Financial Planning

Working with a financial advisor is a big deal. In the same way a good doctor may know key aspects of your personal health, a good financial advisor will know the crucial aspects of your financial situation–all to help you improve your financial health and retirement longevity. That’s why it’s important to know what to expect when working with a financial advisor and understand where and how your advisor can improve your finances. Understanding Your Financial Picture The first step when you meet with most financial advisors is for them to get an accurate picture [...]

The difficult thing about “financial freedom” as a concept is that many people define it in a vague way. Most people think of it as not having to worry about money and being able to have the things they want without having to scrimp and save for them. But there are all sorts of things that cause worry in regard to our money: mortgage payments, credit card debt, or how much money is in our retirement account. You might even be asking yourself a specific question like, “What if 1 million dollars isn’t even enough [...]

In recent months there have been 3 major bank shake-ups: Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank.[1] This has generally led to fears that there is a larger recession on the horizon. The financial crisis of 2008 was also precipitated by bank collapses, so this has many experts watching the market carefully. The main concern is that confidence in banks will decrease, and this will lead to more bank failures, which is what happened in 2008. However, it’s important to note that there are many more regulations and protections in place now [...]

With the recent turmoil in the banking sector, it’s understandable to worry about your bank savings. But before worrying, it’s important to know how your money in the bank is protected. So, how safe is your money, really? Where is my money? First, let’s talk about how your bank actually stores your money. When you deposit your money into the bank, they don’t actually keep it on hand. They will usually take your money and loan it to someone for something like mortgages or business loans. Banks are required to keep some money on hand, [...]

In theory, the definitions of an investment or an expense are quite clear-cut. An expense, or cost, is simply the dispensing of time, money, or resources. An investment, while an expenditure, comes with the expectation of a return.[1][2] While the two ultimately have the same goal –to acquire a good or service—their intentions and outcomes differ. So, let's discuss the main differences between an expense and an investment and why sometimes, the reasoning to back up each cost can make a difference. Defining Each Concept For starters, the period of usefulness of the asset acquired [...]