The Life Planning 101 Podcast

3 Great Ways to Help Your Child Save

The first thing that comes to everyone’s mind
when you begin to discuss saving for your child’s future is…college savings. But
what if your child does not go to college? What if they need a down payment to
purchase their first home? What if they are faced with an unexpected hardship? There
are countless what if’s in life and there
are not two people that will face... 

What is Life Planning and Why?

Most of the people we talk with believe that “retirement planning” deals exclusively with money and this is true… to a certain point. Experience has taught me that effective retirement planning is about much more than money: it is about all areas of Life.

Worried About College Savings?

Don’t
worry…you’re not the only one. Whether you’re planning for college in the very
near future or in the not so near future, you probably have concerns…and why
shouldn’t you?
Today I would like to address these concerns and
offer some alternative planning strategies that just might...

What Will Happen if You Get Sued?

Will you stand to lose some of your hard-earned money,income or assets? Or will it be protected? Do you know for sure?
 One evening while driving home, you glance down to adjust the radio. When you look back up, you are inches away from broadsiding a bus.Several passengers are seriously injured, resulting in a major law suit.
 Again, will your assets...

3 Questions About Your Retirement Income

Recently, I spent two days at a conference focused on income during retirement. I want to tell you a story I heard that you will probably think sounds familiar, but the tone I will set today may shed new light on it.
 One of the speakers talked about his grandfather, who worked for the same company for 30 years, did everything by the book, and followed his... 

Business Succession Planning

One of my fellow advisors related one of the most horrific stories I have heard in my professional life.I would like to share that story with you in order to help you understand the importance of business succession planning:
 A young man in his early forties owned an extremely successful manufacturing business in Georgia, grossing approximately 

6 Lessons Learned from the Great Recession - Part 4

Well…if you have been a buy and hold investor, your portfolio will probably answer this with a resounding “No!” Though after reading the many headlines of any major financial news during late 2008, 2009 or 2010 you might think that...

6 Lessons Learned from the Great Recession - Part 3

There is a major issue today that has left a large number of Americans speechless and motionless: The issue of integrity. 2008 and 2009 were treacherous. It was bad enough that we witnessed the development of...

6 Lessons Learned from the Great Recession - Part 2

Tiny or not, economic bubbles don’t make anything feel fine, especially not your retirement plan. The problem is that most bubbles are difficult to identify. Consequently, they are only recognized in retrospect...

6 Lessons Learned from the Great Recession - Part 1

Economists say the Great Recession ended in June 2009. Still, it hasn’t felt like it. Our economy is rough and the recovery we have experienced since June 2009 has been and will probably remain slow. Faced with this continuing...

A Tightwad and a Spendthrift

There is usually one of each in every family. So what makes some people stock away every dime they make and others oblivious to the concept of saving and always in debt? Interestingly enough, there has been extensive psychological research performed on the spending behaviors of individuals: why some people spend money frivolously and why some people don’t...

The Finance of Remarriage

Adults entering a remarriage are likely to bring assets, debts, obligations and established spending habits into the relationship. Since credit reports aren’t required for a marriage license – and you generally only see them when you apply for a mortgage together - "your new partner's finances are often unknown, even though you usually need to agree as a...