As more consumers turn to comprehensive wealth managers for assistance in putting together a financial plan, it is becoming increasingly important to make sure the firm you have chosen is the right fit for you and your family. Although quantitative information such as assets under management, number of employees, number of clients, average account size, [...]
Archive for September, 2011
5 Important Factors to Consider When Selecting a Wealth Management Firm
Posted in Financial Planning, tagged ADV filings, compensation, portfolio management, wealth managers on September 30, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Is this Wall Street or Las Vegas Blvd?
Posted in Investments, tagged bear market, diversify, dividends, investing, losses, stock market, volatility, Wall Street on September 29, 2011 | 1 Comment »
$400 on Big Red – am I buying a share of Apple or placing an all or nothing craps bet? The past couple months have felt like a rough night at the craps table – win lose win lose – makes you want to pull out and hit the bar! I bought my first stock [...]
Dealing With This Crazy Market Volatility: 30 Years of Advice With Just 3 Mantras!
Posted in Investments, tagged asset class, bear market, deworsification, diversification, fundamental analysis, investment objectives, stock market, t echnical analysis, volatility on September 28, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Since April 29 of this year, we’ve been in a downward spiral in the stock market that has caused a lot of investors to ask why in the world they deal with all this crazy volatility? Over the last decade it seems like every time you make some gains in the market, you end up [...]
Can Costco Help You Beat Inflation?
Posted in Spending, tagged inflation, Investments, price increase on September 26, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Wow! I don’t get to the fast food drive-through as much anymore, but on a recent trip I veered off the highway for a pit stop and bite. My fast-food knowledge today includes all of the advertising slogans one might expect, including $1 menus, $5 foot-longs, and $5 hot-and-ready pizzas. With that mindset, you can [...]
Tax Reform – What is Fair?
Posted in Taxes, tagged American Jobs Act of 2011, budget deficit reduction plan, debt growth, financial deleveraging, Statistics of Income Bulletin, tax rate, tax reform, tax revenues on September 23, 2011 | 1 Comment »
Unless you have been on another planet for the past several months, and or years, you know that we are facing difficult financial times. Our States, our Country and other Nations of the World, for that matter, are struggling to work through financial deleveraging from the excesses of debt growth of the past decade while, at [...]
Earn Higher Pay Without Negotiating
Posted in Employment, tagged benefits re-enrollment, employee benefits, median household income, personal income, stock market on September 23, 2011 | 1 Comment »
It turns out that the “lost decade” of zero growth not only pertains to the stock market, but to personal income too. The U.S. Census Bureau recently reported that median household income fell 10% from 2000 to 2010 when inflation is factored in. In a slow growth/high unemployment economy, you may not have the power to negotiate [...]
Reflections on Priorities – Get Ready for the Holidays Now
Posted in Values, tagged 9/11 memorial ceremonies, community, holidays, needs, political climate, priorities, sentimental value, wants on September 21, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
On September 11th of this year, I experienced several unconnected situations that required me to check in on my priorities and how they gel with society. The morning was spent as I imagine many of you spent it, watching the coverage from New York, Washington & Pennsylvania. It was an important time to reflect on the [...]
Life After the Ceremony
Posted in Budgeting, tagged budget, engagement, marriage, wedding on September 20, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Earlier this year I had the opportunity to introduce you to a couple that had just gotten engaged. I thought it might be a good idea to look in on Timmy and Lailah to see how things were coming along. I recently had the opportunity to spend some time talking to Timmy over lunch at [...]
Medicare Open Enrollment Changes for 2011
Posted in Medical & Health Issues, tagged co-pays, deductibles, donut hole, financial planning, formulary, Medicare, Medicare deadlines, Medicare gap, Medicare providers, open enrollment on September 15, 2011 | 2 Comments »
As we approach the final quarter of 2011, folks enrolled in Medicare prescription drug plans ought to be prepared for some changes to the open enrollment period. First and foremost, the period in which you are allowed to change plans has moved up to the period beginning October 15, 2011 and ending December 7, 2011. [...]
A New, More Powerful Engine
Posted in Financial Planning, tagged credit, debt, finances, financial education, financial planning, financial regulations, financial rules, maximizing wealth, Retirement, Savings on September 14, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Like many of you this summer, my wife’s family had a reunion at the lake last month. We had hamburgers and hot dogs and, since it was in Wisconsin, we also had brats. The weather mostly cooperative, although we had exciting gusts of wind along with rain for a few minutes. It added a topic [...]
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Bloggers
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Lee Baker, CFP®
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Rick Kahler, CFP®, MS
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Bonnie Hughes, CFP®
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Rick Miller, CFP®
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Tara Scottino, CFP®
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Robert Schmansky, CFP®
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Francis St. Onge, CFP®
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Karin Maloney Stifler, CFP®, AIF®
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Somnath Basu
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Jude Boudreaux, CFP®
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FPA Guest Blogger
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Sam Hull, CFP®, ACC
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Dave Caruso, CFP®
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John Comer, CFP®
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David Bergmann, CFP®
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Joe Pitzl, CFP®
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Chip Workman, CFP®
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Saundra Davis
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Gelasia Steed, CFP®
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Aaron Coates, CFP® CIMA
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Michael Snowdon, CFP®
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Pamela Sandy, CFP®
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Mike Branham, CFP®
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Edward W. Gjertsen II, CFP®
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Constance Stone, CFP®
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Andrew B. Chou, CFP®
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