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Financial Fitness for Newlyweds
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFALet’s see, you’ve got the wedding chapel and the caterer booked, the dress selected, the cake designed, the wedding invitations mailed, vows written, finances talked about - oops, didn’t do the last one yet?Money conflicts are a leading...
Mars and Venus – Women, Men and Money
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAMars may not be so far from Venus when it comes to money. According to a recent Redbook-SmartMoney Survey, most couples aren't wasting time arguing over finances and they have few clashes over cash.One of the most revealing survey questions...
Does Gender Make a Difference?
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAWomen owned businesses experience greater success than those led by men, according to The Center for Women’s Leadership at Babson College.Increasingly women are playing a larger role in the leadership of family-owned businesses. Women are...
A Spring Makeover for Your Finances
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFANow that spring has officially sprung you might be making plans to stash those dull winter clothes away and reveal your swanky spring digs. Most of us have perfected this yearly wardrobe ritual, but many of us have a lot to learn about...
Spring Cleaning Your Financial Closet
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA Spring is a time of renewal, which means there’s no better time than now to dust off your personal budget, dig the change out from under your sofa, and clean the cobwebs off your savings plan. So how do you get started? Begin by reviewing...
The Benefits and Risks of Owning a Home
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA With all of the excitement in real estate lately, you might be wondering if you should take the plunge and buy a home. Homeownership has many advantages – both financial and personal. But there are many things to consider before you jump...
Be Your Own Knight in Shining Armor
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAAre you still looking for your knight in shining armor? Or have you already found him? Either way you have your work cut out for you when it comes to finances!$ More than 50 percent of all marriages fail.$ After a divorce, the average woman...
Give the Little Guy a Chance
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAAs in any crowd, the noisy guys get most of the attention. In the money world, large capitalization (cap) stocks are always on investors' minds because they're so darn big.But a bunch of little stocks, known as the small caps, have been...
How To Increase Your Retirement Confidence
by Manisha Thakor How are we Americans collectively feeling about our retirement prospects? Survey says (and most financial advisors would concur), not so great.Consider this comparative data from an annual study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute:In 2007, the...
Do You Need a Financial Planner or an Investment Manager?
by Manisha ThakorIf the terms “financial planner” and “investment manager” seem interchangeable to you, you’re not alone. Many people — even financial professionals — have a hard time differentiating. To truly maximize your financial well being, it’s important to...
It’s Not Your Pot That Stinks
by Ann WilsonIt’s not the pot, it’s the ingredients that stink!“I don’t want to invest in the stock market. I’ve got an ISA/ Pension/ Superannuation/ Retirement Annuity/ 401K and it is doing terribly”.I get emails like this almost everyday and it makes me mad. Not at...
The 5 Most Common Mistakes Investors Make
by Manisha ThakorAs a financial advisor I’m frequently asked: “Why should I pay someone to manage my investments?”You may think an advisor should find “the next hot investment.” Increasingly, though, I’ve come to believe the real value is in helping clients avoid...
There’s No Freedom in Waiting to be Rich
by Ann WilsonIt’s one of the most basic questions ever: What do you and 99% of the population want most?Most people will say “More money.” Specifically, we want to be rich. Who wouldn’t? If you’re rich, you really don’t have much to worry about, except maybe what to...
Active Versus Passive Investing: Which Is Right For You?
by Manisha ThakorPicture this. Two cars are driving down a three-lane highway. A red sports car is darting between all three lanes trying to find the fastest possible way to get ahead. A gray sedan is in the right lane, steadily going the speed limit. Suddenly a train...
How Breathing Can Save Your Finances…
by Jillian Beirne DaviI’m known for saying that Money is a HUMAN made tool. And humans are emotional. Therefore money is emotional.(Even though it doesn’t have to be.)Money follows the simple laws of cause and effect. You GIVE to the world a specific...
3 Reasons We Overspend
by Manisha Thakor Does your actual spending significantly surpass your budget? Have you ever set a financial goal only to find that your actual spending significantly surpassed your budget? When you have the best of intentions to create financial health, why is it so...
Changing Your Name? Avoid Identity Theft in the Process
by Paige Calahan If you're getting married and plan to change your name after the wedding, there are a few things you should know about the process to avoid identity theft and fraud. Changing your name isn't difficult, and with these tips, you'll reduce the risk of...
KISS – Keep It Simple & Sexy
by Ann WilsonInvesting in the Stock Market isn’t difficult or complicated, but like so many things in life we can make it so. I have found that the most successful strategies are usually the simplest. Why? Because:They are easy to implement;They are easy to keep...
Demystifying Mutual Funds and ETFs
by Manisha ThakorLong-time readers of this blog know that as a financial advisor I’m passionate about helping women become more confident and excited about investing. That’s because in a world where it’s increasingly possible to live to 100, investing for the long run...
The Power of Patient Investing
by Manisha ThakorHave you ever been tempted to “play the stock market” by following a hot tip, only to watch your shares plummet? Do you want to invest, but feel overwhelmed by all of your choices? How do you know if you should invest in stocks at all? As a female...
What Are Your Financial Priorities?
by Manisha ThakorAs we enter the warm, playful days of summer, it may be difficult to turn our attention to the cold reality of personal finance. Yet as any financial expert will say, to continue enjoying our lives to the fullest, it is essential to plan for our...
