As we begin fourth quarter, now is a good time to review our year-end financial planning checklist for items that may need attention before December 31. Whether you are currently saving for retirement or are in distribution mode, this checklist can help identify opportunities to avoid missed … [Read more...]
Spring 2024 Financial Planning Newsletter
The Spring 2024 financial planning newsletter is now available. In addition to the investment market update, we include financial spring cleaning ideas and links to some of our team's favorite financial podcasts. We also provide a gentle nudge on keeping your estate planning up-to-date, along with … [Read more...]
Buying a car in the 2020s
Buying a car? I’d always heard that your vehicle was a depreciating asset. Outside of classic cars, the joke was always “you lose 50% of the value the minute you drive it off the lot.” Then COVID came along and it seemed that the reverse might be true. Used cars were suddenly appreciating … [Read more...]
I Bonds for Individuals
I Bonds have been getting a lot of attention lately. They are currently paying 9.62% due to the inflation component of the interest calculation. The other part of the interest calculation is fixed. While these bonds cannot lose value, it is possible that the interest rate (due to negative inflation) … [Read more...]
Emergency Fund Check-In
In the last two years, we have seen wide ranges in our monthly spending. Two years ago, many people saw their savings increase as they stopped commuting and going out due to COVID-19. When interest rates dropped, individuals lowered their monthly housing costs by refinancing their mortgage. A year … [Read more...]
Home maintenance planning
Most of us spent more time at home during the pandemic. We saw an increase in home maintenance projects that had been deferred but suddenly were elevated on the priority list. Personally, 2021 gifted me the purchase of a pellet stove and a water softener, the repair of a broken sprinkler line, and … [Read more...]
How to Become Financially Fit in 2021
by Christina Slavonik, CFP(R) Oh, yes! It’s that time of year again! It's time to list out resolutions or goals that we would like to accomplish this year. There may be some “rollovers” from 2020! One important resolution to add to your list is to be financially fit. It’s not something … [Read more...]
October 2017 Newsletter
Our October newsletter is now available to help with your personal financial planning. It includes an overview of the third quarter investment market performance, along with a review of Nobel Prize winning economist Richard Thaler's work. In addition, we have suggestions on how to respond to the … [Read more...]
Dallas News Personal Finance Blog Credit Question
As a contributor to the Dallas Morning News' personal finance blog, I answer questions on a variety of personal finance, college, and retirement issues. Today's question regarding credit scoring is fairly common, so I wanted to share my response with a link to the Dallas Morning News blog. The … [Read more...]
Pay Yourself First
For the past three years, I’ve taught the Junior Achievement personal finance course to one of Ms. Turner’s economics classes at Keller High School. In the very first session each semester we talk about the concept of Pay Yourself First. It’s an idea the high school seniors easily embrace as they … [Read more...]
June Personal Finance Newsletter
The June personal finance newsletter is now available. It includes an investment market update and articles on several personal financial planning topics. There's information on how long to keep financial records, perspective on the debt ceiling debate, an update on the new "net college cost" … [Read more...]