Featured in the Knoxville News Sentinel: May 29, 2018 How much is enough? Obviously, it is a subjective question. Enough to just get by? Or enough to be “comfortable?” According to a 2017 Charles Schwab survey, respondents said they would be financially comfortable with $1.1 million. But really, when it comes to personal financial planning,…
By Heather Marshall, CFPC, MPP; Educator, AAA Fair Credit Foundation/Utah Saves As the old adage goes “Actions speak louder than words.” On the topic in question, it is fair to say spending is an action that implies values. Which explains why the nature of finances can be so personal, and challenge us to ask…
Holiday Bonuses The holidays often bring lots of cheer, festivities—and those much anticipated year-end bonuses. What is the best way to spend your holiday bonus? HOW GENEROUS ARE BUSINESSES TO THEIR EMPLOYEES OVER THE HOLIDAYS? Accounting Principles surveyed 500 businesses and found that 75% of them will give out holiday bonuses this year. For…
At the office, little strikes fear into the heart of employees like the annual open enrollment period for workplace benefits. It is a time of big decisions with significant financial impact. As seen on WBIR, Knoxville’s NBC affiliate station. WHAT EXACTLY IS “OPEN ENROLLMENT” FOR BENEFITS? In the U.S., open enrollment season is a…
Years ago, I heard the late Tom Gunnels, a career insurance agent and author of the book “Keep Your Lights On,” speak about the people in his life “gallery.” Gunnels was referring to his parents, and to teachers, supervisors and friends, living or deceased, who had a positive, life-changing impact on him. This year, two…
WBIR: Cybersecurity poses a massive threat to all of us – consider the recent “WannaCry” ransomware attack. But most people have no idea what to do or how to fix it in a meaningful way. Certified Financial Planner Paul Fain joins us again this morning to talk about how to protect your money. PAUL, WHAT…
I am grateful every day that I work in a firm culture that both encourages and supports continuing education at every level. As a financial planning professional, I have specific requirements for continuing education that must be met to maintain my CFP® designation, and there are certainly many ways to get those credits. APC’s culture…
You’ve been busy raising your children and saving for college and now you are helping your aging parents! It may be difficult to set aside money for your own future — planning for retirement is tough but figuring out how much money you’ll need for health care is even tougher. BABY BOOMERS SAY THEY…
How to Select a Financial Planner “Yippee-Ki-Yay” Welcome to the Wild Wild West also known as the U.S. financial advice industry. There are approximately 300,000 financial advisors in the U.S. according to Cerulli Associates. And arguably, the number of people who hold themselves out as comprehensive financial advisors and wealth managers is even greater, given…
Are you on track to achieve your goals? In other words, have you saved enough? And, how do you know how much is enough? Use the following guidelines to give yourself a Savings Check-up. Even though the economy has been doing better, many people are still financially vulnerable, i.e., living paycheck to paycheck. According…