“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 what we dream. Lottery winners are known …
You have probably seen the “SMART” goal-setting acronym, which stands for: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. These principles apply well to our financial goals as well as other goals. Here are some brief reminders to help keep you focused and SMART this year! Specific: When setting a saving or …
The Wall Street Journal recently published an article about people who used high risk methods to buy high risk investments. These folks had turned relatively small amounts of money into exceptionally large gains in the past year. Earlier in the year, the WSJ also published an article about investors who …
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. Banks and government agencies will NOT ask …
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 available to you in your current situation? Absolutely. But …
As this year comes to a close, here are my top 3 important financial tasks to consider. Review Retirement Plan Contributions: Whether you contribute to a 401(k), 403(b), IRA, or Roth, look at your year-to-date contributions. You can make 2020 contributions into IRAs and Roth IRAs until April 15, 2021 …
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 contribution to a 401k plan for 2020 is $19,500 if you are …
You know you’ve been doing something for a long time when a colleague describes you as an “industry veteran.” That’s the way Will Hepburn described me to his clients last week. And yes, it made me aware that I did start as an advisor in 1992 and have been an …
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 be attractive in many industries. …
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 they are here, …
