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OK, Boomer- Voluntary Early Retirement

February 18, 2020

OK, Boomer - Voluntary Early Retirement Over the last few weeks, I have repeatedly heard from Baby Boomers who have been offered early retirement by their companies, an event most of them did not expect. Finding themselves forced to make a quick decision and believing this could be their opportunity for bigger changes, most jumped at the chance. While most of these individuals had spent years dreaming about what a relaxing retirement might look like, many shared with me that they struggled with

Recession Fears: Overblown or Well-Founded?

October 27, 2019

Let’s cut to the chase—yes, a recession is coming! While we’re never “due” for a recession, as some might say, recessions are inevitable. The normal state of an economy is expansion. A recession begins when the economy stops growing and ends when it starts growing again. We’ve experienced eleven recessions since World War II, and only three since 1982. So why is there so much concern today? Four factors driving the hype: 1. There’s an inverted yield curve—historically the single best predict

Market Tumbles as Trade War Intensifies

August 6, 2019

The U.S.-China trade war has intensified following President Trump’s announcement on Twitter that he would impose an additional 10% tariff on $300 billion in Chinese goods, effective September 1. In response, China has been less supportive of its currency and let the yuan fall to its lowest value compared to the dollar in more than a decade. Raymond James Chief Economist Scott Brown believes this decline is more of a reduced effort to support the yuan than an active devaluation, as trade tension

Don't Confuse Brains with a Bull Market

July 23, 2019

With markets hitting new highs I am often confronted by individuals questioning the need for professional guidance since their portfolios have experienced excellent returns in recent years. I most commonly see this when investors compare the returns of their unmanaged 401k versus a professionally allocated portfolio. When it comes to money and the markets, overconfidence can create the illusion that past successes resulted from intrinsic skill– causing many investors to forget the potential

A Four Letter Word

June 28, 2019

Outstanding debt can have a significant impact on your emotional wellbeing. I’ve heard clients describe it as making them feel “sinking” or “hopeless.” It may comfort you to know that you are not alone: living with significant debt is an issue millions of Americans face. It’s likely people you are close with are dealing with this too—they just don’t talk about it. Here are some strategies to reduce debt, prepare for retirement, and find some confidence in personal financial matters. One couple h

Too Much Money

May 29, 2019

Recently, heard a story about a family that unexpectedly came into significant wealth. Nearing retirement, they were living a good life— owned their home , 401ks and savings accounts—but did not live extravagantly, and never anticipated doing so. However, much of that “good life” was replaced by a troubled and unsatisfying retirement as a result of too much money. They did not properly anticipate how substantial changes in their family dynamic and finances could negatively impact their re

Loved Ones Negatively Impacted by Family Wealth

April 24, 2019

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Money often costs too much.” While it might seem surprising for a Wealth Manager and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ to embrace this quote, my experience advising high net worth (HNW) families has shown me firsthand the potential benefits and drawbacks of wealth. In my twenty-plus years of working with HNW families, I have found that my most successful clients ask for our assistance in addressing the entire range of their finances, not just their investments. Their

The " Jones" Family

March 29, 2019

I’d like to share the story of my client, "Mr. Jones". A widower, he realized the house he and his wife raised their family in was becoming difficult to maintain. He decided to sell and move, putting the proceeds in a joint account with his son, Jake, allowing Jake access to the funds as needed. Following Mr. Jones’ eventual passing, the plan was to split anything left between Jake and his brother, Bill. Harmless, yes? Not so fast. A joint account could cause multi-generational harm. For exampl

Retirement Nest Egg

March 8, 2019

I am often asked, “how do I avoid outliving my retirement nest egg?” Making your savings last through retirement used to be easy: retire at 65, start collecting your pension and Social Security, invest in mutual funds and bonds, and withdraw 4% annually to fill the income gaps. With a relatively low life expectancy, most anticipated retirement only lasting a few years anyway. My, how times have changed! Interest rates are at historic lows, pensions are rare, and longevity is on the rise as adv

Thankful for a Crazy December

January 16, 2019

What a month December was! The volatility and severity of market movements, both up and down, this month have many reliving the unpleasant feelings of the 2008 Financial Crisis. For some of us the 2000-2002 Tech Bubble also looms in our minds. It is natural for instincts to cause a survival mode reaction during times of uncertainty. However, history has shown us this is not the time to panic and deviate from a long term plan that has been developed to serve the needs of you and