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, great...
General Planning
A Broken Record
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...
Top Ten Summer Vacation Tips
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, research....
New Baby in the Family? Here’s Some Financial Advice
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 responsibilities! Still, as a financial...
Here’s a Merry Approach to Mortality
he holidays (normally) conjure warm images of large family gathering with dinners, gift exchanges, and merriment. The holidays are different this year. As the COVID pandemic is filling ICUs across the country, our mortality has entered the national conversation. With...
Christmas Giving Tips and Tricks
I love Christmas. I love the Christmas cookies and food. I love Christmas lights. I love watching Christmas movies. I love decorating my house to the most extreme. Most importantly, I love giving gifts to the people that I love in celebration of the best gift that we...
Risky Business
Why do we talk so much about risk assessment? The financial markets are always reacting to a variety of global events and this volatility can be unnerving for individual investors, especially if investing without first understanding one’s personal risk profile. So,...
What Should I Do With My Money? It Depends…
From the perspective of personal financial planning, the answer to many of life’s complexities is, “It depends.” Of course, we all prefer black and white answers to important questions. But “It depends” fails to give us any certainty of outcomes. Here are some common...
The Power of Giving
“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime”. In my time at Asset Planning Corporation, I have seen this quote above lived out by my coworkers. I have seen them give their time and resources to people with no...
What You Think You Know
For the past few years, I have been taking care of my mom. In July of 2017, she fell and broke her hip and was in rehabilitation for two months. Then about six months later, our family noticed her memory was slipping. In December of 2018, she was diagnosed with lung...