Articles and Videos

Investing and Personal Finance

Don’t Fear Stocks in Retirement

January 5, 2023

One of the more common beliefs about retirement finance is that the older you are, the less exposure to equities you should have. In other words, with each passing year in retirement, you should cut back on your percentage of stocks in your portfolio. But we think that’s the wrong approach. In fact, you may want to do the exact opposite. 

Managing Your Financial Future

It’s a New Year – Let’s Get Your Financial House in Order!- Episode 119

January 3, 2023

The new year brings with it some new opportunities, on both the planning and the saving sides. There are new contribution limits on your retirement plans, a fairly large cost of living adjustment on your Social Security benefits, a slight decrease in your Medicare premiums, and much more. Beyond that, there are also new opportunities… View Article

Investing and Personal Finance

Why You Should Consider Multiple Sources of Retirement Income

December 16, 2022

When it’s time for you to retire, it’s likely you’ll need a source of income to replace your salary. So how do you generate a reasonably stable income that will last as long as you do? 

Investing and Personal Finance

Stocks and Bonds Are Both Down – Here’s What You Should Do

December 8, 2022

Traditionally, when saving for retirement, many people have been advised to divide their portfolio holdings up into a mixture of stocks and bonds.  A 60-40 combination is common, but that ratio varies depending on certain factors, like age.  The idea was that when stocks were up, so were investors’ portfolios.  And when stocks were having… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

How Your Pension May Reduce or Eliminate Your Social Security Benefits- Episode 118

December 6, 2022

It’s a common scenario: you decide to take your Social Security early, maybe age 62 or 63, and then at age 65 you’ll begin taking your pension benefits.  You’ve already calculated what both your Social Security and pension payments will be, and so you set up your budget and your lifestyle accordingly. But once your… View Article

Investing and Personal Finance

Save Like a Pessimist, Invest Like an Optimist

December 1, 2022

One of my favorite authors in the blogosphere is Morgan Housel, author of The Psychology of Money.  He said something recently that really got me to thinking about why we believe so much in the power of a Bucket Strategy.   His advice was this: Save Like a Pessimist and Invest Like an Optimist.  So… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

Are Fixed Annuities Better Alternatives to Bonds?- Episode 117

November 29, 2022

In the classic 60/40 stock-bond portfolio, the stock portion is supposed to provide the gains, while the task of the bond portion is to cushion the fall when stocks are going down in value.  This past year, though, things haven’t quite worked out that way. Both stocks and bonds are down in 2022, as interest… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

Setting Up Your Heirs for Sudden Wealth- Episode 116

November 22, 2022

If you’re accustomed to living on a certain amount each year, with fairly stable savings account balances, it can be a real shock to the system when you suddenly receive a large influx of money that alters your current financial situation. While a small percentage of people achieve this through winning some kind of cash… View Article

Investing and Personal Finance

What to Do with Sudden Wealth

November 17, 2022

Introduction Have you ever given any consideration to what you might do if you suddenly received a large sum of money? It’s fun to think about, for sure. Lots of people imagine themselves quitting their jobs and traveling the world, lounging on a beach somewhere sipping a margarita or two. And that’s fine, as far… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

The Market’s Down: Is This a Good Time For a Roth Conversion?- Episode 115

November 15, 2022

A little over a year ago, when the markets were sitting at all-time highs, we addressed the wisdom (or maybe lack thereof?) of converting a traditional IRA (or 401k) to a Roth. Since taxes must be paid in the conversion process, we wondered if high valuations would make it less desirable at that time. The markets in 2022 have not been so kind to investors, as values across the board have come down, in some cases significantly. Given these circumstances, are lower stock values any better for those who want to convert? Or are other factors also at play when making this decision? Podcast host Johnny Dean speaks with his guest, “Professor” Rick Plum, CFP® about what you still need to consider when doing a Roth conversion in this week’s episode of Managing Your Financial Future!

Investing and Personal Finance

5 Things to Do Before the End of 2022

November 10, 2022

Getting Ready for 2023 As we begin to wind down 2022, it’s time to start thinking about some of the things that you really need to take care of before the new year gets underway. With all of the volatility we’ve seen in the stock market, as well as the sudden, dramatic rise in interest… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

5 Financial Moves to Make Before the End of the Year- Episode 114

November 8, 2022

As the year winds down, your opportunity window is also closing to get some things taken care of in 2022.  Taxes, retirement plan contributions, RMDs, charitable contributions — these are things that need to be done before the new year. What money moves do you need to be concerned about while there’s still time?  Tune… View Article