Blog Posts

Book Review: Promptings by Kody Bateman

Book Review: Promptings by Kody Bateman

by | Mar 2, 2021 |

By Marc C. Shaffer

Promptings is a book by Kody Bateman, the founder of a company called SendOutCards. The book’s main premise is to act on impulses as a way to avoid regrets and to create opportunities. So many people have promptings but seldom follow up on them. Some examples of these promptings may be: telling someone you love them, visiting a relative that is sick in the hospital, sending a personal note of gratitude, taking a break, slowing down enough to be thankful. The author founded SendOutCards as a way for many to act on their promptings by making it easy to send greetings cards and gifts to family and friends, building relationships and forging bonds.

Special Needs Planning: Medical Expense Deductions

Special Needs Planning: Medical Expense Deductions

by | Mar 2, 2021 |

By Jessica Searcy Kmetty

Medical coverage is a big deal in the special needs community. Many of my friends and neighbors spend excessive amounts of money on special needs private schools, therapies, and professional evaluations. However, I’ve come across a number of families who are unaware of, or know little about, medical tax deductions.

Multi-Generational Financial Planning: Considerations for Transferring Wealth

Multi-Generational Financial Planning: Considerations for Transferring Wealth

by | Feb 19, 2021 |

By John C. Fales

Should we include our children in conversations about inheritance, our net worth and our estate plan?

Should we be gifting assets to our children along the way or should we control the money until it transfers to them upon death?

How do we teach our children and grandchildren to be smart with money?

When an individual or couple has more than enough assets to meet their personal needs, thoughts often turn to how best to provide for and transfer wealth to the next generations.

The Financial Planning Journey to Parenthood

The Financial Planning Journey to Parenthood

by | Feb 11, 2021 |

By John Fales and Marc Shaffer

The concept of a “perfect time” to do things is one that is both not quite realistic yet incredibly understandable. One that is often talked about and pushed off to another, better time is having a baby. Not quite realistic because there will always be something or other standing in your way, yet incredibly understandable because of the myriad tasks that would be helpful to complete before starting a family. There may never be a perfect time to start a family, but no matter where you are in your journey, there are some common considerations for your financial planning.

Financial Considerations for Navigating Divorce

Financial Considerations for Navigating Divorce

by | Feb 4, 2021 |

By Jessica Searcy Kmetty

Experiencing a divorce is rarely something couples expect to face. When I was first married at age 19, I had visions of what it would be like to celebrate my 50th anniversary. I pictured a large party with our friends and family, cakes and grandkids and maybe even great grandkids. I remember sighing a breath of relief at our 8th anniversary because we had made it through the infamous “seven-year itch” with three small children.

But alas, there are two people in every relationship, and despite all efforts, my marriage fell apart and we divorced after 18 years, splitting up assets and spending thousands of dollars in attorney’s fees in the process.

Book Review: Make Time

Book Review: Make Time

by | Jan 6, 2021 |

By Jessica Searcy Kmetty

Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky is a pretty quick read that is packed with great ideas. It’s all about being intentional and not allowing things you may do by default to hijack your productive time.

The authors provide abundant details, tips and tricks to help you pick and choose what strategies you might utilize in your own life. It also includes a multitude of good ideas we should all probably be doing a better job of: exercise, drink water, watch less TV, get good sleep, etc.

Financial Gifts: What You Need to Know

Financial Gifts: What You Need to Know

by | Jan 6, 2021 |

During holiday seasons, you might think about different types of gifts for family members or for your favorite charity. A financial gift is certainly a generous offering, but it may also be something to think about come tax time.

This article is designed to give you an overview of things you may want to consider when making a gift in the here and now, while touching on longer-term tax relevance for both you and the recipient. We’ll also cover some estate considerations for gifts you make now and as part of your future legacy.

Perfect Timing Doesn’t Equal Perfect Results

Perfect Timing Doesn’t Equal Perfect Results

by | Jan 6, 2021 |

By Marc C. Shaffer

Skip the bad days? It sounds like a great concept.

How many of you would choose to skip right over 2020? If only we all had perfect foresight – both in life and with finances.

Here’s one thing we know about investment markets: in election years, years where we experience a pandemic, years that are filled with big news and years that are calm…they fluctuate.

Stepping Up and Giving Back: Doing What You Can for Your Community

Stepping Up and Giving Back: Doing What You Can for Your Community

by | Jan 6, 2021 |

The Ties That Bind

For people around the world, 2020 was a strange and lonely year. Many of us will remember it as a time of loss of family members, jobs, social lives, or even homes.

Cultural shifts, the fast pace of modern life, and other complexities, compounded by the practice of social distancing, might leave us feeling like true community is something from “the good old days” that will never return. In the wake of such a difficult year, we may find ourselves at a loss as to how to move forward and create a “new normal.”

But move forward we will.

One step toward healing is to build (or rebuild) stronger connections within your local community.

Short Term Savings Goals: Where Should I Be Saving?

Short Term Savings Goals: Where Should I Be Saving?

by | Jan 5, 2021 |

By Marc C. Shaffer

Retirement. It is arguably one of the most talked about “goals” people save for, so much so, that short term goals can often get overlooked. Short term and long-term goals are not the same and treating them the same could mean some important considerations might be missed.

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