According to surveys, adults in the U.S. have used the same checking account for 16 years on average and 40% of all Americans have never switched banks at all. But is that loyalty really what’s best for you and your money? Certified financial planner Suzanne Himes, with Asset Planning Corporation, is here to discuss what…
Most of us equate retirement planning with saving money for the future and while that is certainly important, studies show that the happiest retirees have a few other things in common. Suzanne Himes, lead financial planner at Asset Planning Corporation, is here with us to discuss some of the non-financial aspects of retirement planning. …
The average person will change jobs 12 times during their working life according to US Department of Labor statistics. Often, this means we are leaving an old retirement plan behind. But how do we decide what to do with that savings? Certified financial planner Suzanne Himes, with Asset Planning Corporation, discusses some of the pros…
Most of us realize that personal savings are important for our financial stability. Along with traditional bank and investment accounts, there are also some specialized opportunities to save and invest and one example is the ABLE account. Suzanne Himes, lead financial planner at Asset Planning Corporation, is here to help explain how ABLE accounts work…
The New Year brings us some new retirement account rules in the form of the SECURE Act, which was signed into law by the President right before the holidays. Suzanne Himes, lead financial planner at Asset Planning Corporation is here with some of the highlights of this important legislation and what it means for our…
It’s that time when many of us are considering resolutions for the coming New Year. Along with fitness goals, we often think about our finances and may wonder how we can reduce money stress. Certified Financial Planner Suzanne Himes, discusses strategies for easing our financial anxiety. SUZANNE, PERSONAL FINANCES TEND TO BE…
Saving for future education expenses is one of the most common financial goals. Whether the beneficiary is a child, a grandchild, or other family member. The preferred “vehicle” for those savings – the type of account – has certainly changed with tax laws and times. Even today, there isn’t a single best choice, as every…
Usually when we financial planners speak of financial independence, we’re referring to “retirement.” However, I strongly believe that the range of financial decisions that come with attaining adulthood (often accompanied by graduation around the same time) are just as critical – if not more so – than planning for retirement. After all, the foundational choices…
Beware! The Savings Blob One of the most important areas of financial planning is cash management (spending plans, budgeting) and within that, the concept of cash reserves. Most folks can probably agree that having “cash reserves” is a good thing. But after that, the attempt to quantify an appropriate number, or to think about different…
In the financial planning process, we always touch on the potential for long-term care needs, and the financial impact of increased health care costs over an extended period of time. We usually incorporate long-term spending goals for insurance premiums or for “self-insurance” (paying out of pocket for care) for some assumed number of years. And,…