Americans tend to have mixed feelings about credit cards. They appreciate having easy access to funds, but largely resent the tendency created by credit cards to overspend. Credit Card issuers pollute the problem by pushing the use of credit on consumers and tangling a web of fees and interest charges along the way.

Have you ever been confused by a designation printed on a business card? Perhaps it said “John Doe, XYZ.” Well, that’s excellent for Mr. Doe, and I don’t doubt he worked hard for those letters, but what exactly does that mean?

Having a handle on your budget is a building block for other good financial practices. If you can grasp the concept that sacrificing a few items today will allow you to buy more items later, you’ll have a better chance at affording the important things: houses, cars, vacations, educations, etc.

The question of whether or not to work with a financial advisor is very personal. For some people, dealing with financial issues is unpleasant and requires a great degree of undesired discipline. For these people, the real question will be how to choose the right advisor, rather than whether or not to work with one.

I field a lot of questions regarding the various rules that govern 401k and 403b plans. Not only is it a confusing topic for the average investor, but the issue has been gaining in importance recently as these plans become more popular.

The science of financial planning is relatively new. While pinpointing the career’s starting point is difficult, I’d put it somewhere in the neighborhood of 1969 with Loren Dunton and the Institute of Consumer Financial Education.

“Roth” is a provision which allows earnings from qualified plans to be withdrawn free of income tax. What you sacrifice with any Roth plan is the ability to take a tax deduction in the year the contributions were made.

In my first few years as a financial planner, taxes were not my best topic. I preferred to help clients choose investments and make recommendations about retirement plans. I learned quickly that having at least a basic understanding of taxes is crucial to any aspect of the financial planning process.

I’m in my mid 20’s, but I spend much of my time with people in their 50’s and 60’s. These clients are nearing retirement–the point in life where one would like to either cease working, or dedicate substantially less time to work-related activities.

This page covers a list of services clients often contact us for. In most cases, we provide comprehensive financial planning centered around investment management.

This entry becomes increasingly relevant at a time when corporations continue to shift from defined-benefit retirement plans (pensions) to defined-contribution plans (401k). Corporations are encouraging their employees to self-direct their retirement assets to protect themselves from the possibility of retirement plans becoming under-funded.

Numerous abuses within the securities industry have created a greater need for oversight. The Great Depression of 1929 happened in part because equity in companies was being sold without proper disclosure of the potential risks.