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It all started when a project on my honey-do list required me to dust off the circular saw. I discovered an interest in woodworking... Most people start their research on Google but fail to realize that everyone has a unique set of circumstances and goals, so general advice isn’t going to get you where you need to be, at least not efficiently. The same goes for financial advice. There are a lot of different ways to save and invest, but making sure you are using the right investments and saving your money in the right places will have a huge impact on the quality and success of your goals.

It is often said that “half of marriages end in divorce.” So how do you navigate the choppy waters of divorce? How do you make good, educated and unemotional decisions in an incredibly emotional environment? Here are 4 areas to consider when going through a divorce: Division of Assets, Division of Debts, Children, and Spousal Support (Alimony).

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 when markets are down (like the current bear market caused by COVID-19) that separates 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. I can’t speak for all financial advisors, but I can tell you what the advisors at Financial Strategies Group have been and will continue to be doing in the weeks and months ahead."

"You work hard to keep your body fit and healthy. Regular exercise, dieting, annual physicals, doctors visits and perhaps even taking supplements are all a part of your physical fitness plan. But are you giving the same attention to your financial fitness? For many people, personal savings and retirement planning are not made a priority like they should be. I could argue that your finances are just as important as your physical health."

"I spend most of my day sitting at my desk or in a conference room, and the closest thing I get to exercise is when I skip out of the office early to play a quick 9 before heading back home. As I sit here and look out my office window at the beautiful, sunny, 70-degree day we’re having it has me thinking: How can golf help with money management? So I have come up with a couple of different points that I think can put some perspective on financial planning."

"For those who know me or work with me, they know I love analogies. The reason I love analogies is that they can take complex ideas and concepts (especially when it comes to finance and the markets), and make them easier to understand by comparing them to something that may be better understood by the person you are speaking to. When it comes to inflation the analogy I often use is Carbon Monoxide Gas. Inflation, like carbon monoxide gas, cannot be seen, smelled or tasted, but it can kill you!"

"There are a few ways that a financial professional can operate their business. This article outlines 4 of the major business structures in the financial industry, and tells how your advisor’s compensation might look in each structure. Understanding the structure of your financial advisor’s practice will help you understand the way they approach their clients and the advice they provide."