3 Things You Can Do As a Responsible and Loving Adult Many parents ask me about what they can do to help their children achieve financial independence. They may have different ideas in mind: a college fund? A financial gift at some important milestone? A car,...
Unpleasant Tax Surprises: Social Security
Ah, taxes, everyone’s favorite subject! To be fair, I have friends who actually enjoy diving into tax tables and itemizing deductions, which is wonderful! But that is not the majority of people I know. Our tax system is challenging. Yet, we all...
The Hidden Side of Money
“What would you do if you won the lottery?” It’s a fun mental exercise that many people like to play, whether they actually buy a lottery ticket or not. The possibilities seem endless, and the empowerment seems tantalizing. But the reality isn’t always...
Avoiding Stimulus Scams
With another round of stimulus checks on their way, this is a great time for fraudsters to pounce. Don’t be a victim! Follow these smart tips: If you receive a suspicious email or text message, DON’T respond, click on links, or open attachments. ...
The Personal Side of Money
I often find that when people come to me for financial advice, they get more than they bargain for. A conversation about the stock market? Sure. Tips on how to save for a future goal? You bet. Observations about the opportunities...
Are You Really Maxing?
Did you know there’s a difference between “getting the max employer match” in your 401k and “maxing” your 401k contributions? I often hear this used interchangeably, but the differences are significant! How significant? Try this: the MAXIMUM employee...
Artificial Intelligence?
A.I., or artificial intelligence, can be found everywhere these days: from marketing ("you might like this…" based on what you bought last time) to traffic (in Austin, the price for some toll roads changes based on traffic flow). A.I. is a powerful technology that can...
Mindfulness and Money
Can you recall a time when you felt really “in the zone”? Whatever you were doing, it felt like you were laser-focused, in the flow, making all the right moves, and knew exactly what to do and when. These “flow” moments don’t always last long, but when...
3 Key Elements for Post-Pandemic Confidence
I recently read a survey about investor satisfaction levels with their financial advisors. The interesting twist was how sentiment has changed, pre- and post- (well, current, anyway) the COVID pandemic. The article’s slant was that investors are less...
So You’re Retired… Now What??
You’ve planned carefully, crossed your T’s and dotted your I’s, completed the last of your tasks/duties, said farewell to your coworkers, and cut the cake. Congratulations, you’re retired! Now what??Retirement is one of life’s significant...
Economic Impact Payment Scams
Economic impact payments are being sent from the IRS automatically to those who are eligible. Whether you are expecting payment or not, you should be aware of potential scams that are used to exploit taxpayers during these confusing times.Here are a few tips on...
Circuit Breakers
Many of you are probably familiar with the concept of a circuit breaker. It’s a safety device that shuts off the flow of electricity when the system senses something could be going wrong. The effect is to save the electrical system from damage which can be...












