Our Latest Posts
College Tax Credit
College Tax Credit Paying for college for you, your spouse, or any dependents you can claim on your taxes? If so, you could be eligible for a college tax credit when you file your federal [...]
Alpine Style Living
I usually write something original when I post these images, but I really liked Carl Richard’s thoughts on extending alpine-style to life. I’ll have a few more comments at the end. When people think of [...]
Where To Find College Scholarship Money
Where To Find College Scholarship Money Many people I talk to about preparing for college assume their children will qualify for scholarships. They are surprised though when we talk about where most of the scholarship [...]
Planning
Goal = Guess
Goal = Guess Do you get stressed when someone asks you about your goals? Concerned about either not reaching them or not sure what you want? Are you concerned because you’ve hit previous goals and [...]
3 Ways to Estimate Your Life Insurance Need
3 Ways to Estimate Your Life Insurance Need Life insurance is an important pillar within your financial plan. It can provide money for the people who rely on you should the worst happen. There are [...]
6 Critical Financial Plan Elements
Wednesday, October 5th marks the 6th annual World Financial Planning Day. My favorite made-up day of the year 🙂 So what should you have in your financial plan? When most people think of financial plan, [...]
Direct Your Money – Beneficiary Designation
Beneficiary designation for your financial accounts and life insurance take precedence over your will. Make sure they're up to date.
Micro-Actions Lead to Big Results
Micro-Actions Lead to Big Results When tackling big, audacious goals, you don’t need big, audacious actions. All you need is the contagious magic of micro-actions repeated consistently. Let me give you an example. Some of [...]
Tax Time Bomb
Are you building a retirement tax time bomb? Conventional wisdom says retirees will be in a lower tax bracket in retirement than when they are working so they should defer taxes today. In some cases [...]
Retirement Check-In – 10 Years Out
10 Years before your planned retirement is a great time for a retirement check-in. Here are 7 key things you should do.
Financial Planning Under the Cone of Uncertainty
I am fascinated by hurricane tracking models. Strange because I’ve never lived in an area prone to hurricanes. The cone or funnel shape of the forecast shows the probable path of the storm over 5-7 days. The “spaghetti” models are also interesting. These are the individual forecasts that one of the weather supercomputers thinks the storm will take. Sometimes they cluster together. Other times they are wildly different. The forecast improves and the cone narrows as the hurricane progresses and new information is obtained.
Less Wrong Tomorrow
Real Financial Planning is not about being right today, it’s about being less wrong tomorrow. Airline pilots know this. For years, every time I met one, I would ask two questions. The first was, “Do you prepare a flight plan for every single flight?” And every pilot I asked answered “Yes.” The second was, “How often does the flight go exactly as you planned?” To which they always answered “Never.”
Next Mission Answers Ten Questions For A Financial Planner
In a previous article, I discussed why it’s important to perform due diligence when you’re hiring a financial professional and how military members have unique requirements they should seek to address because of their benefits. Based on the questions I compiled, I believe it’s only fair and transparent that I publish my answers
10 Questions Military Should Ask Before Hiring A Financial Planner
Do a quick Google Search on “Questions to ask your financial advisor” and you’ll find a page of articles. All have a slightly different focus depending on whether they emphasize planning like this one from the CFP Board, or investments likes one from Nerd Wallet, or some personal questions like this one from Dave Ramsey. While good starting points, none focus on financial planning for military members and the unique benefits available to members. With that in mind, consider these questions when interviewing advisors.
Saving & Investing
Loss Aversion
We feel the pain of loss more than we feel the pleasure from gain. Because of this, we try to avoid loss. This is called loss aversion.
3 Considerations for Investing a Lump Sum of Money
3 Considerations for Investing a Lump Sum of Money Investing is typically an ongoing process tied to the steady rhythm of receiving their pay. Occasionally though you may receive a larger lump sum of money [...]
The What and How of I Bonds
I Bonds are currently yielding 9.62%. What are they and might they be a good place for you to save money you don't need for at least a year.
Inheriting a Traditional IRA? New Rules May Increase Your Taxes
The SECURE changed the rules for Inherited IRAs. If you inherit a Traditional IRA it could cost you more in taxes. Here are some things you can do.
How To Diversify Your TSP Holdings
The proposed TSP Mutual Fund Window is too expensive for small accounts. Here are some other options to diversify away from TSP and when and how you might consider using the Mutual Fund Window.
TSP Mutual Fund Window – Too Expensive For Small Accounts
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) may soon provide access to mutual funds. Based on the current proposal is it a good deal? As proposed, the fees and expenses make it a bad deal for small accounts.
TSP Rollover: 3 Reasons To Consider
The Thrift Savings Plan is a great retirement savings option, but it can sometimes make sense to rollover those funds after Federal service.
5 Ways to Optimize Your Saving
Saving money is a critical component of long-term wealth. Making savings a continuous habit is key. Here are some tips to make it easier.
The Power of Increasing Savings
Increasing your savings rate annually by a small amount can have a profound impact on your long-term wealth accumulation.
College Planning, Saving, and Funding
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Splitting the GI Bill
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Splitting the GI Bill The Post 9/11 GI Bill is a fantastic benefit for those who served in the military after 9/11/2001. The ability to transfer the benefit to military [...]
7 Reasons To Save For College In A 529 Plan
529 plans provide a tax-advantaged way to save for future education costs. Here are 7 reasons to use a 529 account.
Life
Recency Bias
We are great at projecting what has happened recently will continue to happen in the future. This is also known as recency bias.
Your Future Self
It's often hard to imagine our future self even in the near-term. Thinking about our future self is important.
Process Over Outcomes
Process Over Outcomes Have you ever made a decision that didn't work out as you had planned or hoped? Did that make it a bad decision? Maybe, but maybe not. I believe in process over [...]
Comparisons
Comparisons Many people seem obsessed with comparisons to others. This is pointless behavior, of course. How other people are doing has nothing to do with how you are doing. But it’s what we do. Last week [...]
Focus On What You Can Control
There are many things that matter in life. There are also things that I can control. The overlap is what you should focus on. What should focus look like for your financial life?
Enough
Are you continually trying to "get ahead" or are you satisfied with having enough? Enough usually requires much less.
Removing Our Blind Spots
We all have blind spots, and by definition, you can’t see your own. Let me give you an example. One time, I was having a conversation with a friend of mine. Let’s call him Dave. Dave was a retired investment banker who really knew his way around money. If anyone knew how to invest, it was him. But he was looking for help managing his portfolio. I asked him, “Dave, of all the people I know, you’re in the best position to deal with your own money. Why do you need help?”