Blog Posts

Are Your Finances Stuck in Default Mode?

Are Your Finances Stuck in Default Mode?

by | Jul 12, 2017 |

By Michael J. Searcy

Are there financial decisions you need to be making or actions you need to be taking that you’ve put off because you don’t think you have time to make a decision? Consider this scenario…A man is told that due to his family’s health history, he needs to start having an annual physical earlier than normally suggested. He’s busy and knows his health needs attending to and he’s been feeling some discomfort, but doesn’t make time to speak with his insurance or find a doctor. When his wife asks if he’s scheduled his physical, he says “I haven’t made a decision yet.” However, as a medical professional, you realize he has made a decision. Putting off a decision or action does not mean that you haven’t made one. It just means that you’ve chosen your default option. In this case, the man has made a decision to avoid checking his current health status and possibly lose out on catching an issue early.

Simple Tips for Ramping Up Your Retirement Savings

Simple Tips for Ramping Up Your Retirement Savings

by | Jun 20, 2017 |

No matter where you are in your life, saving for retirement is likely one of your most important financial goals. But, even if you have professional guidance and a clear strategy for your desired future, you could still be missing some straightforward ways to maximize your savings.

The reality is: Most people do not save enough money for retirement. In fact, the National Institute on Retirement Security estimates that Americans have at least a $6.8 trillion gap between the amount they have saved and the amount they need. Alarmingly, they found the gap could be as high as $14 trillion.

Investing in Memorable Experiences

Investing in Memorable Experiences

by | Jun 20, 2017 |

Financial envy is even more of a thing now than it was back in 1913 when cartoonist Arthur R. “Pop” Momand debuted the comic strip “Keeping Up with the Joneses,” which centered on the misadventures of Aloysius P. McGinnis and his family, who were always trying to keep up with their never-seen neighbors, the Joneses.

Today, we not only have television shows displaying lifestyles of the rich and famous, we’re punched with images and status updates in social media, too. We not only see the “Joneses” on television, but we are likely connected on social media to colleagues and friends who post frequent photos and statuses about their new luxury car, boat, or 3-carat diamond ring.

3 Questions about Debt Physicians Want Answered

3 Questions about Debt Physicians Want Answered

by | May 25, 2017 |

By Michael J. Searcy

According to the Medscape Physician Compensation Report for 2017, the top physician earners were orthopedists, plastic surgeons and cardiologists, earning an average of $446,333 per year. The lowest earners were pediatricians, endocrinologists and family physicians, earning an average of $210,333 per year. By many accounts, these salaries are high, but they don’t show the whole financial story of a physician. They don’t show that in 2016, the average salary for a resident was $56,500 and that many are in the resident stage for 6-8 years. They don’t show that 40% of residents have over $200,000 in medical school debt or that 41% of physicians in their early 40s are still trying to pay off their student loans. Physicians are not immune to debt; here are some questions about debt we frequently hear:

The Pitfalls of Taking a 401(k) Loan

The Pitfalls of Taking a 401(k) Loan

by | May 16, 2017 |

By Jessica Kmetty

Does retirement sound like a stress-free period of life where you aren’t exhausting yourself for a paycheck and can make your own schedule? For the 80 percent of Americans who believe they won’t have enough saved for retirement, “stress-free” may be the last term they would use to describe it. If many of us are already concerned about having enough money saved to retire, why would we hinder our savings ability by taking a loan from the very account where our nest egg should be growing? One answer: because we can.

A loan provision on an employee-sponsored retirement plan allows participants to take out a loan from their account for any reason they deem necessary. We’re not talking about a “hardship provision” which lets employees distribute money for a specific hardship; rather, a loan provision is an unregulated way for an employee to borrow whenever, for whatever they want. Christmas gifts? A vacation? Are these really reasons to put your financial future in jeopardy? Consider these pitfall examples:

Declutter Your Debt

Declutter Your Debt

by | Apr 12, 2017 |

Ways to Reduce Your Liabilities in 2017

Debt in America is a real issue facing most people today. To date, 70% of Americans carry a debt burden. That means the vast majority of individuals are trying to navigate a tricky balancing act of financial wellness. To help you get ahead in your financial life in 2017, and to set you on a path toward the prosperity you desire, take the time to look closely at your own liabilities.

From analyzing your budget to addressing your credit card interest rates, you have a variety of approaches to help minimize your debt. Here are some key ways you can declutter your debt this spring and move closer to financial freedom:

Take a Fresh Look at Your Goals

Take a Fresh Look at Your Goals

by | Apr 12, 2017 |

Revisit Your Fiscal Priorities Each Year

Building a healthy financial life is an important concern that everyone should address with diligence and care. Rather than being a one-time event, evaluating your finances—and ensuring you don’t lose sight of your goals—requires timely, purposeful attention.

Imagine, for example, if you went to the doctor, created a thorough and personalized health strategy, carefully stuck to the plan, and then didn’t have another appointment for 5 years. You might have felt as though you didn’t need to go to for a checkup because your plan helped you make healthy life choices. However, the reality is that a lot can change in a very short period of time, such as medical advancements and new ailments. Though you believed you were on the right path, you might have missed critical guidance and professional insight.

Searcy Financial FAQ

Searcy Financial FAQ

by | Apr 6, 2017 |

{slider What type of clients do you work with?|closed} We serve successful individuals and families, business owners and retirement plan sponsors. Each client has their own needs, desires, roadblocks, and big picture goals. What they have in common is a desire to do...

Protect Yourself Against Financial Scams and Fraud

Protect Yourself Against Financial Scams and Fraud

by | Mar 30, 2017 |

Every year around tax time, reports of email phishing scams increase, though no season is immune to its own set of scams. Phishing is the act of using computers to fraudulently acquire sensitive information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, and user names & passwords. To accomplish this, thieves will send electronic communications designed to look like they are coming from a trustworthy entity. One example of a recent phishing scam appears to come from the IRS:

Thinking Differently About Retirement

Thinking Differently About Retirement

by | Mar 7, 2017 |

By Marc C. Shaffer

The idea of retirement and the reality of retirement can often be drastically different. For many people, retirement is the idea that at a certain age you will leave your career and enter into a life of leisure. Be it golfing, visiting sunny locations or spending time with grandchildren, retirement has been painted as the final phase of life where you haven’t a care in the world. Every day I talk with people who are retired or planning their retirement, and let me tell you, it’s time we start thinking differently about retirement. The 17th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey showed that a majority of workers dream about traveling, spending more time with family, and pursuing hobbies, and 28 percent dream of doing some form of work in retirement. What does retirement mean to you? Does waiting until normal retirement age to pursue your dreams make sense to you, or would you like to consider an “alternative” retirement? The “what you want to do” and “how much you’re going to need” may look a lot different than you’re prepared for, so considering which type of retirement is right for you and the financial considerations to get you there are key. Let’s look at 5 types of retirement styles I talk about frequently:

Categories

Aging

Book Reviews

Coaching Corner

Financial Planning

Investments

Leadership & Personal Development

Marriage, Divorce & Remarriage

Parenting & Education

Physicians and Medical Professionals

Planning for the Family

Retirement Planning

Retirement Plans

Selecting An Advisor

Social Security

Special Needs

Starting Out: Engaged, Newlywed & Young Adult

Volunteering