No Excuse!
Published December 10, 2013 7127 Views
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...
Building a Sound Financial Foundation.
Published December 9, 2013 7411 Views
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...
Answering a Question with a Question
Published December 5, 2013 7356 Views
"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...
Main Street is still struggling. We think?
Published December 3, 2013 6562 Views
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...
Don't Forget!
Published December 2, 2013 6860 Views
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...
The Gift that Keeps on Giving
Published November 26, 2013 6852 Views
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...
The Test of Time
Published November 25, 2013 6606 Views
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...
Tangibles vs Intangibles
Published November 22, 2013 6601 Views
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...
It Got Me Thinking...
Published November 21, 2013 7112 Views
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...
The Giving Season
Published November 19, 2013 6762 Views
People all over Western New York will give back this holiday season by dropping a few extra dollars into a red kettle or adding a cash donation onto their grocery bill. This way of saying thanks has endured for over one hundred years, but what if there was another way? That's exactly what Lindsay Be...