Blog

We live in the “noisiest” era in human history. Notifications, breaking news, opinions, algorithms, senseless entertainment, and advice are constantly bombarding our attention. Every day we face an overwhelming flow of information—some helpful, most distracting. The result? Many of us feel more confused than ever, even about the most important areas of our lives: how we spend our time, how we use our money, and what kind of future we want to build.

As a financial advisor, I spent a lot of my day indoors. Either sitting at a desk or a conference table. However, every once in a while, I get a chance to support a local charity and play in a golf outing, or even skip out of the office early to play a quick nine before I head back home. Here in the Midwest, we only have a few good months for the golf season. So, as I’m taking advantage of the sunshine while we have it, it has me thinking: How can golf help with money management?

They come every month, but what do all the numbers mean, and how can I make sense of it all? In this article, we will explore the ins and outs of our Fidelity statement, and by the end, we’ll have a better understanding of what we’re looking at.

The transition into retirement can be very exciting, but it is also one of the biggest adjustments a person can make in their life. I have been blessed to help dozens of clients transition into retirement, and everybody, without exception, is a little nervous (or a lot). If you are approaching retirement and feel anxious, unsure, or fearful, you are not alone.

It’s natural to feel concerned when you see the value of your investments or even the world change rapidly. Think of everything we have been through over the past five years! However, emotional reactions to market changes can lead to poor financial decisions...

Before claiming social security there are some things you should know. When do you meet your full retirement age because that impacts how much you collect. Take a look at your longevity, your Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) and your spousal benefits. Lastly, keep in mind that there may be taxes and penalties that come with claiming too soon. We realize that this is a complex subject and encourage you to work with a financial planner, CFP® or ChFC® who is proficient in retirement planning.

Anyone can seem like a good financial advisor when markets are doing well. The expectation investors have when investing in capital markets is to make money, so when expectations are easy to meet, the bar tends to be set pretty low. However, it’s downturns in the markets that separate great financial advisors from mediocre ones. It’s times like these when people may wonder what their financial advisor is doing during this bear market.

Will Social Security benefits be lost? While the program has long been underfunded, those already receiving or nearing retirement benefits are unlikely to be affected. Several policy changes, such as raising the retirement age or increasing payroll taxes, could stabilize the system, but younger individuals should prepare for saving for retirement now.