What is “enough” in financial terms? Is it a million dollars? $3 million? More?
Clients frequently ask me how much money they need to comfortably retire. Even as a CFP® with over fifteen years of experience, I can never give them a blanket response. There are a variety of quantitative and qualitative factors to consider.
Read MoreWhen we run our home like an all-inclusive resort - where food is magically replenished and broken toys and lost cell phones are replaced - kids cannot learn to value money.
Resorts are a lovely reprieve from the real world but they are not preparation for the real world.
Whether retirement is near or far away, you’ve been assured that more savings now generally leads to a bigger nest egg later. You believed that diligence and determination were the keys to building wealth.
So, in today’s uncertain economic environment, what do you do with your employer-sponsored 401(k) or 403(b) plan?
Read MoreThere are a lot of questions and very few answers. Anyone who tells you they can perfectly predict the future is a liar. We must fumble our way through this confusing maze of information and find a new normal.
Read MoreThere are over 80,000 confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, and the global death toll is around 2,700. The first outbreak began in Wuhan, China, but cases are popping up in other parts of the world: Italy, Iran, Japan and South Korea. Even the U.S. isn’t exempt from this concerning virus: the CDC has 14 confirmed cases in the United States over the last month. Federal health authorities are preparing for a pandemic.
Read MoreGetting good grades is important, but your teen might be missing out on valuable life lessons if they don’t have a job in high school. Being the most prepared for college means having a well-balanced life, and not focusing too much on studies. It’s important for your teen to flesh out other parts of their life such as recreation and gaining job experience. Here are five reasons why getting a job will help prepare your teen for college.
Read MoreUttering the words “in health” is simple. “In sickness” is far more difficult when you must prove yourself with actions, not words. Sickness is not confined to physical ailments; it can take many forms.
Read MorePerfectionism is both a blessing and a curse. Money is only one measure of wealth. To build wealth as a perfectionist, you need a slightly different set of tools than everyone else.
Read MoreNow, as a more astute investor, I understand the importance of vision and values in financial decision-making when trying to build wealth. This is especially important as a Christian. […] In this article, I want to go over three principles of investing to help you align your financial decisions with your values.
Read MoreWhen your time on earth is done, what do you want to be remembered for?
This is a big question. And yet, it’s the reason why we’re here … Living. Breathing. Growing. Helping. Changing. Transforming.
Our work is not done. By work, I don’t mean your day job. I’m referring to your higher-level purpose: How are you positively leading, influencing, or helping others?
Read MoreAre you a leader? I’d argue the answer is YES if you’re a parent, regardless of your title at work. You must know and lead yourself well in order to lead others better. Self-leadership represents the foundation. Wonderful leaders need to assess their strengths and weaknesses, not just for their own success, but also to inspire others to greatness.
Read MoreAccording to Pope Francis in 2015, “the family is the fundamental locus of the covenant between the Church and God’s creation.” As parents, it’s our responsibility to model Christian living for others. Collectively, we can solve some of the world’s biggest problems but must start within our own families.
Read MoreI’ll never forget the time I stepped down from a junior board position. It was a difficult decision because I supported the charity’s pro-life mission. Yet fundraising wasn’t my area of genius, and my time was better spent with family. Have you ever stepped away from a meaningful cause, instead opting to financially support the mission?
Read MoreIn this guest post, Andy Kearns offers guidelines on how much to borrow in student loans if your son or daughter is college-bound. Andy is a Content Analyst for LendEDU and works to produce personal finance content to educate consumers across the globe.
Read MoreMaintaining an emergency fund of a few thousand dollars for true emergencies is great because it satisfies basic physiological and safety needs. But once you’re mentally able to move up the hierarchy of needs to psychological needs and self-actualization, you’re ready to build an opportunity fund. Saving for the future will seem far more enjoyable.
Read MoreDid you know that saving for college is the #1 worry for families with children? Yet only 17% of families are saving for college expenses.
Read MoreInsurance isn’t glamorous, but it is a necessity for most people. We’ve discussed life and health insurance already. Let’s move on disability insurance. TMA Insurance Trust shares some startling statistics, we explore in this post.
Read MoreNonetheless, there are two practical lessons that can be drawn from a tragedy: 1. Cherish each moment with family and friends, and 2. Financially prepare for the unexpected. I cannot specifically help you with the first lesson but have some important technical insights on the second.
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