Category: Searcy Financial

High inflation has been on everyone’s mind, and you may be wondering what you can do to take action.

By Marc Shaffer

I’ve heard many young couples say their life is too simple for financial planning. They think planning is something they’ll get around to when they’re older and thinking about retirement. Have you ever felt this way? This mentality could be keeping you from building a strong financial foundation for your future.

Are you confused as to what documents to keep in your files? Records relating to tax and legal matters, healthcare issues, assets and liabilities, as well as other important transactions should be kept in case they are needed in the future.

By Marc C. Shaffer

As a financial advisor, I always have principles of financial investing in the front of my mind, but I love to take those principles and apply them to other areas of life. That might include investing in health, people, experiences, career development or something else, but the principles can translate very well. You set goals, make plans, get started and adjust along the way.

In what ways are you investing in your life? In what ways are you avoiding making investments in your life?

If you and your family would like to call your favorite travel destination “home,” you may be considering purchasing a vacation property. This can be an exciting milestone, but there are a few things to consider first.

In most cases, you’re probably hoping to outlive your term life insurance policy. Outliving a policy of this type means you’re still around to experience more life, and hopefully, with less debt and obligations to cover in the future. But, what if you outlive your whole life insurance policy?

In 2020, the U.S. had a record 22 million millionaires, up from 20.2 million in the previous year. An increase in personal wealth may bring greater financial flexibility; it may also bring greater liability.

Individuals with high net worth, or those who are perceived to have high net worth, may be more likely to be sued. And personal injury claims can reach into the millions.

Umbrella liability insurance is designed to put an extra layer of protection between your assets and a potential lawsuit. It provides coverage over and above existing automobile and homeowners insurance limits.

By Marc C. Shaffer

Charitable giving can be done at any level, and it takes all types of donors for charitable organizations to survive.

Many donors find themselves with a desire to give, and then make their donations based on their ability to give. But, moving beyond the desire and ability to creating a strategy for giving that is part of your financial plan may help you give more.

According to Giving USA’s 2021 report, approximately $471.44 billion was given to U.S. charities in 2020, which was up 5.1 percent from the previous year. This giving was done in the form of individual donations, bequests, foundations and corporate giving.

Understanding where and how you’re giving can help you visualize your current impact and help while you’re developing a strategy for maximizing these gifts.

As a business owner, your business is an important piece of your financial plan. It may also be one of the assets that requires your most attention, and there are many ways in which you must work to protect your business. One area that can be overlooked is insuring your business against cyber liability.

Is your business protected?

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.