Last week, my wife, Karen, and I were in Massachusetts providing an American History trip to our seventh grandchild. We were gratified to learn that she knew more about the country’s beginning than almost all of the previous six travelers to New England with us. We begin with a tour [...]
As a financial advisor, I do all I can to stay current on the ever-changing rules and regulations related to the world of finance. I take pride in my understanding of these matters, but when a client recently asked me about changes to a particular type of savings account, I [...]
John D. Rockefeller once famously said that the only thing that gave him pleasure was watching his dividends come in. If true, that may be one of the saddest perspectives on money I have ever heard. Money can certainly provide a financial return, and growing it wisely is important. But [...]
A common question I’m asked is whether trusts are worth the cost, and if so, whether one is actually necessary. The most honest answer is: it depends. Every situation is different, which is why it’s important to speak with a financial professional before considering this type of estate planning strategy. [...]
Many years ago, I had a conversation with a coworker that has stuck with me ever since. They had just purchased a brand-new truck that cost nearly twice their annual salary, all while still living with their grandparents. I questioned the wisdom of that choice, and their response was something [...]
I have written extensively on the subject of housing prices over the past few years. Without a doubt, it’s one of the most pressing issues threatening the economic success of the American people, particularly younger Americans. Perhaps that is why a recent poll revealed that 91% of adult Gen Zers [...]
A couple weeks ago, I traveled with 9 other volunteers from Greater Kansas City to Burnsville, Yancey County, North Carolina, to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Although it has been over 4 months since the area of Western NC and Eastern Tennessee was hit with what could be [...]
Recently, Investopedia made headlines with their findings on how much it actually costs to live the American Dream. According to the study, it costs roughly 4.4 million dollars to have all of the things traditionally viewed as part of living the dream. This includes such things as a home, a [...]
I often get the inspiration for my articles from everyday people and situations. This week I got it from shoppers in a grocery store. I was there doing my weekly Saturday morning shopping. This particular week the store had 8 oz bags of shredded cheese on sale for $1.79. Being [...]
As financial advisors one of the primary things we do is help people prepare for retirement. For most advisors, that is accomplished by helping clients build up and grow their retirement accounts in order to make sure the client can afford the standard of living they want when no longer [...]
