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Financial Planning Blog

All your financial planning tips, news, and advice in one place.

6 mins ago

Recession Risks are Overblown.
Stick with Short-Duration and
Inflation Assets

May’s Rebound Despite negative returns in April and market turbulence throughout May, equities finishedmarginally higher for the month. US small-caps were amongst the best performers (+1.9%),followed by international developed equities…

2 May at 12:44 pm

Early Stages of the Inflation Cycle

What Happened in April? April was a challenging month for equities as stocks declined. US growth stocks were amongst the worst performers (-13.6%), followed by US large-caps (- 8.8%) and…

21 Apr at 12:25 pm

COVID, climate change, Ukraine: three ways businesses can adapt their models to working in an age of crises

It’s been a tough few years for people who own or manage a business. Lockdowns shut down whole industrial sectors worldwide, turning profitable businesses into loss-making ones, while a lot…

4 Apr at 10:55 am

What Happened in Q1 2022?

The S&P 500 Index returned -4.6% during Q1 2022, and the MSCI All Country World Index fell -5.3%. Q1 saw a notable rotation into inflation sensitive assets. The Bloomberg Commodity…

21 Mar at 9:17 am

Positioning a Portfolio for Additional Rate Hikes

What counts is how your money is invested now in anticipation of rate hikes At their recent March meeting, the Federal Reserve moved its fed funds target rate from near…

17 Mar at 12:10 pm

The Surge in Commodities in 2021 and 2022

Markets will find a way to cure this overindulgence – but it might take awhile Commodities tend to run in long cycles. There was a huge run-up in their prices…

3 Mar at 12:57 pm

Our Perspective on Russia & Ukraine

With the current volatility of the geo-political environment, I wanted to take a moment or two to provide some perspective on the scary situation in Ukraine and what could happen…

9 Dec 2020

Start or Grow Your Business in 2021

With 2020 being a tumultuous year, the start of 2021 may be an ideal opportunity for you to finally launch that startup or side-business that you’ve so often had on…

2 Dec 2020

Holiday Gifts and Long-term Planning

Once again, the holiday season is upon us. For many families, however, the events of the past year have resulted in a shift in values and priorities. As we’re contemplating…

18 Nov 2020

2021 IRS Cost of Living Adjustments

Tax law places limits on the dollar amount of contributions that you can make to Individual Retirement Accounts and by law, the IRS is required to adjust these limits annually…

11 Nov 2020

Veterans Day 2020 Reflection

On this Veterans Day, we want to take an opportunity to thank the many Veterans that make up our community and allow us to continuously stay safe. Bill Simonet was…

4 Nov 2020

2020 Election and Its Impact

Does the party occupying the White House affect the U.S. stock markets and other economic measurements? How does the party controlling Congress affect markets? While it’s interesting to review history…

28 Oct 2020

Reminder – US Election Impact on Investments

Hi everyone, We wanted to send a reminder about potential concerns regarding the upcoming presidential election and its impact on market and investment performance. Please take a moment to read…

21 Oct 2020

Open Enrollment Season for Employee Benefits

Open enrollment for employee benefits season is coming up, and you should certainly take the time to review your benefit choices. Employee benefit experts expect benefits to change next year,…

14 Oct 2020

Key Investment Points to Remember

How much should I invest, and in what areas, to reach my long-term financial goals? Even though you may believe your dollars are not stretching far enough to cover current…

7 Oct 2020

US Election Impact on Investment Portfolios

Are you concerned about the impact that the upcoming presidential election will have on financial markets and investment performance? Perhaps you shouldn’t be as worried as most investors are. While…

30 Sep 2020

Utilizing Your Employer’s 401(K) Plan

An attractive benefit plan can play a fundamental role in recruiting and retaining qualified staff. And, when trying to save for the future, a 401(k) retirement savings plan can help…

23 Sep 2020

Maximizing Cash Savings this Fall

When we talk about increasing cash on hand, we can take action by doing one of two things: reduce spending or increase income. A very common trait we continue to…

16 Sep 2020

Simple Budget Setting Actions for this Fall

In difficult economic times, many young couples and families may find themselves wondering where their money goes. Faced with income constraints and competing demands for their money, many people simply…

9 Sep 2020

Planning Strategy Areas Explained

While there are many facets to financial planning, each is equally important to the overall success of your strategy. Depending on your age, goals, and financial resources, your approach will…

2 Sep 2020

Starting on a Foundational Plan

Today, many people are concerned about saving for retirement or paying for a large ticket item, such as a child’s college education. If you belong to this group, now is…

26 Aug 2020

Legacy Planning Issues for Unmarried Couples

There have been some distinct changes in the American cultural and sociological landscape in recent decades. Among them is the increasing number of unmarried couples living together as lifetime partners.…

19 Aug 2020

Payroll Tax Executive Order Explained

While the current administration is working to make changes to payroll taxes, it is important to note that our firm specifically does not recommend that businesses pause their Social Security…

12 Aug 2020

Paying Back Student Loans

While Federal student loan payments are currently paused and temporarily set at 0% interest until the end of 2020, now is a great time to review repayment options and be…

5 Aug 2020

The First Step of Paying for College

With tuition payments coming due for this upcoming academic year, it is important to be reminded of the fundamental methods necessary to consider when thinking about funding sources for your…

29 Jul 2020

Overcoming the Challenge of Saving for the Future

Young adults in their twenties and early thirties face a variety of challenges in their quest for long-term financial security. Some of these challenges are similar to those faced by…

22 Jul 2020

The Benefit of a Mid-Year Financial Review

As we sit just over the mid-point on the year, it is important to review and re-adjust your current plan to finish out the rest of the year as strong…

15 Jul 2020

Reviewing Your Cash Flow Plan for the Rest of the Year

As we move forward with the final half of this year, we want to touch on some key budgeting strategies to check-up on active plans and reorganize these areas if…

1 Jul 2020

Office Hours Update

Our office will be closed beginning this Friday, July 3rd through next Friday, July 10th. If you require any investment account needs, changes, or trades- please contact us via email…

1 Jul 2020

Tax Planning for Income

As we are now approaching the official tax return deadline within the next two weeks, we wanted to share some pertinent information regarding income tax planning. You don’t want to pay…

24 Jun 2020

Understanding Personal Tax Credits

Have you ever thought that you’re paying too much income tax? You may be, if you’re not claiming all of the tax credits for which you are eligible when you…

12 Jun 2020

Setting and Prioritizing Your Budgeting Goals

What are budget goals?Think of your budget goals as your financial wish list and your spending plan as a way to make those wishes a reality. Without clear budget goals,…

3 Jun 2020

Founder’s personal statement regarding recent events.

Expectation vs Experience- My reflection on recent Events To say the events of the last few months have been challenging would be an understatement. The lives of so many Americans…

27 May 2020

Financial Survival After a Job Loss

You may have lost your job already, or it’s something you’re concerned about. Either way, the keys to surviving a job loss financially are to plan ahead, take stock of…

21 May 2020

Key Estate Planning Documents You Need to Know

There are five estate planning documents you may need, regardless of your age, health, or wealth: 1. Durable power of attorney2. Advance medical directives3. Will4. Letter of instruction5. Living trustThe…

15 May 2020

Life Insurance at Various Life Stages

Your need for life insurance changes as your life changes. When you’re young, you typically have less need for life insurance, but that changes as you take on more responsibility…

31 Mar 2020

Planning Strategies During COVID-19 Shutdown

On March 25, 2020, Congress passed the $2 trillion bill named the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. It was signed into law 2 days later. The CARES act…

27 Mar 2020

SBA Benefits In Response to COVID-19

In response to the recent downturn in small business operations, the U.S. Small Business Administration is offering program benefits to qualified employers. On Tuesday, March 31 3-4PM CST, Bill Simonet will be…

25 Mar 2020

Our Office and Social Distancing Policies

Effective tomorrow, Thursday March 25th, our office will move to working remotely for the next two weeks or until further notice, in order to be compliant with our community’s social distancing policies. While…

14 Mar 2020

Coronavirus Update from Bill Simonet

In volatile and stressful times like these, it’s always important to have perspective. Since the turn of the millennium, the market’s negative response to health crises has been relatively short-lived.…

12 Mar 2020

Thinking Clearly When the Market Swings

Conventional wisdom says that what goes up must come down. But even if you view market volatility as a normal occurrence, it can be tough to handle when your money…

20 Feb 2020

Filing Status Considerations: Divorce

What are filing status considerations?If you’re separated, considering a divorce, or are already divorced, you should be aware of the income tax ramifications of your divorce-related financial decisions. An important…

4 Feb 2020

Updating Your Tax Withholdings

If you fail to estimate your federal income tax withholding properly, it may cost you in a variety of ways. If you receive an income tax refund, it essentially means…

13 Jan 2020

IRA and Retirement Plan Limits for 2020

If you or your spouse currently have multiple Individual Retirement Accounts open, please contact us to consider consolidating those accounts. Having multiple IRAs open can result in excessive management costs…

6 Jan 2020

SECURE Act Important Retirement Plan Changes

The $1.4 trillion spending package enacted on December 20, 2019, included the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, which had overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives in…

16 Dec 2019

How to Find Lost Money This Holiday Season

Hey Clients!Today we wanted to share something with you that can result in finding some unclaimed money or property that may rightfully belong to you, without you knowing. This quick…

12 Nov 2019

A Reality Check For Holiday Spenders

During the holiday season, like many people, you’re probably finding that in the process of spreading good cheer you’ve spent too much money. Along with needing to trim a few…

4 Nov 2019

How to Control Your Holiday Spending This Year

If advertisements and commercials are beginning to feature scenes of happy families, clad in brightly colored sweaters, gathered by a fire, surrounded by an assortment of presents, then the countdown…

6 Oct 2016

Tax Planning for the Self Employed

Understand Self-Employment Tax and How It’s Calculated As a starting point, make sure that you understand (and comply with) your federal tax responsibilities. The federal government uses self-employment tax to…

1 Jun 2016

Our Biggest Financial Challenges Are Often Self-Inflicted

In many respects, people can be their own worst enemies in their quest for financial security. When you consider that our lives are nothing more than a culmination of the…

10 Mar 2016

Five Things You Should Expect from Your Financial Advisor

In the realm of investment advice, value is defined by what you receive from your advisory relationship that meets or exceeds your expectations. For most clients, it has much less…

7 Dec 2015

Financial lessons for your teen

1 Dec 2015

The 4 Essential Elements of a Retirement Plan

Until recently, many retirees have been able to rely upon the three-legged stool of retirement income sources: A defined benefit pension plan that guarantees a lifetime income, their own savings,…

12 Oct 2015

How to Choose the Right Investments

When you have excess cash flow and assets to invest, you can choose from a vast number of different types of investments, which can be a daunting task due to…

5 Oct 2015

Saving money versus paying off debt

4 Oct 2015

Determining your risk tolerance

9 Sep 2015

In Search of the Right Financial Advisor

The challenge for most people today is finding the right financial advisor. The sheer number of financial professionals holding themselves out as “financial advisors,” makes it a daunting task at…

13 Aug 2015

Have a long term goal? Financial planning can help you get you there

After several years of wallowing in financial upheaval caused by a severe recession and financial crisis, Americans are, once again, looking to the future. A renewed confidence has many people…

27 May 2015

Why financial planning is an absolute necessity for everyone

8 Dec 2014

How confirmation bias could be hurting your investment performance

Have you made up your mind on just about everything, even before you know what it is? For instance, when you meet someone, is your opinion of the person formed…

21 Nov 2014

Establishing a budget

Do you ever wonder where your money goes each month? Does it seem like you’re never able to get ahead? If so, you may want to establish a budget to…

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