"I tell all my clients about the 3 buckets of financial planning." #1 - Emergency Have at least 3 months of savings set aside. This money should not be touched except for emergencies and should be held in a separate savings account, NOT your checking account. It is there for emergencies and to keep [...]
What goals do you have for your child? The average cost of college in the United States is $35,720 per student per year. This number has tripled in 20 years! If you hope to send your kids to college, the sooner you have a plan in place to pay that bill the better. “College is [...]
Having a strategy to protect your assets is essential to long term financial success. You’ve worked hard to build your nest egg. But what if a life event caused you to deplete your savings so you could no longer afford to live how you wanted? "Erick, we did it! We’re DONE!” My clients were nearing [...]
Before you start searching for a home, understand how much money you’ll really need. Home ownership has several advantages over renting, including lower monthly payments, deductible mortgage interest, and the accumulation of equity. But there is a definite price to pay for these benefits, including the expenses we detail here. The biggest spend is [...]
Did You Tell Your Money What to Do? Learn how to spend your money with intention with a Spending Plan. Couples are made up of a saver…and a spender. Which one are you? The saver LOVES the idea of a budget. The spender calls them a party-pooper. The spender hates the idea of a [...]
Do you know how long it will take you to get out of debt? When will you be debt-free? There was a time in my life when I had debt. In my mind, it was ok because I was paying on-time each month. I was “playing by the rules”: No late payments and my [...]
Taxes can be a scary word. For many of us, tax is our largest expense. It’s a BIG number. We are taxed on the money we earn AND the money we spend. And the politicians still want us to pay more. Yikes! "If we’re going to find an area to cut, taxes would be [...]
Perform this five-point inspection to help keep your retirement plan’s motor running smoothly Just like with a car, it’s a good idea to perform some annual maintenance on your retirement plan. Here’s a five-point inspection guide to help you continue to get good mileage out of your plan and ensure it stays reliable on [...]
A fresh approach to spending can help put some sizzle in your retirement savings Despite all the budgeting and cash flow tracking apps available, many people still struggle to manage their spending habits on a daily basis. What if there was a simple blueprint you could follow that could help you manage the way [...]
In projecting what you’ll need to save in order to generate enough retirement income, it helps to (1) prepare a realistic household budget and (2) understand what types of expenses you’ll have once you stop earning a regular paycheck. Types of Expenses Fixed Expenses – “Must Haves” Mortgage or rent Taxes (income and property) Car [...]
