Blog Posts

Treat All Money as Equal

Treat All Money as Equal

by | Sep 1, 2015 |

By Michael J. Searcy

Does the source of money you receive impact how you spend, save or invest that money? Do you treat money you earn differently than money you have won or received as a gift or bonus? If earned money feels more precious and worth saving, while the other types feel like “fun money” with which you can splurge, you may be practicing mental accounting. Beware – in mental accounting, all money is not treated as equal. You can stop mental accounting from hindering you from making the best decisions with your money, and by being aware that it’s happening, you have already made the first step.

Projecting the Investment Horizon

by | Aug 17, 2015 |

Projecting the Investment Horizon: Don’t Let Emotion Get the Best of You

By Michael J. Searcy

RollercoasterSearcy

If you’re like the majority of the investing public, you may think this diagram depicting the emotional rollercoaster of investing is a great representation of how you feel these days. The diagram takes us through a simplified market cycle starting with a period leading toward strong performance (a bull market) and then falling into a period of weak performance (a bear market), then back to an upturn, thus showing the cycle is never ending. Fluctuation through these cycles can leave investors with feelings of euphoria when things seem to be going great, despair when they’re going bad, and optimism when it seems like poor performance is on its way back up again.

4 Plan Review Best Practices for Plan Sponsors

4 Plan Review Best Practices for Plan Sponsors

by | Jul 27, 2015 |

By Jessica Kmetty

Did you know that the Internal Revenue Service requires most employers to restate their retirement plan documents every 6 years? This helps ensure that retirement plans are operating under the most recent laws governing plans and all regulations are being met. Even though Searcy Financial manages retirement plans for other businesses, we also have to restate our own company plan. Our plan came up for restatement this year so we are sharing some best practice guidelines we follow or suggest during a restatement period.

Are You Mentally Prepared for Retirement?

Are You Mentally Prepared for Retirement?

by | Jul 23, 2015 |

Are You Mentally Prepared for Retirement? How to Thrive Before and After the Transition

Retirement is about much more than money. It’s also about finding a new path in life and a new identity as a retiree.

For most investors, retirement is their primary financial goal. As financial professionals, we help our clients chart a course to get them to retirement. We work together with our clients to answer financial questions like: When can I afford to retire? How much money will I need to live comfortably? Surveys show that many Americans are woefully unprepared for retirement and financial worries can make the retirement transition stressful. Fortunately, working with a professional can help ensure that you enter retirement with confidence in your financial future.

3 Questions to Ask About Your Long-Term Care Needs

3 Questions to Ask About Your Long-Term Care Needs

by | Jul 21, 2015 |

If you’re like many Americans, you might be worried about how to prepare for your own or your loved ones’ long-term healthcare needs. In previous generations, elderly parents and grandparents could count on moving in with relatives when they became unable to live alone. However, today’s family dynamics have changed and many Americans are reluctant to burden their families with caregiving duties.

Financial Lessons from the Mall

Financial Lessons from the Mall

by | Jul 15, 2015 |

Financial Lessons from the Mall: Teaching Your Teens About Credit

By Jessica Kmetty

I was in Kohl’s the other day with two of my sons with the intent to only purchase a few articles of clothing for my daughter, but they happened to be having some great sales so we ended up purchasing quite a few clothing items for each of my children.

Financial Lessons from Shark Tank and Uber

Financial Lessons from Shark Tank and Uber

by | Jul 14, 2015 |

Financial Lessons from Shark Tank and Uber: Teaching Your Teens (and Maybe Yourself) About Business

By Michael J. Searcy

All the time, I hear people say, “I just don’t understand all that business stuff” and “I’m no good at business, how am I qualified to teach my children about it?” I tell them the answer could be as simple as watching some television, reading and just plain observing your surroundings. If you become more aware of business around you, you should start noticing trends and asking more questions. This is helpful for teenagers, young adults, and yourself to start THINKING about business. I am not talking about accounting statements, banking or business structure here, just a practical understanding of how things work.

The Financial Funnel

The Financial Funnel

by | Jul 1, 2015 |

By Michael J. Searcy

Yes, you have seen some variation of this image before. Yes, some long time clients tease us about drawing it too often. And yes, it is pretty simplistic. However, it gets the point across, is easy to understand, and it impacts everybody, including those with substantial six-figure incomes.

The Value of Objective Planning

The Value of Objective Planning

by | Jun 6, 2015 |

We found the following article from financial author Bob Veres to be important content and wanted to share it with you. Although the words and thoughts are his, we feel the message helps illustrate what clients should expect from their advisor, and should know they have options if they aren’t receiving the level of service they expect.

What is the value that people get when they work with an objective, client-focused financial planner?

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