5 things to think about – By Dave Coen This time of year, we look through a lot of financial aid award letters. Part of what we need to understand is the fine print of the award letters in order to make an informed decision about the best college and how much it will cost for all four years. The letters can be downright misleading. I am … [Read more...]
When should I retire?
February 12, 2021 by
5 things to think about - By Dave Coen This is a question that I get a lot from clients as we plan and update their family’s journey from time to time. There is no “One size fits all” answer, but rather a series of questions and answers we go through in order to determine what the options are and what goals each family has. Here are 5 things to think … [Read more...]
My Child Turns 18 – What is different?
December 30, 2020 by
By Dave Coen It might seem like just another day older, but (Legally) when our kids turn 18 there are a LOT of things that they can now do, and as parents, we need to be prepared for this. Their 18th birthday is a date when there are some serious changes that take place and we as parents need to be aware and to plan for those, and then communicate with our … [Read more...]
Year-End Tax Planning Under The Forthcoming Biden Presidency
November 26, 2020 by
Tax Planning should take place "In Advance" every year if it is proper planning. Despite all that is going on with the future presidency at the moment, it would be prudent to listen to what has been said about future tax plans and if there is anything that we should plan for now, before the end of 2020. I might suggest that you take the information below, … [Read more...]
4 Vital Questions about College
November 11, 2020 by
Parents - Have I had a discussion with my spouse as to who is paying for college? Some parents want to pay for everything for college because that is what their parents did for them, or they want their student to be able to focus solely on their studies. Other parents would like their students to have some skin in the game with some loans. Yet other … [Read more...]
#6 of 15 Financial Retirement mistakes
November 2, 2020 by
In our previous blog, we looked at market timing and not diversifying correctly. The next one is important to be considered on its own. Not planning for “Sequence of Returns” – This is one of the “BIG 5” mistakes Most people are focused on the Accumulation Phase where we are saving towards retirement and adding to our accounts. One of the facets … [Read more...]
5 BAD FINANCIAL GIFTS TO GIVE TO OUR CHILDREN
September 14, 2020 by
(The last one is the worst) Most parents love their kids dearly and would die for them. My question is always – “Should We?” Here are some decisions that start out with good intentions but could actually end up having bad consequences for our loved ones. Getting a Parent PLUS loan that the student has to pay. There is a reason that there is a limit on … [Read more...]
#4 and #5 – 15 Financial Mistakes people make in Retirement
September 2, 2020 by
In our previous newsletter, we looked at the impact of inflation, a Big Thing, and Ponzi Schemes on retirement planning. The next two are more about our portfolios. #4 Attempting to time the market The past 6 months should be a great example of the risks of trying to time the market. There are circumstances that can occur that some people can … [Read more...]
#2 and #3 – 15 Financial Mistakes people make in Retirement
August 31, 2020 by
In our previous newsletter, we looked at the impact of inflation on retirement planning. These next two are not part of the BIG 5, but often cause our plans to go awry. Going for a “Big thing” So often we find that retirees have lots of time and watch TV or read or sit around talking to others - much more than they used to. Often, they will hear about a … [Read more...]
15 Financial Mistakes people make in Retirement – first of the “BIG 5”
August 13, 2020 by
A large part of what I do for a living is to assist families to assess their “Retirement Readiness”. The planning part obviously comes first, and this is called the Accumulation Phase of proper planning. If we have done a good job throughout this phase, then there will come a time for the big question. “Are we OK to retire now?” We then start planning the … [Read more...]
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