What Is a Recession and How Do I Prepare for One?
The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) is the organization that decides if the US is in a recession. They define a recession as “a significant decline in economic activity that is spread across the economy and lasts more than a few months.” So, what the heck does this mean? In a recession, companies are…
Read MoreKeep It in the Family: How to Pass on Money and Assets to Family Members
Creating a plan for how you will pass on money or other assets (anything you own) is called estate planning. Many people think that if they don’t have a lot of money or assets (like homes, cars, and jewelry), they don’t have an “estate.” But the fact is we all have an estate. How you…
Read MoreEverything You Need to Know About High-Yield Savings Accounts
When it comes to saving money, where you save it can be almost as important as saving it. There are many different savings options available today. One that is often talked about is the high-yield savings account (HYSA). But what is a high-yield savings account and when is it the best choice for your savings?…
Read MoreWhat is Lifestyle Inflation?
Have you noticed that even when your income increases, it can feel like you still don’t have more money leftover at the end of the month? That’s because often, when our income increases, our expenses do too. This is a very real phenomenon called lifestyle inflation. It can sneak up on us despite our best…
Read MoreHow to Break the Paycheck-to-Paycheck Cycle
It can be so frustrating when you have more month than money! Everything is a battle and a challenge, just living day to day. The trick to getting out of that cycle is to make a plan for every single dollar. If you decide where you will spend your money before you receive it, you…
Read MoreAll the Resources You Should Know About for Parenting During COVID-19
The COVID-19 quarantine turned millions of people into instant home-school parents with little time to prepare. Luckily, many organizations recognize the strain this has put on parents’ finances. There are lots of resources parents can use to ease this financial burden: Free or Reduced Cost Internet Resources Here are some options that you should check…
Read MoreGame Plan for Starting a Small Business
When I first became a financial planner, my specialty was small business owners. I also headed my local Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business committee. Over the years, I received a lot of excellent business advice. Below are the top five most impactful business tips I’ve heard: Get your personal financial house in order If you…
Read MoreWhat financial conversations should my partner and I have before moving in together or getting married?
My experience talking about finances with my wife Back in the early 90s when I was first seriously dating, the only thing I could think to ask my future wife was, “Do you love me?” At no time during the wooing process did we discuss money or finances at all. We had no money, jobs,…
Read MoreTime-Sensitive Steps to Receive Your Stimulus Payment Quickly
The IRS announced that this Wednesday, May 13th, 9am PT (noon ET) is the deadline for many people to enter their direct deposit info into their Get My Payment portal. If you qualify for a stimulus payment and haven’t received it yet, provide your direct deposit information to get your funds faster. Who needs to…
Read MoreWhat is the Rule of 72?
Are you considering investing money? If so, you should know about the Rule of 72. It helps you determine how long it will take for your money to grow a certain amount. The Rule of 72 allows you to figure out how long it will take for an investment to double at a given annual…
Read More