Want results from your investments? Don’t get emotional | Paul Fain, CFP® Famed investor Benjamin Graham once said, “The investor’s chief problem, and even his worst enemy, is likely to be himself.” DALBAR, a financial market research firm, conducts an annual study of investor behavior. With 25 years of data, the study’s conclusion is frighteningly…
Here’s how to develop a gold-medal financial plan in 2021 | Paul Fain, CFP® This summer, I have taken up competitive swimming (for folks over age 50). As a rookie, I never realized how many components are involved in a gold-medal performance. For example, Olympic swimmers have excellent stroke technique, strength, endurance; as well as,…
Investment Themes for the Next 10 Years | Paul Fain, CFP® When is the best time to invest in the stock market? What about now? Are stocks too over-priced? One of the U.S. stock market’s measures of value, price-to-earnings ratio, is running high by historical standards (37 today vs. 17 historically). In other words,…
A Broken Record | Randee Schoenike As our children enter adulthood, we hope they remember all the conversations we had about personal finances. Many financial gurus have written about the principles of financial wellness in their how-to books. The five big ones we always return to with our children are: Always spend less than…
Retirement is a Big Transition, so Plan Accordingly | Paul Fain, CFP® It is one of life’s biggest transitions, retirement. The pandemic has scrambled the retirement plans of many people, accelerating retirement for some, delaying it for others. In any event, the topic should raise many quantitative and qualitative questions seeking answers: What is…
Top Ten Summer Vacation Tips | Kathy Patty, FPQP® Spring is here, and summer is just around the corner. Here are my favorite tips to help you plan a budget-friendly vacation. Know how much can you afford and set a budget. Put a little back each month into a savings account automatically. Research, research,…
After a Long Year, There’s More Clarity Ahead For Investors | Paul Fain, CFP® After a long year, these spring days seem particularly sweet. Unlike 2020, when uncertainty was so widespread, we now see more clearly looking ahead. The recent government checks to consumers, plus the big infrastructure project on the drawing board, could boost…
Tempted to Speculate? Don’t Risk More Than You Can Afford | Paul Fain, CFP® It’s madness, March Madness! It is always fun to fill in a NCAA basketball tournament bracket, whether for family bragging rights or for the office bracket pool. As the tournament unfolds, most of the basketball powerhouses smash lesser rivals while a…
New Baby in the Family? Here’s Some Financial Advice | Paul Fain, CFP® In the midst of much trial and tribulation around our country, can I share a personal story on the lighter side of life? I’m a first-time grandpa. This experience is good beyond my imagination – all the joy with none of the…
Legacy Planning: Designating Your Beneficiaries | Suzanne Himes, CFP® & Steve Carlson According to the Investment Company Institute, total US retirement assets exceed $23 trillion, mostly in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRAs. How these assets transfer to the next generation is a very important part of the financial planning process. Typically, these assets will pass…