Financial Planning Insights

Should I Buy My First Home in the Midst of a Global Pandemic?

Unlike the Great Recession of 2008, housing prices have not come plummeting down, and many predict they won’t. While prices may not be a particular bargain, borrowing to finance the purchase is. With interest rates hovering around historic lows, the cost to borrow is relatively cheap.

Struggling to Stick to a Budget? Try a Values-Based Budget Instead

Most budgeting tips focus on adjusting your life to your money when in reality, you should be focusing on adjusting your money to your life! Money is simply a tool to create your ideal life, so how do we create a budget that reflects this goal? A values-based budget may be the answer.

Onward.

Monday, June 15th, 2020, marked a watershed victory for the movement of LGBTQ equality in the United States. In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects LGBTQ workers from workplace discrimination.

The Market is Not the Economy

Why is it that stocks keep going up against a backdrop of horrible economic data? While I will never be able to answer the first two questions satisfactorily, we can look to facts to at least partially explain the last.

The Alphabet Soup of Economic Recoveries

There appears to be a bright spot forming in the coronavirus conversation; a light at the end of our lockdown tunnel. These conversations begin with how and when our homes, businesses, and communities can return to normal.

Silver Linings Playbook

The global pandemic has caused massive disruption in the financial, healthcare, and employment markets over the past several months. It seems you can’t go more than a few hours without hearing about all the damage this virus is causing. Here are some of the possible opportunities, or “silver linings,” we see in our little corner of the world.

What Dr. Fauci Can Teach Us About Financial Planning

Dr. Fauci warns us that reopening the economy will require a reliable plan to be successful. Whether we are looking at reopening the world’s largest economy or planning a successful retirement, Dr. Fauci is right- we need a plan.

Grants for First Responders & Volunteer Fire Departments

COVID-19 has put financial stress on individuals, businesses, and most of all, our first responders. During these times of difficulty for our nation and our world, our first responders are stepping up to the front lines–“one for all.” Our government has created several grants to provide financial support to our first responders, specifically our fire departments.

Preparing in the Wake of a Pandemic

Some of you might be feeling anxious and uncertain because of the Coronavirus and its potential impact on the stock market. It is normal to feel this way. Unfortunately, this type of market decline is not unusual. Historically, there is a 10% market decline every 18 months. And nearly half of those declines turn into a 20% loss (about once every 3.5 years, believe it or not). However, there is a bright side.