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, legacy...
finances
Year-end Economic Review Presents No Immediate Causes for Concern
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 avoided a much-anticipated...
How to Go On the Defense Against Financial Scams
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
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?...
For Effective Planning, Learn Your Retirement Income Style
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 or...
Following These Steps Can Lead You to Financial Freedom
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 where...
After a Long Year, There’s More Clarity Ahead For Investors
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 the...
Speculating on Hoops and Investments
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 few Cinderella...
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...
Legacy Planning: Designating Your Beneficiaries
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....