Early in my career as a financial advisor, clients would often ask me:“What number do I need to retire?” They believed that hitting a certain financial milestone was the key to freedom. And for a long time, I believed it too. Iâd run the calculations, project the returns, and set
Why Converting Your Home into a Rental May Be a Bad Idea: Many homeowners, when moving out of their primary residence, consider turning it into a rental property instead of selling it. On the surface, this may seem like a great idea, especially in high-appreciation markets. However, there are several
As a business owner, you’ve worked hard to build your wealth. When it’s time to plan for the future, one question many of my clients ask is: “Can I charge my estate planning fees to my business?” It’s a smart question. After all, why not have your business cover these
I love golf. But every day for the rest of my life? No chance. Thousands of people fall into the same trap when they retire: they assume that more leisure, more golf, more travel, more relaxation, is the key to a happy retirement. But after working with hundreds of retirees,
Starting in 2025, retirement savers in their early 60s will have an exciting new opportunity to boost their savings. Thanks to the Secure Act 2.0, individuals aged 60 to 63 will be eligible for increased catch-up contributionsâwhatâs now being called the âsuperâ catch-up contribution. This change aims to help older
DOWNLOAD THE PDF I look forward to writing this market update to share with our clients and our friends what we saw in the market over the past three months and what we see looking forward to the first quarter and the year 2025. I canât believe another year has
The 4th quarter of 2024 saw a mixed performance: the US Stock Market grew at 2.63% followed by the Global Bond Market (ex-US) at 0.74%. The other markets fell, with Global Real Estate experiencing the steepest drop at -9.02%, followed by Emerging Market Stocks (-8.01%), International Developed Stocks (-7.43%), and
One of the biggest financial dilemmas people face is deciding whether to pay off debt or invest. The right answer depends on several factors, but a good rule of thumb is to focus on paying off any debt with an interest rate above 4% before prioritizing investing. Why 4%? The
For self-employed individuals and small business owners, choosing the right retirement plan is a critical decision. Two popular optionsâthe Solo 401(k) and the SEP IRAâoffer unique advantages but serve slightly different purposes. This article explores their similarities and differences, highlighting why the Solo 401(k) may be the superior choice for
Should You Choose a 15-Year or 30-Year Mortgage? When buying a home, one of the most critical financial decisions youâll face is choosing between a 15-year and a 30-year mortgage. This choice not only determines your monthly payment but also impacts the total interest youâll pay over the life of