April 16, 2026

“How much should I be saving? And where?” As a Financial Advisor, I hear this question a lot.

Money is finite. You have financial goals for today, goals for five years from now, and goals for 30 years from now.

How do you balance needs and wants today against needs and want tomorrow?

If you follow me on social media, you’ll know I don’t subscribe to one-size-fits-all advice. So, I’m going to outline the financial principles you can use to decide how much to save and where to save it.

may 21, 2026

February 19, 2026

If you are a long-time reader, you’ll know that when I get a question like this, the answer is typically “Maybe.”

In my perfect world, every person I work with would have a written budget that is revised and updated annually. But we don’t live in my perfect world, and most people never make a formal budget.

But there are arguments for having a budget.

march 19, 2026

Debt — most of us have it.

While debt can be an excellent tool to achieve important goals like a college education or a home purchase, it can also be corrosive to your financial health and stability.

In my experience, very few of us have been taught how to deal with debt effectively.

In my ongoing quest to help you build your personal finance knowledge, this month I’m taking on debt.

December 16, 2025

I often hear clients use the terms Financial Advisor and Financial Planner interchangeably. Some professionals call themselves Wealth Managers, Investment Advisor, Asset Manager, or Portfolio Manager.

With all these poorly defined and similar sounding terms, it’s no wonder many people new to personal finance are confused about what any given financial professional can offer.

You can’t possibly hire the right person is you don’t know what you are looking for.

This month’s Wealth Management 101 is all about the titles we use, what they each (typically) mean, and what the professionals who hold them do.

January 20, 2026

An emergency fund is a cornerstone of your financial safety net and will serve you when what can go wrong, does.

But how much should you keep in an emergency fund? And is it ok to keep your emergency fund anywhere besides an FDIC Insured deposit account? Should you prioritize other goals before starting an emergency fund?

Let’s find out.

October 21, 2025

Most of the investors that I encounter know that a Roth IRA can be a powerful tool to build wealth for retirement. What they often don’t know is that a Roth IRA can also be a valuable tool for transferring wealth to the next generation.

If helping your heirs secure their future is a priority for you, a Roth IRA might be a valuable addition to your plan.

November 18, 2025

When you talk to your Financial Advisor, it might feel like they speak a different language. “What’s a Mega Cap Tech stock?” you may wonder as your advisor plows through a dense presentation.

Every profession has its jargon understood by insiders – finance is no different. While every advisor’s goal should be to speak plain language, jargon is sometimes unavoidable.

In my ongoing quest to help you become a savvier, more confident investor, this month I’m defining three major ways stocks are categorized and why those categories matter.

August 19, 2025

You may have been told by an older relative or a social media influencer that compounding is how you become wealthy.

Compounding is one of the most powerful forces in finance. It can cause wealth to grow at what can feel like a very fast pace. Once the compounding ball is rolling, it could take on a life of its own.

But what is it exactly and how does it work? And how do you make it work for you?

September 16, 2025

September falls in the middle of the Atlantic Hurricane Season on the Gulf Coats and happens to be is National Preparedness Month. That makes now a great time to talk about how to disaster-proof your money.

When disaster strikes, having cash or easy access to credit can be the difference between a quick recovery and a long slow grind back to normalcy.

After you check your insurance coverage, make your evacuation plan, and put your emergency supply kit together, you can turn your attention to your emergency cash access plan.

June 17, 2025

As of 2019, it is estimated that elderly adults in the US lose more than $3 billion annually to financial fraud. Up to 10% of older adults are subject to financial abuse and fraud each year. This theft destroys wealth and can leave vulnerable adults with few or no resources to support themselves in their final years.

When it comes to stopping fraud and abuse, we all have a role to play.

Knowing what Elder Financial Exploitation is, how to spot it, and how to stop it are key to protecting our parents, grandparents, and beloved elders from predators and fraudsters.

July 22, 2025

"The market can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent."

So how do you deal with an irrational, volatile stock market?

I've got five key tips for you.

April 15, 2025

You just got an email or letter from your 401(k) plan telling you that they are adding a Roth 401(k) option to your existing 401(k) plan.

Now you’re wondering if this new option is right for you.

May 20, 2025

May 29th is celebrated in the US as 529 College Savings day: a day to highlight the importance of saving for post-secondary education.

In the 529 day spirit, I’m going to dedicate this month’s Wealth Management 101 to college savings.

In my practice, saving for college is a common goal and I find that many parents and grandparents just aren’t sure where to start.

With tuition costs continuing to rise faster than inflation, and the benefits of post-secondary education being clear[1], saving for higher education may be key to securing your child’s future.

This month, I’ll walk you through the various vehicles available and the pros and cons of each.

February 18, 2025

The New Year often brings thoughts of getting fit.

Yes, I know that usually means physically…but why not financially?

But few of us know what it really means to be financially fit.

Even fewer of us know intuitively how to get there.

March 18, 2025

There is no shortage of people offering financial advice. There are Financial Coaches, Financial Advisors, Financial Planners, Wealth Advisors, Wealth Managers and on and on.

As a consumer, it can be difficult to tell who is offering what and which person is the right fit for you.

I’ve already written about the difference between a Financial Advisor and a Financial Planner. I also wrote about the most common types of financial professionals and touched on what they do.

But I haven’t yet explained exactly what Wealth Management is and what a Wealth Manager does.

December 17, 2024

Marriage proposal season is upon us and some of you are definitely planning to pop the question before the turn of the year.

Planning to marry is an exciting time and the legalities are likely the farthest thing from your mind. But marriage is more than an emotional union, it’s a financial union.

And because first marriages are happening later in life and second marriages are common as well; Nuptial Agreements are more relevant than ever.

January 21, 2025

Many of us look to the New Year for a fresh start. If New Years Resolutions are on your mind, one of them might be to get yourself back on track financially. If so, good for you!

But how exactly can a person “get back on track”?

It starts with effective goal setting.

October 15, 2024

Section 529 Plans (529s) are a popular vehicle for parents and grandparents to save for college tuition. The combination of relatively high contribution limits, wide eligibility, tax incentives, and the variety of plans and providers to choose from is a big part of the appeal for many savers.

But with college cost being difficult to predict, the question of what to do with potential “left over” balances has become more pressing for some.

Recently, congress has seen fit to add another option for savers to consider, a Rollover to a Roth IRA.

November 19, 2024

Some months ago, I blogged about the difference between Financial Planners and Financial Advisors. I also blog often about the value of Financial Planning and about Financial Planning topics.

But I’ve never written about exactly what Financial Planning is. How can you know you need a thing if you don’t know what that thing is?

Try an experiment with me.

If I asked you to define the term Financial Planning, how would you define it?

September 17, 2024

The summer is over and many of us are getting back to business after a well-deserved break. Kids are going back to school and the holiday season will be here before we know it.

Before you get wrapped up with Halloween, Dia de Los Muertos, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Pancha Ganapi, Christmas, and New Year; take time to get financially fit for Fall so you can close the year strong.

May 21, 2024

A Roth IRA Conversion, when done carefully, can help investors plan for a more flexible and tax efficient retirement. But, as with any process involving the Internal Revenue Code, there are plenty of pitfalls that can make a Conversion painful and inefficient.

Here’s what to consider when you’re considering if you want to do a Roth IRA Conversion.

June 18, 2024

Many people I meet have the idea that Financial Planning is just for “rich people”.

This belief just isn’t true.

If Financial Planning is only for rich people, how are a not-yet-rich people supposed to become rich? Luck? Magic? A long-lost uncle leaving a massive inheritance?

What if I told you that you can use Financial Planning as a tool to become wealthy?

February 20, 2024

Most of us started our investment journey as young adults with our first 401(k) or IRA. I find many investors are largely unsure of how to invest but press on anyway because they know it is important to save and invest for the future.

If this was your experience, ask yourself: What if instead of being confused and uncertain you had been confident?

Would that have changed anything about your present and future? 

November 28, 2023

Ah, autumn! The harvest season!

Right now, images of pumpkins, squashes, fall fruits, and overflowing cornucopias abound. But what does this have to do with investing? I’m glad you asked.

This fall, as thoughts turn to wrapping up for the year’s end, consider the idea of Tax Loss Harvesting. Put simply, if you have investments that have lost value, you might be able to use them to avoid taxes on investments that did better.

December 12, 2023

The first time I heard the term “HENRYs,” I cocked my head to the side and gave my colleague Steve a look of utter confusion. What is a HENRY?

He kindly explained to me that HENRY stands for High Earner, Not Rich Yet. As soon as he explained, I knew that I finally had a word to describe my favorite clients. This is my love letter to all the HENRYs of the world.

October 17, 2023

Why didn’t I title this post “How to Hire a Financial Advisor”?

If you read last month’s post, you’ll know there are a wide variety of professionals with various titles, and a Financial Advisor may or may not be what you need.

The key to hiring the right financial professional is knowing your needs and which type of professional is qualified to meet those needs. Then, it’s a matter of asking a few key questions.

August 15, 2023

Does everyone need a Financial Plan drafted by a Financial Planner?

No. Not everyone needs a Financial Plan, and not everyone needs to work with a Financial Planner.

You didn’t think the post would be that short, did you?

I believe wholeheartedly in the value of what I do. But I also recognize that not everyone needs me (or someone like me). But some key turning points and circumstances could lead you to need services like mine. But first, what is a Financial Plan anyway?

May 23, 2023

If you work full-time and aren’t self-employed, there is a good chance that you have access to a 401(k) plan.

There is also a good chance that you don’t understand the plan well.

A 401(k) plan is a powerful tool for building wealth. Understanding it will help you make informed decisions about using this tool in your wealth-building efforts. 

June 20, 2023

DIY investing is everywhere, and there are more ways to invest now than at any point in our collective history. But in my life as a Financial Advisor, I observe many individual investors are still confused about the different investment vehicles available.

In my ongoing quest to make you a better investor, I’m offering a tutorial this month on two of the most well-known- yet poorly understood investment vehicles available – mutual funds and exchange-traded funds.

March 21, 2023

My father used to say, “We teach by example, but we learn by experience.” Nowhere is this more true than with investing.

Investing mistakes can be costly, not just in dollar terms, but in terms of reaching your goals. I want to save you the experience of making these mistakes so that you can learn from my example.

December 17, 2022

As the famous saying goes, only two things in life are certain: death and taxes. Most of us understand how our paycheck drives our taxes — we earn money, and the federal government taxes it.

But how do our investments drive our taxes? What actions trigger taxes? What actions mitigate taxes? And what choices might be driving up (or driving down) our taxes? In my ongoing effort to help you, dear reader, understand all things personal finance better, this month's edition of Wealth Management 101 will answer the question: "When exactly do my investments get taxed?"

October 18, 2022

When I sit down with a client to review their overall financial health, I almost always ask if they have a will in place.

My Type A’s typically do, but the majority of others don’t.

Overwhelmingly, the reasons clients give for not having a will are: 1. It’s not that important 2. I don’t want to think about dying.

There’s not much I can do about the second reason, but maybe I can help with number one.

November 15, 2022

Debt — most of us have it.

While debt can be an excellent tool to achieve major milestones like a college education or a home purchase, it can also be corrosive to your financial health and stability.

And very few “regular folks” have ever been educated on how to deal with debt optimally.

In my ongoing quest to bring good financial advice directly to you, this month I’m taking on debt.

July 26, 2022

Walking down the stairs one afternoon, I saw my little dog Foxy resting on her spot on the couch. As I got closer, I saw her tiny body stiffen, her ears turn down, and her eyes grow big. Arriving next to the couch, I asked her: “Foxy, what are you doing?”

She responded with a soft growl and moved her body to cover a small lump in her blanket.

She was hoarding a treat.

August 15, 2022

When I sit down to talk with new clients and prospective clients who are considering the decision to hire me, I often ask them about their “risk tolerance” or “risk appetite.”

“Have you ever completed a Risk Tolerance questionnaire?” I ask.

More often than not, they shrug their shoulders and tell me they don’t even know what Risk Tolerance means.

May 17, 2022
 

The U.S. tax code is a mystery to the typical individual.

But federal taxes (not to mention state and local taxes) are a big expense for most of us — and most of us are interested in paying less in taxes.

But you can’t mitigate what you don’t understand.

In this installment of Wealth Management 101, I’m going to lay out the most common types of federal taxes we all pay, give you some insight into how each works, and outline ways to potentially lower your tax bill.

June 21, 2022

All too often, clients come to me with investment ideas they like. Some are good and some are not so good, but many of them are complex.

As humans, we are often seduced by complexity, as though the more glamorous or intricate an investment instrument is, the better it must be.

Why own a set of simple and low cost index funds when you can buy a hedge fund? Why buy and hold when you can trade actively? Is the market falling? Why not short some stocks?! Just think of the possibilities!

December 14, 2021

We live in an age of self-service. We ring up our own groceries, do our own taxes, shop for our own insurance, book our own vacations, and invest our own savings.

The innovations that allow us to do these things have led to lower costs for providers and consumers, making these goods and services cheaper to consume and thus more widely available.

I believe that this is a good thing.

April 19, 2021

Does everyone need a Financial Advisor?

No. not everyone needs a Financial Advisor.

But have you ever wondered how you would know if you needed one or not?

September 21, 2021

Open enrollment season for employer benefits is upon us, and once again we are all being asked to make a big batch of decisions that will impact our welfare in the coming year (and our long-term prospects as well).

As you gaze into your crystal ball and try to predict your needs over the next 12 months, allow me to put a bug in your ear about a little-known but highly valuable wealth-building tool that you may want to include in your upcoming benefit elections.

October 21, 2021

Financial experts like to use jargon — it’s a character flaw, I must admit. And one piece of jargon you hear often is “asset allocation.”

While this can sound intimidating, it’s actually a very simple concept.

Asset allocation is how you divide (allocate) your savings (assets) between different types of investments. Those types of investments typically include stocks, bonds, cash, and sometimes real estate or alternative investments.

When we talk about asset allocation, we typically talk in percentages. As in: let’s allocate X percent in stocks, Y percent in bonds, and Z percent in cash. So, we know what asset allocation is — but why does it matter?

August 17, 2021 

Credit: Most of us will need it at some point, but few of us really understand how it works.

In fact, we may get our initial rude awaking when trying to make our first-ever big, meaningful purchase.

If you have large financial goals like buying a home, buying a car, or financing a business startup, credit may play a key role in realizing those goals.

Now is the time to educate yourself so you can be ready when the time comes.

February 15, 2021

It’s February again, and lovebirds all over the United States are preparing to celebrate with flowers, candy, and maybe even a beautiful engagement ring.

It’s easy to get swept up in the romance of getting married, and planning a wedding can be one of the most fun and joyful times in a person’s life.

But before you light the unity candle, say “I do,” jump the broom, or break the glass — make sure you’ve done your financial homework together.

March 16, 2021

If you’ve read almost any book, article, or blog on investing, you’ve seen the word “diversification.”

But experience has taught me that most investors — even educated ones — still don’t understand what diversification is, how it works, or why it’s important.

In my continuing crusade to offer plain English explanations of sometimes complex topics, I’m taking on this vital and often misunderstood concept. Strap in. This is going to be fun! (I promise.)

January 18, 2021 

Part III in a my three part series on Behavioral Finance. By simply being aware of our own potentially flawed thinking and vulnerability to emotional biases, we can check ourselves in real time to see if we might be on the verge of a poor decision. However, I suggest you do some legwork to set yourself up for success.

January 1, 2021 

Part II in a my three part series on Behavioral Finance. Let’s agree that humans are flawed and our thinking is flawed. Let’s further agree that we are rarely completely rational. Now that we’ve accepted our own human frailty, let’s discuss the nature of these frailties and how they can cause us to make poor decisions.

January 4, 2021

We’ve all done it — made a poor decision about money. Maybe it was because we didn’t know any better. Maybe it was because we got some bad advice. Or maybe it was because we fell prey to a cognitive error or emotional bias. The software that operates our brains is rather outdated, written thousands of years ago to help us survive in a very different type of world. Our brains have yet to catch up to the realities of our modern world. That prehistoric lizard brain we all have deep inside us can really muck up our thinking. Nearly every investor will have to face down their own lizard brain at some point during their financial lives.

October 19, 2020

Back in August, I wrote all about saving and where to put those savings.

One of the first places I advised you to save was in your employer-sponsored retirement plan. For most people, that plan is a 401(k).

This month I’ll be laying out principals and rules of thumb you can use in making choices that fit your specific situation.