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The word “Fiduciary” gets a lot of attention in the financial services industry. But what exactly is it, and what does it really mean for investors? Generally speaking, a fiduciary is someone acting on the behalf of another, usually in some kind of legal or financial capacity. Some examples of fiduciaries may include attorneys, trustees, estate executors, and accountants. In the financial services industry, Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs), like Financial Strategies Group, are held to a fiduciary standard by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This requires the RIA to act in the best interest of their clients and put their clients’ interests ahead of their own at all times.

If I asked you what your objective is when it comes to investing, what would your answer be? In my years as a financial advisor, I have found the answers I have gotten to this question to be far too broad to be meaningful. Whether it is “retirement,” “saving for my children’s college education,” or (the worst answer) “making money”. When it comes to anything in life, including investing, your success is in the details.

No, I’m not talking about that “B” word! I’m talking about that curse word known as a BUDGET. I commonly refer to your budget as “Lifestyle”. Now, I’m not talking about a budget in the sense that everyone has to have an itemized spreadsheet or spend countless hours a week micromanaging transactions. In generalities, a budget is having an idea of how much income is coming in and how much in expenses are going out. At some point, you will need to carefully manage income and expenses, so why not start practicing today?

Springtime is here! Spring brings a sense of renewal and optimism after the long dreary winter months. As the warmer weather moves in, we tend to find ourselves feeling more motivated, ready to clear out the old and bring in the new! Spring cleaning is a popular tradition for many, as it provides a chance to clear out any stagnant clutter and stale air. We kick off the season with scrubbing, organizing, and decluttering all of the physical aspects of our home and lives. This year, in addition to tidying up your home and other physical aspects of your life, why not do the same for your finances?

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."