Blog

Let's just get this out there - I'm not talking about the Buffalo Bills. The only place they're going is home in three weeks when the season ends (again). No, I'm referring to those beginning or end of the semester college bills that will no doubt be finding a way into your mailboxes towards the e...

Well, it's official. There is now absolutely no excuse for not saving for retirement. Why not? Well, because these dogs now have a retirement plan, so how could you not?I heard this story on the radio over the weekend and being a dog-lover I couldn't resist passing it along. I also couldn't resist u...

Everywhere we turn, advertisements encourage us to spend our money on a variety of things: a flashy car, designer jeans, or the newest gadget. We are constantly pressured to spend our cash rather than save it. Before signing on the dotted line, take a step back and ask yourself if the slick car, the...

"How much money do I need to retire?" This is a common question that I'm often asked during the early stages of retirement planning. The answer, however, is never that simple. Instead of focusing on big number full of commas, I prefer to answer the question with a question: " how much income will...

Heading into this holiday season retailers were cautiously optimistic. The markets are way up, there are more job postings than we've seen in years and more people are landing jobs. Slowly but surely, people are regaining confidence in our economy. Well, the numbers are in, and Black Friday weekend...

This time of year always seems to go by the fastest. Once the clocks are set back and the holidays are here, our daily activities pick up the pace as if we just moved to New York City. A friendly reminder for those over age 70 1/2 , or beneficiaries that have inherited IRAs: don't forget to take you...

When it comes to charity, we're all big picture people. We want that dollar we donated to turn into something bigger; the tipping point and a chain reaction that dramatically changes one life and betters our community. If we didn't see it that way, we wouldn't give at all. We all know what a dollar...

Recently I have been discussing the strength of compounding interest with both young and first-time investors. Sacrificing a portion of your paycheck at a young age for retirement can be an overwhelming idea. It's very easy to overlook the importance of building your nest egg when beginning your car...

When going through the financial planning process, it's easy to become fixated on the numbers. You worry about expected returns, taxes, maximizing income, etc. The numbers are very important. One specific example is comparing pension payout options. We look at taking a lifetime annuity vs. taking a...

My wife and I spent a good portion of last night at the hospital after a scare with our 10-week old daughter. Good news is, she's just fine - back to smiling and laughing at her mother and father on the changing table this morning (morning = 3:30 am). Healthcare, despite all of the issues with Presi...