Financial success means different things to different people. For Warren Buffet, it has nothing to do with his bank account. He says that when you get to his age, “you’ll really measure your success in life by how many of the people you want to have love you actually do love you.” (1) And Jeff Bezos…
There’s no doubt that 401(k) accounts are an incredible asset to help you reach your retirement savings goals. These employer-sponsored savings plans offer a tax-advantaged way for you to save, often with matching contributions from the employer and multiple investment options. But 401(k)s can become problematic when you change employers, which many Americans do, sometimes more…
We work hard in our careers in order to, hopefully, experience a comfortable retirement. Regardless of our definition of wealth, most of us want to protect what we’ve worked hard to earn and enjoy the fruits of our labor. But even if you’ve been saving for decades, there are seemingly small decisions and behaviors that…
Do you have employee stock options? If so, you’re in good company. Businesses love granting their employees stock options because they align the employee’s interests with those of the company. They are becoming so popular that over the past 30 years, the number of people holding stock options has increased about ninefold. (1) It’s nice…
Estate planning is one of those tasks that most of us put off for the future, either because we don’t want to think about our mortality, believe it’s too costly, or because it doesn’t seem necessary. In fact, only 51% of Americans have done any estate planning (1), which means half the population is taking a…
Summer is coming and it may be time to go on vacation. As you head out to the beach or up to the mountains, you may find yourself thinking, “I come here so much, I should just invest in a vacation home.” While having your own home away from home may be nice, is it…
Do you know what’s in your compensation package? When you’re in management or play another key role in your company, your benefits likely include equity compensation, like stock options and restricted stock units. Typically, your company starts to include equity in your compensation package when they think you’ve reached a level of influence where what…
There are some topics that all of us like to avoid, and one of those, in particular is the death of a loved one. Since the life expectancy for women is longer than that of men, widowhood is a possibility that you need to take seriously. There is really no way to prepare emotionally for the…
It can be an uncomfortable role reversal when you realize that your parents, who taught you much of what you know and guided you to adulthood, now need your help. This situation might leave you responsible for your parents or the estate they will leave behind. If their affairs aren’t in order, it’ll be up…
Veterans are widely appreciated and revered for their service to our country; unfortunately, however, they can be overlooked within the financial services industry. As such, veterans often face an uphill battle when it comes to investing and finances. Let’s discuss some common pitfalls veterans can work to avoid so they can attain financial success for…
