Financial Soothsayers’ Forecasts Fell Short For 2024 Paul K. Fain, III, CFP® Let’s have a little fun at someone else’s expense. What do fortune-tellers, tea leaves and Ouija boards have in common? Their predictions are more accurate than Wall Street forecasts. As one financial writer puts it, “Annual stock market forecasts are a sad,…
Year-end Economic Review Presents No Immediate Causes for Concern Paul K. Fain, III, CFP® In the year-end retrospective, our stockings were stuffed with a combination of oranges, walnuts and coal. In other words, life sometimes brings us a lump of coal, but we usually can find simple blessings to be grateful for. For instance, we…
How To Go On The Defense Against Financial Scams Paul K. Fain, III, CFP® Knoxville estate attorney Lisa Gammeltoft is on a mission to raise awareness about financial scams. The holidays are a peak season for fraud. I recently attended one of her presentations, “From Catfishing to Pig Butchering: Scammers Are Stalking Your Clients.” “People…
Financial Resilience Requires Planning Paul Fain, CFP® With approximately nine weeks remaining in the year, it is an opportune time to review your personal financial plan. I encourage you to take a “financial resilience” self-audit. Is your financial plan ready for the unexpected? Are you prepared for future shocks? Building financial resilience into your life…
For Effective Planning, Learn Your Retirement Income Style Paul Fain, CFP® It is a critical question affecting one-third of your lifespan: What is your retirement income style? There is not a “right” way to generate a retirement income. The key is knowing your preferences. For example, do you prefer the stability of a guaranteed income…
Following These Steps Can Lead You to Financial Freedom Paul Fain, CFP® What is financial freedom? The answer is a slightly different picture for everyone. But there are some common characteristics. According to Dr. Brad Klontz, Psy.D., CFP and an expert in financial psychology, “What we want to focus on is that financial freedom…
How to Adjust Financial Plans In a Time of Challenges Paul Fain, CFP® “Sell crazy someplace else. We’re all stocked up here.” (Jack Nicholson in the movie “As Good as It Gets”). I decided to watch a recording of the recent presidential debate. It got crazy! Especially when two very grown men, vying for…
How to Determine When It’s Time to Sell Investments Paul Fain, CFP® We have quite a bit of deferred maintenance due at our home (painting, replacing windows, carpentry, etc.). To get some projects going, should we borrow the money, use some of our cash reserves, or sell an investment? I really do not want to…
Financial Folly or Just Bad Luck? Paul Fain, CFP® Let’s face it, we all make mistakes. What are some common financial planning mistakes? To name a few: Overspending. Underestimating life expectancy. Neglecting to develop an eldercare plan. Underestimating the impact of inflation. Buying annuities without understanding them. Underinsuring the risk of disability. Investing too conservatively…
The Best Plan for Aging Well is Free Paul Fain, CFP® Aging is a funny thing. Not ha-ha funny, but more of a “Are you kidding me!?” kind of funny. For instance, I’ve got arthritis in my big toes (my BIG TOES, for crying out loud!). And why is hair falling out of my head…