Should You Hire a Financial Planner or Ask AI?

Should You Hire a Financial Planner or Ask AI?

With the rapid popularity of AI tools, I’ve seen the whole spectrum of reactions from friends and clients: fascinated, excited, hopeful, fearful, terrified, elated - you name it. Personally, I think the most helpful approach while we are still in the mid-to-early...

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How to Love Your Finances: The Art of the Money Date

How to Love Your Finances: The Art of the Money Date

February is right around the corner, so what better time to talk about the concept of a “money date”?   A money date is just like it sounds: time to shut out the rest of the world and focus on just you and your money for a little while. Think of it as you and your...

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How Financial Planning is Like Building IKEA Furniture

How Financial Planning is Like Building IKEA Furniture

I recently tackled the project of building an IKEA dresser all by myself. Yes, I know. Possibly brave; possibly foolish, especially since I am not in any way mechanically inclined. (I do own a hammer and several screwdrivers, however, so I’m not completely helpless.) ...

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Car Payment or Roth IRA Payment?

Car Payment or Roth IRA Payment?

I wanted to share a financial insight I had recently while helping a client. We observed that her car payment was over $500/month. That’s a significant amount, for any budget.   So I looked it up. According to 2024 Experian data, the average car payment for a new car...

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Maximizing Social Security Income in an Inflationary World

Maximizing Social Security Income in an Inflationary World

Inflation has become a hot topic lately, with many of us experiencing sticker shock when purchasing everyday items or resuming normal activities. For retirees living on Social Security or a fixed pension, this challenge is particularly daunting. Let's explore some...

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Navigating Life Insurance Questions

Navigating Life Insurance Questions

Life insurance can be pretty confusing. As a financial planner, I often get asked about it. Probably the most common question I hear is: in my case, should I even have life insurance?   It’s a good question. You are probably familiar with the prevalent ads showing...

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Summer Savings: Paying Off Debt While Making Memories

Summer Savings: Paying Off Debt While Making Memories

According to a GOBankingRates survey, 41% of respondents said their #1 financial goal is to pay off debt this summer. That’s great! But can you prioritize debt while still enjoying your summer? The answer is, YES!  Paying off debt doesn't mean you have to sacrifice...

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Does Saying “I Do” Mean Combining Your Finances?

Does Saying “I Do” Mean Combining Your Finances?

Did you know that June is traditionally the most popular month for weddings?  May also makes the list, so I wanted to celebrate this season of love and commitment by dusting off a blog post from a few years ago.  It’s still highly relevant and I still get asked this...

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5 Things to Do if You Win the Lottery

5 Things to Do if You Win the Lottery

Every week, people play the lottery hoping that a big win will solve all of their problems. But sudden money is trickier than that. It comes with both new opportunities and new problems. And a whole lot of new territory for you to navigate, often in public. Here are 5...

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IRS Scams – Don’t Fall for Them!

IRS Scams – Don’t Fall for Them!

During tax season, taxpayers (meaning, most of us!) are often bombarded with documents and overwhelmed by a load of information. This creates an environment where scammers can easily step in and take advantage of even the most diligent. Tax season scams are becoming...

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