Inflation is challenging. Take a breath and re-balance your investment portfolio Paul Fain, CFP®   “I will survive!” sang Gloria Gaynor in the 1970s. Back then, it could have been a battle cry: Oil prices surged, inflation peaked at 14%, and the U.S. stock market plunged 45%. Almost 50 years later, we are facing challenges

Here are some smart financial planning moves for your spring ‘cleaning’ Paul Fain, CFP®   A few weeks ago, we cleaned out and reorganized our bedroom closet and our garage. The annual spring ritual leaves us feeling better and a few dollars richer as we gave away some clothes, shoes and coats and sold some

War is emotional, but rarely impactful on company profits Paul Fain, CFP®   There is a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. The loss of life is tragic and disturbing. And it is OK to wonder, “What does this mean for my investments?” Our financial planning firm recently hosted a current events webinar with Apollo Lupescu, Ph.D., vice president

Here’s how to keep your focus on the big picture during unsteady times Paul Fain, CFP®   Here we are in 2022 and the world seems like a crazy place (again)! Armies on the move. Consumer prices reaching decade highs. The coronavirus pandemic continuing to impact our daily lives. What should be your next decision

Balancing Act: Interest Rates Paul Fain, CFP®   “What are your IRAs paying?” asked my mother-in-law. Being extremely risk-adverse, and 93-years-old, she was referring to the prevailing interest rates on an IRA bank account or an IRA annuity. However, as I politely discussed with her (as she was preparing her famous beef stew), it is

It’s always a good time to audit your retirement income strategy Paul Fain, CFP®   Do you have enough money saved to retire? Are you financially independent from the need to earn a paycheck? This is some important math as the coronavirus pandemic has moved some workers into early retirement, voluntarily or involuntarily. Stated another