Blog
What’s on our mind? You can read about it in our blog. Whether it’s ideas from the industry or emerging trends, you can read about it here. And once in a while, we may throw in a movie review or some other surprise. If there is a specific topic you'd like to hear more about, feel free to drop us an email!
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Filling out the FAFSA: What to know about FAFSA and your Expected Family Contribution
So, you’re about ready to send you son or daughter to college. Likely, you have worked hard to save money for tuition, room and board, and the occasional run to the bookstore. But while you have been saving on your own, now is...
Read MoreManaging a Spending Plan
How do you build a budget or spending plan when your income isn’t consistent? That is one of the most common questions we get from people trying to build a financial plan. When you have a paycheck with more or less consistent...
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Dentists and Money
I was recently approached by a young dentist who was feeling overwhelmed about his student loan payments. He had many other questions about his personal finances in regard to purchasing a home closer to work, whether or not to receive...
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Aligning your values and financial goals
Markets are volatile, the economy is currently in a recession and Coronavirus is running its course, so what do you do? Investors, when left to their own devices, have historically done a bad job of navigating market downturns. It is...
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Making a Move During the Pandemic?
Since the lock down in March, companies across the nation asked their employees to work from home (where possible), it seems even some formerly reluctant workers are embracing the short commute to their home office, pj's, zoom calls...
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Our new reality
This weekend marks a month here in Illinois where we have been under a shelter-in-place order. How has the past month changed your life? I have been checking in with clients. Some have absolutely no work and are trying to keep...
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The COVID-19 Stimulus bill and your Finances
As I’m sure you know, the $2 trillion “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security” (“CARES”) Act was recently signed into law. The CARES Act is designed to help those most impacted by the COVID-19...
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Steps to Financially Prepare for a Divorce
So, you've realized it is time to move on. What do you do next to protect yourself financially as you go through the life-changing process of a divorce? Get copies of all your financial documents. At a minimum this will include: At...
Read MoreThe problem with consolidated and extended student loan payments
I recently worked with a client who had just over six figures of federal student loan debt. A few years ago, when cash flow was tight, she enrolled in an extended repayment plan. This managed to lower her payments to a manageable level...
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Having “Difficult” Financial Conversations Over The Holidays
A couple of months ago I had an interesting conversation with an exciting younger client. She expressed concern about who would provide care for her aging parents and how that could be paid for. She and her siblings all live in...
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Financial Planning: Sudden Windfall
As the leaves change color and the weather here in the Midwest gets progressively colder I'm reminded of the only certainty in life-Constant Change. One of my dear friends and clients reached out to me earlier this week and mentioned...
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Does your financial advisor understand your student loans?
Does your financial advisor understand your student loans? Three questions to ask to find out. Student loan debt has become an enormous issue for many people over the past couple of decades. It affects the student’s finances for...
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What does your ideal retirement look like?
Last week we hosted a painting event to allow everyone an opportunity to visualize their ideal retirement. As everyone began to paint, it was clear that people's preferences were quite different from the person sitting right next to...
Read MoreHave you considered a Credit Freeze to protect your credit & your minor child’s credit?
Have you considered a Credit Freeze to protect your credit & your minor child’s credit? Data breaches seem to be the top news headline in our day and age. Some big headlines include the most recent, where Capital One was hacked...
Read MoreSo what is Financial Planning?
I hope you are enjoying your summer so far! Wanted to wish you a Happy 4th of July 🎆 I am off to Europe today to explore the scenic castles from “King's Landing” (for all GOT fans) and eat cevapi on the streets of Sarajevo...
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May is Disability Insurance Awareness Month
May is Disability Insurance Awareness Month. I thought this was an important topic to cover, one that is often overlooked especially by small business owners. As Financial advisors, we focus a lot of our time on investing. Typically...
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Financial things to consider when expecting a baby
So one of my best friends is having her first baby! I am very excited for her for so many reasons, and I admit-one of them is selfish. Since having my two boys 4 years ago life hasn't been the same. I no longer go to the "adult only"...
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Couples and Money
I recently had a meeting with a couple I've been working with for over a year now and I was delighted to hear that they no longer fight about money. That may not seem like a big issue, but disagreements over money is the second biggest...
Read MoreSo you want to save more money in 2019?
So you want to save more money than you did in 2018? This is a top new year resolution for the majority of Americans, so let’s talk about it. I am a big proponent of new year resolutions, and so every year I sit my reluctant...
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