Savings
holiday gifts

How a Holiday Spending Plan Can Turn Humbug to Ho Ho Ho!

The decorations, the shopping mall and, of course, all those screaming retail deals mean it is time for American consumers to start compiling...

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Investment
Better Off 

Are You Better Off Today Than Four Years Ago?

Every day we get bombarded with reminders that we are not better off than we were four years ago. Obviously, if we have been unemployed during...

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College
student savings

6 Steps for Student Savings

With college tuition rates ever on the rise, today’s students of higher learning are coming face-to-face with the prospect of looming student...

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Preparing for Disaster

If You Had the Time to Plan for a Sudden Serious Illness or Death in the Family What Would You Do

A sudden death or serious illness in the family can knock spouses and other family members for a loop. If the primary breadwinner dies, what...

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Investment
Insider Guide

Insiders Guide to Finding a Financial Planner

“Hi, I think I’m interested in a financial planning but I’m not sure of the scope of a financial planner. My priorities are reducing my...

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Losing a Loved One
Before the Eulogy

Before the Eulogy

I recently attended a funeral mass for the father of a client. It was a wonderful occasion to reflect on a well lived life of more than 90...

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Starting a New Job
your resume

Buffering Up Your Resume – Tips from Financial Planners

Last Updated: June 20, 2011 "When one door...

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Investment
Valentines day

This Valentine's Day Get Rid of Loser Money Habits

Last year’s Valentine’s Day blog was about how to not break the ba...

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Estate Planning
dreaming big

Dreaming Big - Financial Planning for Unexpected Wealth

Money fantasies are nice. Some of them even come true – unexpected inheritances, yearend bonuses and yes, in even one in several hundred...

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Investment
my motivation

So What's My Motivation Here?

If you‘re reading this blog, you’ve at least taken some initiative to learn more about financial planning. Topics abound from setting goals to...

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Estate Planning
Estate Planning

Additional Estate Planning Tools

You may also need to use additional estate planning tools depending on the size and complexity of your estate. These tools may be useful for...

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Getting Married
Financial Planning for Newlyweds

Just Married - Financial Planning for Newlyweds

Last Updated: April 19, 2010 The vows have been exchanged. The honeymoon is over. Now comes the hard part. Now it's time, if you haven't...

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Investment
invest today

What to Invest In Today

I meet with individuals on a daily basis that have different perceptions of the world, and how they should react with their portfolio: I’m...

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Caring for a Loved One
AbuseandYou

Elder Financial Abuse and You

Last week FPA and Kiplinger’s hosted a free advice national call-in for the public to speak with advisors about elder financial abuse, and...

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Starting a New Job
unretirement

Planning a Post-retirement Move Back to the Workplace

There once was a time when retirement meant leaving the workforce for good.But an April 2006 survey by Zogby International and the MetLife...

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Investment
company stock

Invest in Your Company Stock Like an Executive

Have you ever worked at a job that gave you access to more of something than you could ever want?You might be a pizza lover, but let me assure...

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Investment
Stayed Course

What if You Had Stayed the Course?

As I was thinking about what topic to write about for my blog that you are reading now, the market pundits pointed out that the Dow Jones...

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Savings
taxes

Tried and True Tips to Lower Your Tax Tab

Tax season has a way of turning even the most diligent deadline-sticklers into big-time procrastinators. But, with April 18 fast approaching ...

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Investment

REITs 101 What You Need to Know About Real Estate Investment Trusts

What is a REIT?REIT is the acronym for Real Estate Investment Trust, which is a real estate company that offers shares to the public. Some...

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Starting a Family
new baby new year

A New Baby Checklist for the New Year

I was speaking to a friend the other day who just had her first child at the age of 40. We were discussing the many changes in lifestyle she...

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Losing a Loved One
Coming Months

In the Coming Months and Beyond

Collect Financial & Estate DocumentsGather your income tax returns, a list of assets and liabilities, retirement and investment accounts, stock...

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Investment
Accountability

Mutual Accountability

We talk a lot at the financial planning firm I work for about mutual accountability. In fact, it is part of our vision statement. What it means...

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Saving on Taxes
Tax Refund Loan

Thinking About a Tax Refund Loan?

The formal name is refund anticipation loans, or RALs.  They're marketed primarily to cash-poor taxpayers who use their annual federal and...

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Estate Planning
Make Estate Plans

Make Estate Plans to Benefit Yourself and Your Loved Ones

Judging by how little estate planning Americans do, they apparently don't mind making life difficult for themselves and their loved ones.That...

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Investment
costly free things

Why Free Things Can Wind Up Costing You

When was the last time you were drawn to a product or store by an advertisement offering something for free? Of course you have probably heard...

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Saving
Travelling Tips

Tips to Take Your International Travel Dollar Further

Trailblazing travel writer Eugene Fodor once said, “You don’t have to be rich to travel well.” As true as that statement may be, taking a trip...

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College
Funding College

Funding Your Child's College Education

In addition to purchasing a home, funding your child’s college education could be one of the largest expenditures you ever make.According to...

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Starting a Family
College Answer

What if College Isn't the Answer?

A 529 plan is a savings plan that allows individuals to save for a beneficiary’s college expenses. Invested funds grow tax free and, provided...

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Starting a New Job
Without Negotiating

Earn Higher Pay Without Negotiating

It turns out that the “lost decade” of zero growth not only pertains to the stock market, but to personal income too. The U.S. Census Bureau...

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Investment
americans overseas

Financial Planning for Americans Overseas

Globalization has not only moved many American jobs overseas but Americans, too. There can be real benefits to an overseas posting such as...

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