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What a difference a year can make. At the end of 2018, markets were selling off due to political concerns, and the year finished on a sour note. But 2019 had a significantly better ending for investors.

Countdown to Retirement

Christopher Wakeman

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Before making any plan, it’s important to have a clear end goal in mind. Setting a target retirement date will help you create a timeline and guideposts you can measure your progress against.

U.S. markets had a positive September, which helped offset volatility earlier in the quarter. The S&P 500 returned 1.87 percent in September and 1.70 percent for the quarter. The Dow Jones Industrial Average performed better, with a 2.05...

Caring for aging parents can be a difficult planning aspect to balance. If you are among the “Sandwich Generation,” you may be trying to support your aging parents as well as your own children. Today, individuals are living longer than...

Statistics suggest that a high percentage of marriages will end in divorce. Although you may not be concerned about your own marriage, are you worried about protecting the assets of your married children?

Market volatility shouldn’t keep you up at night. Easier said in theory than in practice, right? The week of October 8th was a quick reminder that volatility exists in the stock market. Always has and always will. While a 3% drop in...

The more I’ve talked with families that have younger children the more I realized this was the same for most of them. Since everyone is in that New Year’s mood, I suggest adding another to do on that list. New Year’s is my busiest time...

One telltale sign that summer is quickly winding down and fall is in the air is that football is back! What better way to celebrate that than spending countless hours crafting/drafting and monitoring your retirement plan…err your fantasy...

What I hope to highlight here is the fact that we should be using calculated risk to do an analysis of our investments over time. However, most of the time, people let their perceived risk of investments drive their decision making...

Looking for power tools? A vintage Chanel purse? A living-room sofa? Millions of shoppers are bypassing brick-and-mortar stores, as well as their respective websites, in favor of purchasing such items from individual online sellers. For...

We all know that federal income taxes are withheld from our paychecks. But are you aware of the degree of control you have over how much is withheld? Here, we’ll discuss the importance of having an accurate W-4 holding, including how...

As consumers, we know that having a good credit score is important. Whether you are applying for a loan or signing up for a credit card, your credit score plays a major role in determining if you will be approved. Your credit score can...

Most of us are aware of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs with physiological and safety needs being at the foundation of what most human beings are most concerned with in their lives. Unfortunately, most of the time these needs are at odds...

“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago” – Warren Buffet Sometimes it is difficult to look back in life and wonder how you got there. Working with our clients through retirement has taught...

When you leave a job, you have several options for dealing with the funds in your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement account. One option is an indirect rollover. With this method, you receive a distribution check from your...

After a long, hard winter across the U.S., many people are looking forward to warmer weather—and summer travel. According to an Orbitz.com survey, 88 percent of Americans plan to take a vacation this summer, up 11 percent from last year...

Creating a budget can help you get control of your finances and achieve important financial goals, including buying a car, saving for college, purchasing a home, and providing for a family. It can also be beneficial in meeting unexpected...

When a large sum of money is thrust into their hands, otherwise smart people can make serious financial mistakes. In fact, as many as 70 percent of Americans who receive a windfall lose it all within a few years, according to the...

For many people, checking off items on a long list of to-dos brings a great sense of satisfaction. To help you keep moving toward your goals, we’ve created a month-by-month checklist of some key financial tasks to consider all year long...

Most working Americans have only one source of steady income before they retire: their jobs. When you retire, however, your income will likely come from a number of sources, such as retirement accounts, social security benefits, pensions...

These days, 65 is hardly considered old age. But it’s crucial to sit down with your parents and have an honest discussion about issues that may arise—before they need your help. What are their expectations for the future, and what kind...

Given today’s economy, it’s fair to say that we are all more concerned about our financial situation than we have been in the past. Even if we are among the lucky few who have not been directly impacted by the downturn, our awareness of...