This Holiday Season

 While the shine tends to wear off presents must faster than we expect, many researchers have concluded that spending money on experiences rather than stuff can create more meaningful and lasting happiness. This holiday season, consider put

Build a Career to provide the Greatest ROL ( return on life)

Build a Career to Provide the Greatest ROLAccording to data compiled by TechJury, almost half of Americans report that they are workaholics. 77% say they've experienced career burnout. And nearly 66% of workers admit that they don't...

Start teaching kids about money

It's the Christmas season, a time when many families have a tendency to overspend.

Finding Purpose in the everyday

What is your money for? That's maybe the most important question that our planning process helps people to answer.

Planning a Holiday Trip with Extened Family

Anyone who's suffered through a big, uncomfortable family gathering knows that a bigger group doesn't always mean more fun.

Achieve More in Life and Feel Good About the Results

Achieve More in Life and Feel Good About the ResultsWe tend to overestimate what we can accomplish in the short-term and underestimate what we can accomplish in the long-term. The frustration that results is one big reason why so many...

Develop a Family Mission Statement

Productivity expert Stephen Covey describes a family mission statement as “a combined, unified expression from all family members of what your family is all about — what it is you really want to do and be — and the principles you choose to

Preparing to Send Kids to College

Between the student debt crisis, COVID-19 lockdowns, and post-pandemic changes to the workplace, it's never been more important for students to make the most of their college experience.

Finding Purpose in the Everyday

What is your money for? That's maybe the most important question that our planning process helps people to answer. If the purpose of life was just to make more money, then no one would ever stop working.

Could Extending Your Vacation Expand Your ROL?

Remember those days during your career when just carving out a free weekend for a vacation felt impossible? Now that you're retired, time is no longer an issue! You're free to travel where you want, when you want, for as long as you want.

5 Steps to Address Concern About an Aging Parent

As your parents begin to settle into their final phase of life, their health, residence, and finances could become a factor in your retirement planning. This is especially true if you are the person your parents have tasked with settling

4 Things to Consider Before Committing Financial Support to Your Adult Children

A large part of being a parent is making our children’s lives easier which often comes in the form of committing financial support to those adult children. But before writing a check or making a deposit through Venmo to your children,

Develop a Family Bucket List

Summer flies by fast, but if you're a parent, you probably feel like your kids are growing up even faster. The hustle and bustle of raising and supporting your family can make it tough to find time to get away.

Should You Become a Teacher in Retirement?

As a retiree, one of the most fulfilling ways you can share your skills and experience is to start a second act as a teacher.

Utilize Your Career Talents on a Corporate or Nonprofit Board

The lifetime of experience you've accumulated in your career doesn't become any less valuable once you've retired. Many seniors turn to part-time jobs, volunteer positions, tutoring, and mentorship to stay sharp, stay active, connect,

Should I Transfer My Business to a Family Member?

Effective succession planning is usually a multiyear process that requires careful analysis, clear goal setting, and close coordination between a company's internal teams and external service providers.

What Story Do You Want Others to Tell About Your Life?

"I want them to not only do what’s legal obviously, but I want them to judge every action by how it would appear on the front page of their local paper."

Planning a High-Impact, Last Minute Trip

Every summer seems to fly by a little faster than the one before. Now that we're past the unofficial midpoint, you may be itching to put one more trip on the books before your kids head back to school and the end-of-the-year grind kicks off

Will a Pet Increase Your ROL?

Are you a dog person or a cat person? That's the number one question that most retirees thinking about pet ownership need to answer. Your grandkids might fawn over smaller critters and birds ... until they get nipped.

Maintain Healthspan to Gain ROL

A recent study published by npj Regenerative Medicine found that increased longevity has widened the gap between a person's total health span (the number of years you are healthy) and lifespan by approximately 9 years.

Do You and Your Spouse Have Congruent Spending Habits?

Most married couples take a “divide and conquer” approach to household tasks and chores. One spouse might handle weekly shopping, the other might handle garbage and recycling. One spouse might handle laundry and cleaning, the other might

Outsource to Improve ROL

Was this finally the year that you took our advice, put down your pad and pencil, and let a CPA handle your taxes?

Choosing the Best College

Many students and parents start their college search by creating a long list of potential schools. Narrowing down that list isn't always as fun but getting the most Return on Life from college requires families to balance dreams and

Retire on Purpose to Get the Best ROL

Many new retirees feel lost without their jobs. But often what these struggling seniors are really missing is the sense of purpose that their careers gave them. Even if you didn't love everything about your job, work gave your days

How to Spend More and Get More ROL in Retirement

For many folks who spend their entire careers following a financial plan, saving and investing isn't just a commitment, it's a mindset. And it can be very challenging for these people to switch from a "saving" to a "spending" mindset once

Write a Charitable Bucket List

Creating a bucket list can be a great way to visualize your long-term money goals and -- more importantly -- start checking them off.

Plan to Earn the Most RETURN ON LIFE (ROL) Today and Tomorrow

The challenges of the last couple years have filled many people with uncertainty about the present and concern for the future. Often that can create a feeling of stasis when it comes to how we think about our money.

3 Ways to Get Beyond a Retirement Rut

Staying active and stimulated can be difficult enough for retirees. But during the pandemic, days, weeks, and months started blending together, creating endless doldrums that are still lingering for many people.

Changes to Work That Could Increase ROL

In the wake of COVID and the Great Resignation, both employers and employees are exploring ways to battle burnout, retain top talent, and help people find their ideal work-life balance.

Keep Your Eyes on The Road

Investing during market volatility can be like driving during a winter storm. Your best plan of action is to focus on what you can control and keep progressing towards your destination.

Build a Business with Purpose

According to a recent report by Forbes, the pandemic triggered a global boom in entrepreneurship. Quarantines, remote work, and disruption across many industries have inspired millions of workers to commit full time to the business ideas

Could a Career Pivot Increase Your ROL in 2022?

Due to the Great Resignation, demand for top workers is at an all-time high. That's a major challenge for employers ... and a huge opportunity for anyone thinking about making a career change in 2022.

Sometimes It's Better To Give Than Receive

Charitable giving is a gift that never breaks, gets returned, or goes out of style. And the ripples of goodwill that giving sends out into your community can also bring your family closer together throughout the year.

Gifts to Increase ROL

A growing body of research tells us that one of the best gifts you can give your family is an experience. According to scientists, doing activities with your loves ones increases brain activity and creates more lasting happiness than mater

Tips for Managing Travel Plans During the Pandemic

The arrival of the Omicron COVID-19 variant is a sobering reminder that as far as we've come since the start of the pandemic, we still have a way to go. However, vaccinations and other preventative measures have returned some normalcy to

Could a Sabbatical Increase Your ROL?

The personal and professional displacement we all experienced during the pandemic has inspired many people to reassess what work means to them.

How Are Your 2022 Resolutions Going?

If you're feeling less enthusiastic about your New Year's resolutions than you did a month ago, you're not alone. According to some estimates, 80% of resolutions fail in the month of February.

Put Purpose in Your Financial Planning

One of the most important questions we help our clients answer is, "What's the money for?" After all, if the purpose of your financial plan was just to keep growing your nest egg, then the best financial strategy would be to keep

How To Help a Family Member Needing Professional Care

Getting the Most Out of Your Retirement Plan

Best Social Security Strategy

Best Charitable Strategy

Planning for Children- How much does it Cost?

Planning for Children- How much does it Cost? According to the latest data from the USDA, parents should expect to spend between $200,000 and $300,000 raising a child from birth to age 17. And that's just spending on necessities like...

When Getting Married Meets Your Financial Plan

When Getting Married Meets Your Financial Plan In the hustle and bustle that comes with planning a wedding and preparing to start a life together, couples often neglect to have serious conversations about their future household’s...

Weekly Market Insights: Fed Tightens Money Policy

Should You Relocate After Becoming an Empty Nester?

Should You Relocate After Becoming an Empty Nester? Your home has three extra bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and a spacious backyard where the kids can play. It's situated in an excellent school district. The local parks and rec...

Weekly Market Insights: Omicron News Boosts Stocks

Planning for Health Care Events

Planning for Health Care Events Making a level-headed assessment of potential risks is important to every phase of your retirement planning. Your health can be one of the most emotionally difficult subjects to consider in this light....

Can your Medicare choice affect your ROL? (return on life)

Can Your Medicare Choice Affect Your ROL? We're into Medicare's annual open enrollment period. Whether you're a new retiree or a current Medicare enrollee who wants to review your coverage, you only have from October 15th through...

Yes, You Might Actually Enjoy a “Working” Retirement

Yes, You Might Actually Enjoy a “Working” Retirement An important part of your retirement plan is a discussion of the benefits of working, regardless of age. Retirement is no longer an event––it is a segue into...

It May Be Time to Reconsider What Retirement Means to You

It May Be Time to Reconsider What Retirement Means to You Whether you’ve been told you should retire at 62, 65, or some other age, only you can decide what is right for you. In fact, you may want to reconsider retiring at...

Put the Planning in Estate Planning

Put the Planning in Estate Planning Your last will and testament may sound like the definitive word on your estate. But while it’s important to have your basics covered, truly effective estate planning runs much deeper than just...

Envision Retirement -- Even If You Don't Want To

Envision Retirement -- Even If You Don't Want To No, you're not the only soon-to-be retiree who's reluctant to leave your working days behind. What we do is so tied up in who we are that it can be difficult to picture yourself without...

Build a Fulfilling Schedule in Retirement

Build a Fulfilling Schedule in Retirement Your IRA and 401(k) haven’t magically grown all by themselves. Your nest egg is the result of years of planning and hard work. Unfortunately, many seniors don’t realize that their...

Downshift Your Work life to Improve ROL

Downshift Your Work life to Improve ROL According to a 2019 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management, the number of organizations offering informal phased retirement to some employees has risen by 15%. And while more broadly...

Develop an Estate Plan to Give Your Family a Great ROL

Develop an Estate Plan to Give Your Family a Great ROL Designing an estate plan that cares for your loved ones and makes a positive impact on the world isn’t as simple as deciding who gets how much of what. Your answers to these...

Could a Home Remodel Increase Your ROL?

Could a Home Remodel Increase Your ROL? In the past year and a half, we spent more time at home – and only at home – than we’d ever anticipated. Now that both the pandemic and our collective cabin fever is starting to...

Balancing Your ROL with Your Parent's ROL

Balancing Your ROL with Your Parent's ROL Many baby boomers who are preparing to retire also play a role in another retirement: their parents'. Perhaps you've anticipated caring for an aging parent and already incorporated this...

Avoid Physician Burnout to Increase ROL

Avoid Physician Burnout to Increase ROL As businesses reopen and vaccines continue to roll out, life is returning to normal for many folks. But for doctors who are downshifting from the incredible strain of the pandemic, "normal" still...

Are You Getting the Best Return on Life You Possibly Can?

Are You Getting the Best Return on Life You Possibly Can? When it comes to investing, the current standard of return on investment (ROI) can be self-limiting, adding pressure that is counterproductive. So much of ROI is not within our...

Three Ways to Avoid the Downside of Retirement

Three Ways to Avoid the Downside of Retirement When it comes to retirement, it’s easy to dream about the perks: sleeping in, traveling, reading a good book, playing golf––name your fantasy. Even if your retirement is...

3 Tips for Planning a Last-Minute Summer Trip

Labor is often the last high point of summer, but it's also the unofficial end of summer. If you'd like to take a break from your backyard before the kids are back in school and the year-end push starts at work, now might be the time...

Use Your Daily Schedule to Increase Your ROL

Use Your Daily Schedule to Increase Your ROL When you're working, raising kids, and struggling to find time to take a run or read a book, it's common to feel like your days keep getting away from you. Mixing a few of these hacks and...

What Is Your Home's ROL?

What Is Your Home's ROL? As we exit the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans are on the move. Remote work opportunities, childcare challenges, and a lot of time to reflect have changed what home means to many folks. The premium on at-home...

Are You Getting the Most ROL from Your Employee Benefits?

Are You Getting the Most ROL from Your Employee Benefits? Your paycheck pays the bills, but the total benefits you receive can have just as big of an impact on how you feel about the work you do and how that work affects life for you...

Plan a Great Post-COVID Family Vacation

Plan a Great Post-COVID Family Vacation If your family has ever deserved a vacation, it's this summer. After a year of locking down and making sacrifices of all shapes and sizes, COVID-19 rates are dropping, and vaccination rates...

Get Your Retirement Plans Back on Track

Get Your Retirement Plans Back on Track According to the latest guidelines from the CDC, it's finally time for vaccinated retirees to put away their masks and get back to enjoying retirement. If your to-do list is looking a little...

Don't Let Lifestyle Inflation Reduce Your ROL

Don't Let Lifestyle Inflation Reduce Your ROL The large amounts of money that our government has spent on pandemic relief and is proposing to spend on infrastructure projects has raised some serious concerns about inflation. But now...

Thinking About Starting a Business?

Thinking About Starting a Business? Some would-be entrepreneurs look at a displaced business landscape and see trouble. Others see an opportunity: the chance to become owner and CEO of the company they’ve always wanted to start....

Spring-Cleaning Financial Clutter

Spring-Cleaning Financial Clutter Is a financial check-up on your Spring-Cleaning list? Once you've tidied your lawn and emptied that out-of-control closet, let some fresh air into your home office and use these six tips to freshen up...

Could a Career Change Increase Your ROL?

Could a Career Change Increase Your ROL? If you only enjoy the money you earn on weekends and holidays, it might be time to rethink how you’re earning your money. Sure, no one loves absolutely everything about their job. And the...

Would Working From Home Improve Your ROL?

Would Working From Home Improve Your ROL? The work from home movement was accelerating even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, after Zooming and Slacking our way through 2020, bosses and employees alike are trying to decide if WFH can...

The ROI and ROL of College

The ROI and ROL of College While hot topics like student loan debt and virtual learning have dominated recent conversations about college, there's still tremendous value in higher education. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,...

Stay Healthy and Wealthy in Retirement

Stay Healthy and Wealthy in Retirement As you transition from full-time work to retirement, many items on your budget are going to decrease (daily transportation) or even disappear (your kids' tuition and food). Health care, however,...

Even Rock Stars Need Estate Planning

Even Rock Stars Need Estate PlanningEven Rock Stars Need Estate Planning "Don't stop thinking about tomorrow," sang Fleetwood Mac on their 1977 classic "Rumors." And band member Stevie Nicks is among a handful of rockers who seems to...

Build Connections Post-Covid

Build Connections Post-Covid As vaccine rollouts continue to progress, folks are starting to tiptoe out of their quarantine bubbles. But once the euphoria from that first dinner in a restaurant or group hang without masks passes, some...

4 Considerations Before Relocating

4 Considerations Before Relocating Many aspects of retirement are changing, such as the health and activity level of seniors and a rise in working retirees. But many seniors are still very attached to one traditional retirement goal:...

Travel and Give Back

The pandemic prevented many seniors from enjoying two of the most popular and rewarding retirement activities: travelling and volunteering. Now that vaccines are rolling out and the world is starting to reopen, why not catch up on both...

Daily and Monthly Habits Can Lead to Lifelong Financial Freedom

Daily and Monthly Habits Can Lead to Lifelong Financial Freedom Our Life-Centered Planning process is designed to help you and your family achieve important long-term goals like buying a house, sending your kids to college, and...

Plan for Uncertainty

Plan for Uncertainty- Moving Past Procrastination Unfortunately, turning the calendar past 2020 hasn't erased all the problems that we've been facing for the past year. If feelings of uncertainty and anxiety are starting to get...

So You Want To Be An Entrepreneur?

Planning for Entrepreneurship at Any Age The Work from Home revolution and pandemic business disruption have motivated many aspiring entrepreneurs to take their shot in 2021. If you’re determined to make this the year that you...

Find Healthy Hobbies To Improve Your Life

Find Hobbies to Keep You Healthy Hopefully, when you look out at your retirement $Lifeline, you see some big events that you’re excited to enjoy once the pandemic is behind us. But what about all those days in between? How are...

Make the Most of the Holidays with a Family Values Discussion

Make the Most of the Holidays There's truth to the old adage, "Shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations." According to many studies, 70% of families lose their wealth in two generations; 90% lose their wealth in three. And...

Reconsider you Giving Strategy during Covid

It Might be Time to Reconsider Your Giving Strategy The need for generous people is at an all-time high right now. The pandemic has created economic and health care challenges that continue to stretch our resources. Millions of people...

Build Your Bucket List

Covid-19 has delayed many dream vacations, family reunions, and road trips this year. But as we all navigate the space between things we can do, things we can’t do, and things we still want to do in the future, there’s an...

Retiring Into a Pandemic

Covid-19 has recalibrated retirement planning for older workers. Age, health, and workplace conditions have pushed seniors to put their well-being ahead of other considerations and retire early. But the pandemic has also added to the...

Three Ways to Avoid the Downside of Retirement

When it comes to retirement, it’s easy to dream about the perks: sleeping in, traveling, reading a good book, playing golf––name your fantasy. Even if your retirement is fully funded, the reality can be far less...

Use a Lifetime of Skills to Give Back During Retirement

The professional skills you’ve honed during your career are still incredibly valuable even though you’re retired. Rarely has there been a greater need for talented and dedicated people with a wide variety of abilities to...

Is Your Home Providing a Good Return on Life?

Why do I live here? As the country continues to reopen following the Covid-19 quarantine many people are starting to ask themselves that question. The pandemic has upended one of the strongest traditional reasons for picking a place...

The Pandemic Shows Need to Keep Up with Technology

Technology has helped to bridge some of the gaps that Covid-19 opened between us, our loved ones, and our communities. Thanks to video chat you’ve been able to check in on family across the country and participate in birthday...

Will a Vacation Home Provide a Good Return on Life?

Vacation homes can provide years of enjoyment and fond memories for multiple generations of your family. They can also create an extra layer of headaches and expenses that prove more trouble than they’re worth. Here are 4 reasons...

Start Your Retirement Business Now

What do Netflix, GE, Trader Joe’s, Microsoft, Disney, and FedEx have in common? They all started during economic downturns .Your vision for your own dream company might not be on the same scale as those giants. But history shows...

Be Resilient and Gain Personal Momentum Coming Out of the Covid-19 Pandemic - PART 2

Part 2: Growth Through Adversity In Part 1 of this series, Dr. Beth Kurland and retired Commander David Sears of the U.S. Navy SEALS shared three habits they believe will help folks build momentum as we – hopefully –...

Be Resilient and Gain Personal Momentum Coming Out of the Covid-19 Pandemic - PART 1

Part 1: Better Habits for a Healthier Mind Since the Covid-19 outbreak we’ve all had to make adjustments so that we could cover our basic needs, care for our loved ones, and remain productive during quarantine. No matter how...

Get Away in Your Own Backyard

Summer travel plans are up in the air right now as federal and local governments sort through the best strategies for keeping COVID-19 under control. Although it’s disappointing to put off a vacation or big family party...

Build Resilience to Prepare for the Country Reopening

Deciding how and when to reopen our country will be a complicated process. As we wait for our government leaders and health care professionals to plot the best course forward, it’s not too early to start thinking about how your...

Use Downtime to Think about Retirement

The coronavirus pandemic has forced many older workers to reassess their careers and how they view retirement. Folks who are fortunate enough to be working from home might be coping with a mix of technological hurdles, while also...

Use the Pandemic as a Catalyst for Change

The coronavirus pandemic has put all our short-term needs front and center. Just getting through one week of virtual work meetings, grade school math lessons, and grocery shopping can be a challenge. And if you’re one of the...

Stay Healthy

Hopefully you’re becoming a little more comfortable with the health care basics that are helping to slow the spread of COVID-19. According to our public health officials, maintaining a safe distance from other folks, wearing a...

Stay on Track, Continue to Give to Others

The coronavirus pandemic has created a very uncertain market environment right now. However, your long-term financial goals are probably still the same: buying a house, getting your kids through college, starting your own company,...

Stay Connected and Focus on the Long Term to Withstand Coronavirus

One unique challenge of the coronavirus pandemic is that it’s a global crisis that’s also affected each and every one of us in a very personal way. We’re all learning to balance our worries about huge topics like...

5 Ways to Make Social Distancing More Social

Few of us had heard the phrase “social distancing” at the beginning of the year. But now, maintaining safe, hygienic spaces that help limit the spread of the coronavirus is just a part of our lives. Here are 5 ideas on how...

The Plan is the Path

None of us planned for this.But your Life-Centered financial plan does have mechanisms in place that will help you getthrough this tough patch with the coronavirus and the financial market volatility. The key is notletting heightened...

It May Be Time to Reconsider What Retirement Means to You

Whether you’ve been told you should retire at 62, 65, or some other age, only you can decide what is right for you. In fact, you may want to reconsider retiring at all––at least in the traditional sense. Many of us...

New Education Opportunities Help Retirees with a Second Act

Your days of rushing a fraternity and tailgating before football games might be behind you. But more and more seniors are heading back to campuses when they retire. In fact, many colleges and universities have started tailoring...

Don't Let a Hacker Keep You from Getting the Best Return on Life

We spend so much of our lives online that protecting our digital selves is now as important as protecting any other asset. Cybercriminals continue to find more devious and more sophisticated ways to access passwords, bank accounts, and...

Transitioning from a Work Identity to a Retirement Identity

The jobs we do for 40 hours every week – and the life that job provides for our families over decades – has a significant influence on how we view ourselves. That’s why many new retirees struggle with a loss of...

Focus on Good Habits for Your Health and Finances for a Fulfilling Retirement

When we ask our clients to describe their ideal retirement, two of the most common responses are “healthy” and “secure.” In our experience, most successful retirees find ways to align these two goals …...

Amid 2020 Predictions and New Laws, Focus on What You Can Control to Improve Your Financial Health

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act that was signed into law on December 20th might be adding more chatter to all the 2020 financial predictions bouncing around your news feeds. Throw in an upcoming...

Don’t Let a Volatile Stock Market Interrupt You Living the Good Life

It’s been said that volatility is a tax that investors have to pay for harnessing the wealth-building power of the financial markets. But rationalizing market fluctuations doesn’t make them any less nerve-wracking,...

Millennials and Retirees are Choosing to Leave Fast-Paced Cities for a Better Quality of Life.

Housing is a large item on any person’s budget. But folks about to enter or leave the workforce have to be especially thoughtful about how their living situation is going to impact their financial plan – especially if...

When Setting New Year's Resolutions Be Sure to Rethink Your Financial Goals

If your New Year’s resolutions rarely last until Valentine’s Day, this might be the year to stop “resolving” and start setting goals. What’s the difference? “I’m going to be healthier” is...

3 Considerations to Ensure Your Second Act Career is Fulfilling and Profitable

Your parents and grandparents might have worked at the same company for their entire careers. Today, that kind of longevity is increasingly rare. Some folks are forced into a new career by the ebb and flow of the global economy. Others...

A Holiday Family Meeting Can Ring in a Productive New Year

The holiday season might not seem like an ideal time to have a serious conversation with your immediate family. All that shopping, decorating, cooking, and celebrating can be time-consuming and stressful enough. But if you’re...

3 Non-Traditional Travel Options That Could Add Some Adventure to Your Retirement

According to AARP, baby boomers expected to take 4-5 trips during 2019 (1). Retired boomers who plan to travel more might even exceed that pace once they’re no longer working. Over the course of a typical 20-30-year retirement,...

Are You Spending Your Time Doing What Everybody Else Does in Retirement?

Many soon-to-be retirees struggle to imagine their week without work in it. All those blank calendar days are exciting, but they can also be overwhelming. But once you actually retire, you might find that your daily routine isn’t...

Are You Taking Advantage of “The Longevity Effect” to Get a Greater Return on Life?

This generation of retirees is going to live longer than any in history. Today’s seniors are healthier, more active, and receiving better preventative care. And on top of that, a growing group of scientists is trying to harness...

Don't Let Your Life Go Up in Flames When You're on FIRE

Why work when you can travel, play, sleep in, and … Umm … Sleep some more? That’s both the promise and the dilemma of the popular Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) movement. FIRE folks spend minimally and...

The Purpose of Money is NOT Just to Make More of It

Imagine that you’re living in a tent on an open plain. One day you plant a tree. For the next 40 years, you water it. You protect it from harsh weather and animals. You never pick its fruit. You don’t climb it for fun. You...

Using a Legacy Letter to Preserve Your Life's Lessons for Future Generations

Your legacy isn’t just about your assets. Of course, as part of our Life-Centered Planning process, we will help you coordinate with attorneys and tax experts to create an estate plan that will provide for your heirs in...

If You're In or Near Retirement, Here's How to Prepare for and Survive the Next Bear Market

Anyone who’s retired in the past 10 years has been very fortunate. They’ve experienced a massive bull market and they may even have a higher net worth today than when they retired! But it won’t always be that way....

Get Your "House" in Order Before You Retire

“Does this spark joy?” Millions of people are asking themselves this question about their homes and possessions thanks to Marie Kondo and her wildly popular decluttering philosophy. Once the kids are moved out, it’s...

Avoiding Knee-Jerk Reactions to Negative Financial Events

As part of our Life-Centered Planning process, we’ve talked about how market volatility is a normal part of investing. We’ve also discussed how we’ve structured your investments to “weather the storm” and...

5 Money Questions to Improve Your Relationship

Many people have a complicated relationship with money. Hang-ups carried over from childhood experiences get mixed together with positive and negative experiences from adulthood. Few people ever take the time to reflect on what money...

How to Increase Your Generosity While Not Jeopardizing Your Retirement

How are you going to get the best, most fulfilling life possible with the money you have once you retire? Study after study has shown that retirees who spend their time and money on experiences are much happier than those who just buy...

How to Make a Good Decision When Life Throws You a Tough Choice

No matter how thorough our planning is, life inevitably tosses curveballs at us. Often these challenging moments are linked to major life transitions that affect our families, our careers, and our money. Balancing these variables can...

Three Reasons Why You Should Work Even When You Don’t Need the Money

It might sound a little crazy but there are many benefits to working even though you no longer need the money for your living or retirement needs. These “retirement workers” have discovered that part-time jobs or volunteer...

Don't Let a Declining Market Steer You Off Course

Don’t Let a Declining Stock Market Steer You Off Course Big red arrows, panicked cable news experts, and the echo chambers of our social media feeds can make stock market volatility seem much worse than it actually is. If...

4 Steps to Phase into Retirement and Take It for a Test Drive

There are many reasons why people who could retire are hesitant to do so. Some people think they need to wait until they’re 65 or older. Some are worried about running out of money. Many parents want to keep supporting their...

How Does Your Retirement Savings Compare to Other People Your Age?

“How am I doing?” That’s a big question that most people have when it comes to their money. One way we tend to look for answers is by comparing what we have to what our neighbors, friends, and family, have. Even...

3 Life Insights from the Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos Divorce

One of the reasons that divorce is such a challenging life transition is its public nature. A couple might keep their problems private as they try to work through them. But if a rift opens that can’t be mended, the couple will...

Financial Planning is About Making Your Life Plan a Reality

Many folks who have just begun working with us are surprised by how our planning process starts. We don’t begin by talking about IRAs, 401(k)s, or how much you’re saving. Instead, we begin by talking about you, not your...

5 Steps to Make Your Empty Nest Time a Prime Time in Your Life

Time flies when you’re a parent. Just when you’ve wrapped your head around the demands and responsibilities of raising a child, you turn around and your little bundle of joy is ready to head out into the world. This empty...

Is How You Use Your Money Aligned With Your Values?

A hamster in a wheel. Have you ever watched a hamster running in a wheel? All that running, all that effort, day after day after day … But the poor little critter never really gets anywhere, does he? Many of us feel the same way...

5 Steps to Ensure Your Life Wishes Are Granted Through Effective Estate Planning

Legacy planning is often the last piece folks tackle in their financial planning, because it’s the least appealing to think about. Planning for a robust nest egg that will keep you safe, secure, and fulfilled when you stop...

Setting Goals that Stick Part 2

Setting New Year’s resolutions can be easy and fun, and lead to some exciting changes in your life. Making your goals, based on your resolutions, become reality requires a few steps. Keep them short and easy. Create achievable...

Setting Goals That Stick

The start of the new year always seems to represent new beginnings. It’s a time to remake our priorities and to reimagine our futures. Although the calendar may not recognize its significance, our humanity marks the passing of...

The Pros and Cons of Lighting a FIRE Under Your Retirement Goals

A popular online movement wants to make 40 the new 65. FIRE stands for Financial Independence Retire Early. The idea is that by working as hard as you can and saving as much as you can as soon as you enter the workforce, you can become...

How to Have More Fun and Meaning in Retirement

A blank calendar filled with nothing but free time can be every bit as stressful as a packed work week. That’s the surprising fact that many new retirees confront after a few days of hitting the snooze button and puttering around...

Estate Planning Basics

If you are young and healthy, it can be hard to think about worst case scenarios and planning for something bad happening to you. The likelihood is that you will live a long healthy life and may not need some of these documents until...

5 Next Steps When You Are Concerned About an Aging Parent

As your parents begin to settle into their final phase of life, their health, residence, and finances could become a factor in your retirement planning. This is especially true if you are the person your parents have tasked with...

Did You Inherit Your Beliefs About Money From Your Parents?

Parents know that children hear, see, and pick up on everything that is going on with the adults in their lives. And when you were a child, you were no different. Many of the attitudes we have about money were formed at a very early...

4 Things to Consider Before Financially Bailing Out Your Adult Children

According to a recent study by TD Ameritrade, 25% of baby boomers are supporting their family members financially (1). Support to adult children averages out to $10,000 per year. That’s $10,000 that boomers aren’t saving,...

3 Ways to Know When You Are Ready to Retire

There’s a pretty good chance that your parents and grandparents retired just because they turned 65. Today’s retirement is a bit more complicated than that. While age is still an important factor, your ability to connect...

Student Debt Effects on Millennials' Financial Security - Part III

Part III If you’re like many millennials in their 20s and 30s, you want the help of a financial planner but are living paycheck to paycheck as it is and aren’t sure how you can afford it. In order to engage this type of...

Student Debt Effects on Millennials' Financial Security - Part II

Part II As we briefly covered last week, the student loan landscape is a vast and unfriendly place. You’ve probably heard the phrase “never accept a first offer.” When it comes to taking on a repayment plan as...

Student Debt Effects on Millennials' Financial Security - Part I

As millennials enter their 20s and 30s, they begin to ponder the future and what it might look like for them. The goals and objectives of this generation, my generation, are as diverse as the population itself. They love to travel and...

The Return of Volatility and Top Chef

As the S and P 500 market index made adjustments last week by dropping down -4.1% according to market watch, the year to date numbers remained positive at 3.58% since January 2018. This email is just a reminder that, like a top chef...

Why Young Professionals Should Be Working with a Financial Advisor

Have you ever been brushing your teeth or walking your dog when all of a sudden you have a flashback to something embarrassing you did in the past that literally stops you in your tracks? I wish I could say this does not happen to me...

Planning for Disability

Have you ever broken a bone or gotten mono? Were you able to keep working? In many cases of injury or illness, people have no problem going right back to work or returning after a brief hiatus. But what happens if you have a stroke,...

The Smart Parent's Guide to Preparing Financially for Your New Baby's Arrival

There are few experiences in a couple’s life more exciting than welcoming a baby into the world. Children provide a wonderful new light in your life. They help round out your feelings of purpose and meaning. They (might) bring...

Homebuyers Guide for Purchasing a House

If you’ve never bought a home before or are shopping with your significant other for the first time, the prospect of everything that has to be done ahead of time can be a little overwhelming. If you aren’t where to start or...

5 Benefits of a Consolidated Investment Portfolio

I’m often asked by potential clients when they first approach us for financial planning advice, what my thoughts are on consolidating assets from multiple advisors to one advisor. Contrary to what you might have read about...

Empower Yourself by Recognizing Your Freedom to Choose

Empower Yourself by Recognizing Your Freedom to Choose “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” Viktor Frankl We may not always be able to control the circumstances of a...

Financial To-Do List for Married Couples

Are you recently engaged or newly married? Congratulations! This is an exciting time in your life and it is also one of significant transition. There are many things that need to be considered or updated when you are combining your...

When is Taking on Debt Worth the Risk?

Have you ever taken a vacation with your friends and put it on a credit card – promising to pay it off later? Did you pay it off later? If you’re like many of my clients, the answer to these questions is often Yes and No,...

4 Ways to Feel More "At Home" in Your Home

Do you feel “at home” in your home? Your home is often the biggest financial purchase you’ll ever make. But is it also giving you the emotional payoffs you hope for? Your home is an important part of your financial...

A Simple Plan to Achieve More in Life and Feel Good About the Results

A Simple Plan to Achieve More in Life and Feel Good About the Results We tend to overestimate what we can accomplish in the short-term and underestimate what we can accomplish in the long-term. The frustration that results is one big...

Finance and Family -- Why so taboo?

Finance and Family – Why so taboo? Although it is a something that is used every day by people across the country, money remains a controversial topic among American families. It is often even considered...

Don’t Just Work for Money, Work for Meaning

In a recent survey of 12,000 workers worldwide conducted by the Energy Project, only 50% of respondents found meaning in their jobs (1). Imagine spending 40 hours a week doing meaningless work. It’s soul-sucking, but it...

ROH (Return on Health) Why Delay? You Can Start Improving Your Health Right Now!

A Common Scenario. A busy 40- to 50-hour work week, kids that need shuttling to and from school and extracurriculars … and a gradually decreasing metabolism. Sound familiar? Young, working couples with no kids may have more...

Should I Sacrifice My Retirement to Support My Children?

Should I Sacrifice My Retirement to Support My Children? Most parents will say that they want to help their children as much as they can and give them every advantage. But what if “every advantage” comes at the expense of...

How Will You Practice Your “ART” in Retirement?

A hammock on the beach. Your favorite chair in the living room. Waking up when you feel like it. A blank calendar. Doing what you want when you want. Doing nothing if that’s how you feel that day. After a lifetime of working 40...

Three Overlooked Keys to Being a Prudent Investor

Does investing strike “fear” in you? We once heard somebody say the word “fear” stands for “False Evidence Appearing Real.” That seems to apply to investing. Here’s why. The stock market makes...

What is Your "Philosophy" on Insurance? Here's What You Should Consider...

Most people consider insurance an important part of their financial plan. But do you also have an insurance philosophy that you use to determine exactly how much coverage you need? By the way, people often tell me they...

Giving: How To Do The Most Good Without Disrupting Your Financial Plan

Many studies have shown that charitable giving provides greater happiness than buying more stuff. Eventually, you get used to your fancy new car, and the enjoyment it provides goes down. But giving forges feelings of connectedness and...

Divide and Conquer, are you and your spouse on the same page regarding spending?

Spending: What to Do When You and Your Spouse are NOT on the Same Page? Most married couples take a “divide and conquer” approach to household tasks and chores. One spouse might handle weekly shopping, the other might...

Winter 2018 Perspectives

Check out our winter Perspectives today, including tips on safeguarding your credit, making and sticking to your financial resolutions, and vacation destinations! Click here for the full magazine!

Savings: Does Your Desire to Save Match Your Reality?

“The only money that’s really yours is the money you spend. Everything else goes to somebody else.” Teddy Chafolious That piggy bank we remember from childhood wasn’t just a place to store our birthday money...

Debt - What's Your Story and How Do You Feel About It?

Debt: What’s Your Story and How Do You Feel About It? In a recent study, half of Americans said their expenses are equal to or greater than their income. 1 Revolving credit, particularly credit cards, is an increasingly...

Fall 2017 Perspectives

Check out our fall Perspectives today, including tips on health, reducing stress, and seasonal foods! Click here for the full magazine!

Advisor Views: Mutual Funds or ETFs?

6 Fun - and Affordable - Fall Activities

Fall is here! The season of changing leaves, cooler temperatures, and fun fall holidays – like Halloween and Thanksgiving – are coming up soon. Here are 6 ways to enjoy all those fall activities without breaking the bank!...

9 Tips on Purchasing and Financing Your New Home

Do you have a down payment? Putting at least 20% down is ideal. It avoids the need to purchase mortgage insurance and communicates to the seller that your finances are strong. If you don’t have 20%, there are programs for...

Declutter Your Debt this Spring

Our 2017 Spring Newsletter is here, and we can’t wait to share it with you. The common trend for this time of year is spring-cleaning, which isn’t always fun but sometimes necessary. The end result can make you feel so...

Advisor Views- Making a Million

Spend Less, Save More, and Don't Do Anything Stupid

No matter what generation you are a member of – Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennial, or Gen Z – I have some free, basic financial advice that will serve you well. “Spend less, save more, and don’t do anything stupid...

Importance of HIPAA Privacy Authorization

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare: the unexpected phone call telling you that your child has been in a serious accident and is in the hospital. Frantic, you prepare to leave to be with your child as you call the hospital...

2017 Summer Perspectives

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Yes, You Might Actually Enjoy a "Working" Retirement

An important part of your retirement plan is a discussion of the benefits of working, regardless of age. Retirement is no longer an event––it is a segue into an altered definition of life as you know it. One definition of...