Estate Planning for LGBT Couples
Let’s face it—planning for an eventual illness or death is an unpleasant topic that most couples avoid. But estate planning for LGBT couples is imperative because of one single reason: if you’re not married, you have no rights. Without legal documents, you can’t protect each other in illness, pass along your assets, or guarantee that […]
The Real Purpose of A Personal Budget
Let’s be real: creating a personal budget is a total grind. Going through bank statements, tallying numbers, and owning up to how much you actually spend at Starbucks is not what most people consider a fun activity. And many times during the process, we lose track of why having a budget even matters! Despite the […]
The Joy (and Benefits) of Tax Deductible Donations
The end of the year is coming up, and that usually means giving money to a meaningful cause, donating old clothing, or volunteering for our favorite charity. Along with the joy giving back brings us, there’s also a powerful financial motivator: the ability to lower your income tax bill with tax deductible donations! But before […]
Checking-in With Your Financial Goals: A Key to Financial Success
I’m a huge believer that the little things we do each day can add up to huge changes over time. No place is this more true than in your financial life. I’ve seen the power of setting financial goals to attain the type of life you envision. When you think big, you open up your […]
Creating A Long Term Investment Plan: Tune Out The Noise!
Before we talk about your long term investment plan, let me tell you a quick story. In my past career, I picked stocks in front of Bloomberg screens with flashing green and red prices. I saw the devastating depths of the 2008 Financial Meltdown, and the stock market that came roaring back afterward. I came […]
Should I Max Out my 401k? [Video]
Should I Max Out my 401k? (Transcript) Should I max out my 401k? The short answer is always typically yes, but the longer answer may be, maybe not depending on individual situation. For employees that have access to retirement contribution plans like a 401k or a 403b: you should really take a hard look at […]
Talking About Money With Your Partner: 5 Questions To Ask
Picture this typical scenario: Sara and Joan have just gotten married and want to buy a house within the next year or two. They’ve had some initial discussions about their mutual finances, but lose steam when the conversation becomes complicated. Sara hasn’t given Joan the actual figure of her student loan debt, and Joan hasn’t […]
Is it Important to Have an Emergency Fund? [Video]
Is it important to have an emergency fund? (Transcript) There’s a lot written out there about how much you should have saved in a rainy day fund. But I want to take a step back and answer the question “Is it even important to have an emergency fund or rainy day fund?” And the answer is […]
What Does a Financial Advisor Do?
Like it or not, mоnеу іѕ one of the most іmроrtаnt thіngs in your lіfе. You might not want to admit it, but its true. And despite its importance, it’s one area of our lives where no formal education is given in school. We may learn some things from parents or friends, but often times, […]
Is Financial Planning Just for the Rich? [Video]
Is Financial Planning Just for the Rich? (Transcript) Hi, I’m Jim Marrocco from Thinking Big Financial. Recently, a friend asked me if I worked with regular people. By this she meant, do I work with people that are not super wealthy? And it reminded me of this huge myth that exists: that a financial advisor […]