Hoping “New Year, New You” Makes Financial Goals Come True?

Per Apple’s new ad campaign: Most people quit their New Year's resolutions by the second Friday in January. Well, how are you doing?

Holiday Cheer and Roth Conversions: A Gift to Your Future Self

At its core, Roth conversion is like wrapping up retirement savings into a tidy, tax-advantaged gift package.

Use November to Finalize Year-End Success and Plan for 2025

Wait until December, you risk falling into the apathy and distractions common from Thanksgiving to the New Year. Do you want that for your finances?

Open Enrollment: Medical Plans & Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

Open enrollment can be perplexing for many is analyzing High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) and their tax savings counterpart, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).

Mastering the College Admissions Process

Understanding nuances of early action and early decision, exploring merit-based aid, and utilizing 529 plans and loans effectively can impact you and your stressed college-bound teen's journey.

Summer, Summer, Summertime - Time To Sit Back and… Experience Spend

Life is constantly evolving, and moments once passed cannot be relived. Embracing experience spending encourages individuals to seize opportunities to enjoy life while they can.

Budgeting, Your $ Your Independence, Retirement PlanningGlenn BrownJuly 1, 2024Best Practice, Experience Spending, Spending, Children, family, Focus on your why, Financial Planning, Goals, Health, Joy, Kids, Savings, Budget, Savings Prioritization, Your Money Your Independence

Empower New Graduates with Gifts of Independence

While cash or gift cards are always appreciated, consider something with lasting value that can help launch college and high school graduates towards financial independence.

Budgeting, Debt Management, Investing, Retirement Planning, Your $ Your IndependenceGlenn BrownMay 2, 2024Automatic Payments, Best Practice, Budget, Subscriptions, Debt Management, Bond Portfolios, Bonds, CDs, Children, College, Cash, career, Cash Flows, Dividend Growth, Dividends, Earnings, ETF, Focus on your why, Financial Planning, family, Fee-Only Fiduciary, Financial Independence, Goals, Giving, grandchildren, Graduates, Grads, IRAs, IRA Contributions, Income Streams, Investing, Index, Joy, Kids, Local Town Pages, Student Loans, Gifting, Markets, Roth IRA, Portfolios, Rent, Raising Kids, Student Debt, Savings, Spending, High School Students, College Students, Tuition, Teenager, Technology, Traditional IRA, Multi-Generational Planning, diversification, Experience Spending, Your Money Your Independence, Your Money

Ready Homebuyers? The Fed’s New “No Urgency” Mantra Is A Gift.

If one waits for 5% mortgages, there are considerable opportunity costs. Potential homebuyers should prepare to act by utilizing these tools and best practices.

At or Near Retirement? Time to Say Bucket!

Retirees view risks differently, but the greatest risk is behavioral. Let’s discuss a sustainable and tax-efficient approach to retirement distribution strategies.

Your $ Your Independence, Work Benefits, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning, Retirement, Investing, Debt Management, BudgetingGlenn BrownMarch 4, 2024Budget, Work Benefits, Best Practice, CDs, CFP, Dividends, Dividend Growth, Debt Management, Entitlements, family, Focus on your why, Financial Planning, Goals, Healthcare, Health, HELOC, IRAs, IRS, Income Streams, Investing, Inflation, Investment Management, IRA Withdrawals, Joy, 401(k), Solo K, Local Town Pages, Life Insurance, Medicare, Markets, Net Worth, Roth IRA, Portfolios, Pro-rata rule, Access to Equity, Required Minimum Distributions, Home Equity Line of Credit, Refinancing, Real Estate, Rebalancing, Savings, Traditional IRA, Total Return, Tax Planning, diversification, Savings Prioritization, distribution phase, distribution strategies, tax efficiency, taxes, Experience Spending, Tax-Loss Harvesting, Taxes, Index, Your Money Your Independence, Yields, Asset Allocation

Frugal February… A Different Take, One That’s Sustainable.

Many use Frugal February as a month to not spend. While noble, how sustainable is this for improved outcomes Instead, let’s discuss actions that provide yearlong benefits plus a better time to start.

If You Fail To Plan, You Are Planning To Fail.

Starting the New Year with the same old resolutions? Let’s recognize questionable resolutions, including three destined for failure, plus what should be considered for successful planning outcomes.

Enjoy Every Sandwicher Moment.

July is National Sandwich Generation Month, celebrating approximately 15% of Americans between ages 40-60 sandwiched between caring for their young children and aging parents at the same time.

Establish Access When Things Are Good, Not When Times Turn Bad

Benefits of having a HELOC with $0 balance go far beyond a potential home renovation.

Your $ Your Independence, Debt Management, Budgeting, Tax PlanningGlenn BrownJune 2, 2023HELOC, Debt Management, Planning for Unexpected, Lending, Home Equity Line of Credit, Loan-To-Value, Prime Rate, Access to Equity

Peak Earnings Years Are Your 50’s - Your Parents Maybe, You… Not So Much.

Top 10% earners in their 30’s and 40’s believe they’ll earn considerably more in their 50’s. Don’t plan on it.

New Year, New You… Not True?

Resolutions to improve your financial situation similar to one’s made last year? Here’s how and why to consider actions and timeframes, instead of focusing on desired outcomes.

Eye Opening Costs At Open Enrollment?

Over past year, health insurance prices have increased 3X to US inflation. It’s time to fully understand HDHP, HSA and how to do your cost/benefit analysis.