What if I Don’t Have Any Big Goals?
Have you ever thought, “Financial planning isn’t for me. I don’t have any Big Goals.” Or maybe you are actively involved in financial planning but think, “I don’t have any Big Goals right now – why am I even doing this?” I hear you. I’m an example of a person who currently doesn’t have any […]
Why is it so easy to spend money?
It’s a month after the holiday season and looking at your credit card bill probably makes you cringe. All that money, gone. Sure it was to buy presents or go out to dinner with out-of-town guests or send your yearly holiday cards, but the amount still makes you feel hungover. Why is it so easy […]
Do you really need a budget?
Budgeting is one of the most mainstream topics of personal finance. If you search “How to get better with my money”, you’ll find that having a budget is the overwhelming answer according to financial experts on the internet. Of course, having a budget makes sense. To build wealth, you need to spend less than you […]
‘Lives Under Care’ Instead of ‘Assets Under Management’
We were recently inspired to make a small tweak to one of our business metrics after reading an article on Rethinking65 by columnist James Brewer. In the article, Brewer proposes that financial planning professionals should drop the term “Assets Under Management” (AUM) and replace it with “Lives Under Care” (LUC) to better reflect the work […]
But, Why?
I purchased this sketch of Carl Richard’s “Why” to hang on the wall in front of my office desk some months ago. I sat at that desk, struggling to write this blog post. I couldn’t decide what I wanted to write about! As I gazed at the big “Why,” I started to ask myself questions: […]
What Are the Money Stories We’re Telling Ourselves?
I won’t survive without a full-time job that pays benefits. I’m going to cling for dear life to whichever job I’m lucky to get. People go broke if they go even a moment without full-time work, so if I ever do need to leave my job for whatever reason, I need to have something else […]
What’s Your Worst Case Scenario? Let’s Have Some Fun with It!
My husband and I play this game that we borrowed from the popular TV series This is Us. When confronted with a difficult situation, the two main characters ask each other, “What’s the worst case scenario? GO!” And then we hear them blurt out extreme and creative things they imagine may go wrong. My husband […]
Why Estate Planning is Important
Most people kick the can down the road on estate planning for as long as possible, and justifiably so. It’s not easy to talk about what to do in the event of serious illness or death. It also takes time and money to work with an estate planning attorney to get the proper documentation in […]
Tick-Tock! Time Is Money…or is it?
With a second child on the way, I’ve been thinking a lot about Ben Franklin’s saying, “Time is money” as I anticipate having a lot less time on my hands. The idea that time equals money carries a simple message: We should—to the best we can—use money to get us more time. And when you […]
How Much Should You Spend on Housing?
One common question we get from clients is: How much should I be spending on housing? A quick Google search will take you to the 30% rule, which is the most widely accepted (yet debated) rule of thumb. The 30% rule suggests that you should limit your housing costs to no more than 30% of […]