I’ve been wearing a Fitbit for almost two years now. Each day, when I’ve met my step goal, it gently buzzes to let me know – a “high five” of sorts. It syncs with my devices of choice and emails are sent automatically to let me know about various points of information, such as weekly…
In the ongoing process of supporting our client relationships, we often talk about “setting expectations.” We frame this in various ways, such as type and frequency of communications, timelines for responding to inquiries, paperwork, meeting schedules, etc. However, the most enjoyable and productive client relationships – and the happiest clients – seem to embody four…
In honor of November as National Hospice Month, APC is promoting the importance of thinking and talking about health care decisions well in advance of a serious illness or accident that may lead to someone being cared for by hospice. Hospice offers relief from the pain and symptoms experienced by people living with advanced, serious…
When I meet with a client to discuss their financial plan – whether we’re developing a “new” plan or having an annual review – an important part of the conversation centers around the investment plan and risk tolerance. How are their financial resources going to be invested to meet their wants, needs, and wishes for…
Summertime wedding season is upon us! Amidst all of the event planning and celebration, it’s so important to review your financial, legal, and tax documents for any changes that might be needed. In working with our clients, I see in “real life” how important it is to review documents on a regular basis, and especially…
While recently participating in a professional education conference, I attended a session on the subject of women and investing. Going into it, I expected a discussion around communication styles or financial planning needs that might be unique concerning female clients. However, I quickly realized that the speaker’s topic was actually around the research showing that…
Sustainable, responsible, and impact investing (SRI), which is a discipline that avoids or favors certain investments for moral or ethical reasons, has become big business, with an increasingly wide range of options for investors. SRI consists of three main parts: screened investing, shareholder advocacy, and community investing. In the 1970’s, a new era was emerging…
It’s always a “smart” investment strategy… When trying to establish an individual’s net worth, most people think first and foremost about financial capital—how much someone’s house is worth or how much money he or she has in the bank. There is, however, a second component to personal and professional value that’s a little more difficult…
How is your nest egg? If you do not have the savings that you want to have and/or do not have a plan to get there, perhaps a different approach is in order. It has occurred to me that whenever there is an emergency we drop everything else and focus on that event or problem.…
With the debate over the U.S. government debt, the debt woes in the Eurozone, and talk of a double-dip recession–not to mention protestors camping out on Wall Street–suddenly fairly complex economic issues are showing up in the mainstream news. In our own conversations with clients, we recognize that sometimes the lingo used in the financial…