Past Blog Posts
Don’t Confuse Budgets and Cash Flows
Cash is the lifeblood of your finances. Without it, you would be hard-pressed to pay your debts, cover your living…
Manage Your Tax Anxiety and File Your Returns with Confidence
Is tax anxiety causing you to wait until the last minute to file your tax returns? If so, then you’re…
Your Playbook: A Healthier Money Relationship
Money alone will not buy you lasting joy. Money alone will not solve many of your most profound relational problems….
Don’t Hold Your Breath: Rates Aren’t Coming Down Anytime Soon
If you’ve been hoping for interest rates to fall this year, I’ve got some bad news for you: borrowing costs…
Time for a Refresher: Don’t Leave Restricted Stock on the Table
Imagine receiving an award from your employer for the value that you bring to the table, but the payout doesn’t…
Is Income a Missing Component to Securing Your Financial Independence?
The old adage, “it’s not about how much you make, but how much you keep…” is often applied to the…
Money Mindset Makeover: Re-writing Limiting Money Scripts
Have you ever made an impulsive big-ticket purchase that you later regretted? Or, maybe you have found yourself making choices…
3 Essential Steps to Start a Stress-Free Tax Season
Most individuals can’t stand preparing their taxes. It’s often a complex, confusing process that leaves many fearing the dreaded audit…
Markets in 2023: It’s All About Inflation
To say that 2022 was a disappointing year for investors is an understatement. US stocks gave up more gains to…
Don’t Be Fooled by the Santa Claus Rally
Christmas is just around the corner, and if you’re like many investors, then you likely have a year-end rally on…
Year-end Planning: 20 Things You Can Do to Organize Your Finances
It’s November and there’s not better time than the present to get your financial house in order. Indeed, we’re in…
Nobody Knows What’s Going On
If you follow financial media with the slightest interest, then you’ve likely heard of Jim Cramer. In case you don’t…
Hold Tight in this Financial Meltdown
US equity markets have officially erased their summer gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is back in bear market territory,…
Eight Minutes that Derailed the Bull Market
By some measures, Fed Chair Jerome Powell derailed the fledgling bull market rally in U.S. and global risk assets last…
Another Recession is Here. Now What?
It’s unofficially official: we’re in an economic recession for the second time in two years. At least, that’s according to…
Three Things You Can Do About Inflation
Inflation is on a lot of people’s minds right now. And for a good reason. While we tend to hear…
Is now the right time to get into the markets?
With risk assets having pushed into bear market territory in May, some investors are asking whether now is the right…
Are Your Financial Goals Meaningless?
Most driven individuals on their path to financial independence mastery know that you need goals to get to the next…
Is it Possible: Two Recessions in Two Years?
Two recessions in two years. Is it possible? Well, calls for a U.S. recession have been on the rise recently…
Worried About Ukraine and Your Money? Consider these Six Things.
Words seem to fail when attempting to describe the horrors of war currently faced by the people of Ukraine. Since…
Russia Invades Ukraine – What Now?
Russian President Vladimir Putin made good on his promise to invade Ukraine on Thursday. As a result, the S&P 500…
Don’t Call it a Crash (Yet)
The S&P 500 index fell nearly four percent intraday on Monday, January 24, making for one of its most volatile…
Crush Your Financial Resolutions by Becoming Rather than Doing
Who doesn’t like a fresh start? The beauty of New Year’s Resolutions is that we all have an opportunity to…
What to Make of the Black Friday Market Selloff?
Some investors cut short Thanksgiving festivities last week as financial markets sold off on renewed Covid concerns. The World Health…
How to Avoid Financial Stress During the Holidays
Depending on who you ask, the holidays are either a season full of celebration and connecting with family and friends,…
Early Retirement: Don’t Make these Five Mistakes
Handing in a resignation letter and walking away from an unfulfilling career may be one of the most satisfying acts…
Four Ways to Set Your Retirement on FIRE
Retiring early is an aspiration that many individuals can get excited about. Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez, in their best-selling…
The Executive Way: Treat Your Career Like a Sport
When thinking about your career, it might seem odd to make comparisons to a sport. But when you zoom out…
Mid-Year Outlook: Not Out of the Woods Yet
Investors have had good reason to celebrate this year, but is it truly time to let our guards down? Thanks…
Inflation: An Insidious Threat Your Financial Independence Journey
Financial independence plans are coming under threat from inflation’s insidious rise. According to a government report, prices paid for everyday…
Does Crypto Belong in Your Retirement Portfolio?
Life changing money. That’s what happened to John Ratcliff. In 2013 the software developer from Colorado purchased 150 Bitcoin. Today,…
Biden’s Infrastructure Plan: Will a Deal Get Done?
City streets had been flooded for hours before the hurricane made landfall in Louisiana on the morning of August 29,…
From Six Figures and Broke to Financial Independence Master
When Frank began practicing bankruptcy law, his average client earned between $8 to $9 an hour. A decade later, his…
Should You Invest When the Market is High?
Some investors today are worried. They’re asking, “is now the right time to get into the markets?” Their primary concern…
How to Stay Sane when the Markets are Going Crazy
Let’s face it, no one wants to be the one person that missed out on what seems to be a…
Why Your Investments Might Thrive in 2021
This past year has been a period in history that many of us would like to simply forget. Concerns about…
Are Vaccine Hopes a Shot in the Arm for the Markets?
Financial markets have posted notable gains month to date. And market optimism concerning the US elections has been amplified this…
Look for Investment Opportunities in a Biden Win
The outcome of next month’s Presidential Election is likely to be of great consequence for the US economy and financial…
Why is Tax Efficiency Crucial to Retirement Savings and Income?
Let’s face it: nobody likes taxes, and no one (save for a few accounts) enjoys talking about taxes. The truth…
Take these 5 Back-to-the-Basics Steps when Markets Move Against You
Market volatility can have a way of derailing your best-laid investment strategy. So, what can you do to reduce risk…
These Two Techniques May Help You Avoid Gambling with Your Financial Future
How certain are you that you’ll achieve your crucial financial goals? Even if you’ve had the most basic experience preparing…
Has the US Dollar Lost its Dominant Reserve Currency Status?
Is US dollar dominance poised to end, and what might it mean for your finances? Uncertainties surrounding US dollar strength…
Five Ways to Free Up Cash When You Have Little in the Bank
Cash is king. During times of uncertainty, having cash on hand can make the difference between financial stability and the…
Are Emerging Markets the Right Investment for You?
Should emerging markets have a place in your investment portfolio? In today’s low yield, low growth environment, some investors are…
How Can You Rebuild a Broken Retirement Three-Legged Stool?
The road to retirement is not as straightforward as it used to be. There was a time when simple metaphors,…
Worried About Inflation? Look Beyond Gold.
Savers are increasingly looking to gold as a way to address rising inflation and for a good reason. The Federal…
How Fast Can You Break Free from Student Loans?
Eliminating student loan debt can put you on the fast-track to achieving your essential life goals. If you’re one of…
Four Ways to Prepare for Heightened Market Volatility
Many investors know that managing volatility is central to achieving essential financial goals. But how much should you worry about…
Are Stocks Setting Up for a Second Quarter Repeat?
U.S. stocks had a blockbuster second-quarter. Indeed, both the Dow and S&P 500 have posted their best returns in decades….
Feeling Stuck Financially? Hit the Reset Button.
You’ve been diligent with your money. You’ve amassed sizable savings. Then life knocks on your door – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity…
What Are the Essentials of Crafting a Solid Financial Plan?
Many of us know that having a financial plan is a sensible place to start when it comes to achieving…
Three Things to Know About Paying a Financial Advisor
Did you know that not all financial advisors get paid the same way? And while compensation does not make the…
Ten Signs it’s Time to Find a Financial Advisor
Having a firm grasp of your finances is a critical part of reaching your financial goals. With money being a…
What Are the Chances of a V-Shaped Recovery?
So why should you care whether the US economy is in a recession? By many estimates, growth in the second…
What’s the Best Way to Protect Your Hard-Earned Wealth?
What’s the best way to protect your hard-earned wealth? That’s the million-dollar question that’s on a lot of people’s minds…
Keep Your Money Growing with Two Simple Steps
Growing financial wealth in today’s environment has been a struggle. Whether it’s the wide swings in asset prices that make…
The First Step to Thriving Financially: Creating Wealth Today
What can individuals do during this downturn to thrive financially and build, or in many cases, rebuild wealth that has…
Are Markets Getting the COVID-19 Recovery Wrong?
Various earnings reports, data releases and the IMF’s World Economic Outlook have served investors notice not to get ahead of…
The CARES Act and Thriving During a Downturn
By the time the U.S. economy reopens weeks from now, tens of millions of people will have lost their jobs…
Adjusting to Seismic Shifts
In the blink of an eye the coronavirus has fundamentally changed our world in more ways than we can imagine….
When will they shut the markets?
Global risk assets continued to move lower on Monday, pushing the current selloff well into bear market territory and on…
Three quick steps to help manage financial anxieties during uncertain times
If the coronavirus, recession angst or elections are keeping you up at night or have generally increased your level of…
Economic update: Downside risks still increasing
The outlook for the U.S. and global economy has deteriorated yet again. Unsurprisingly, the culprit behind the outlook downgrade has…
Are Democratic Candidates’ Proposed Economic Policies Disruptive?
The race for the Democratic Presidential nominee remains crowded with eight candidates (as of this writing). Yet, with Super Tuesday…
What should you know about the SECURE Act?
If you are preparing for retirement, are currently retired, or own a small business chances are you’ve probably heard something…
Why the coronavirus is relevant to your finances
It’s getting harder and harder to ignore the potential financial fallout from the novel coronavirus (nCoV-2019) outbreak underway. Some of…
Cut costs to increase investment returns
Cutting costs may be one of the most effective ways to increase investment returns this year. To be sure, some…
Economic update: Recession risks on the rise
U.S. Growth Our latest estimates continue to suggest that economic growth in the U.S. will weaken in the coming year…
Let the good times roll: the beginning of the end?
Stock market prices continued to grind higher as economic data releases surprised to the upside this week. Indeed, a host…
Personal financial playbook: your path to getting ahead
Households will face many near- and long-term financial market complexities and economic uncertainties in the years to come. A personal…
Acute threat: a looming U.S. recession
The threat of a U.S. recession will add to a number of looming issues contributing to heightened financial market and…
Getting ahead isn’t what it used to be
Various economic and market indicators suggest the U.S. economy is in a better spot today than a decade ago. While…
Brace for more uncertainties in 2020
An undercurrent of seemingly benign financial market and political developments are poised to move both prepared and unprepared households further…
The rise in wealth and a decline in financial security
Financial conditions have become increasingly complex and uncertain even as the economy and financial markets have gained in recent years….