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Daring To Be Ourselves… Financially
by Manisha Thakor Do you have enough money? Last week I wrote about the high cost to women of not speaking up for ourselves financially in the workplace. One statistic from that piece keeps floating through my head like the Goodyear blimp: Women...
Is there such thing as a kid-friendly bank account?
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAHave you ever given a dollar to your child and seen the expression of awe on their face? Imagine how that expression can change in a few years when they have their own bank account that has increased because of interest. The problem?...
Have Less Holiday Financial Stress
by Manisha Thakor Does holiday shopping & spending stress you out?A few years ago I stopped doing the holidays. My corporate job had me on a plane every 3 to 4 days. My daily work hours were in the double-digits, and the mere thought of picking out - let...
5 Ways To Eat Out For Less
by Manisha ThakorTough economic times present an interesting financial conundrum for our tum-tums.During rocky periods it’s natural and healthy to want to seek out friends and companionship. Breaking bread and having a good chat is a wonderful way to release...
On the 12 Days of Christmas
by Susan HirshmanAs I was driving the other day, the song … On the twelve days of Christmas my true love gave to me….came on the radio. It made me think – who really is our true love and what is it really that we want.Who really is our true love? Well, I...
Are You Financial Savvy? What’s Good For Women is Good For Business!
by Janet WiseRecently I met Sylvia Hewitt, co-founder of the Hidden Brain Drain, Harvard Professor and author of several books, including Top Talent. As a Leadership Development expert, I’ve been researching Women and Leadership and was fascinated to learn:that...
How To Be A Golden Girl
by Manisha ThakorAre you worried about ending up old and poor?The Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, a non-profit, private foundation, recently released the results of their 11th annual survey on retirement issues. The study is packed with eye-popping...
5D’s To Protecting your Portfolio From Sabotage
by Susan Hirshman Risks to Your Financial Portfolio The most common response to the question “What are the biggest risks to your financial portfolio?” usually has something to do with market volatility – i.e. the up and down movements of the stock market. Would your...
Big Money VS Little Money
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAThere is always that friend that makes a little bit more than you or maybe you’re the one who makes more. Regardless, once in a while that feeling of awkwardness arises when it comes time to paying the check or deciding where to go for the...
3 Reasons To Take Your Online Banking Relationship To The Next Level
by ManishaThakor How Banking Online Can Make Bill Paying Easier Are you banking online? A recent survey says 80 percent of U.S. online households are. However, if you’re limiting your online account management to checking your balance or reviewing past transactions,...
Finding the Money for a Baby
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAA new mom the second time around, of course I run into many other new moms. Despite the lack of sleep, they’re all so radiant and happy. However, when they learn that I am a financial planner, a different emotion often surfaces - the...
Financial Foreplay: Are You Doing It?
by Manisha ThakorTime and again money is cited as one of the top causes for fights in relationships and divorce. One way to prevent wallet wars is to engage in financial foreplay. But first, some basics...What is financial foreplay? The process of getting...
5 Things You Should Know Before You Buy a Stock or Fund
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAA friend of mine is an aspiring author, and eventually wants to leave her corporate job. Over bouillabaisse and freshly baked baguettes the other night, she announced that she just sold her first short story, to an Ezine. All smiles, she...
The Scoop on IRAs and Tax Losses
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAMy friend who is a stockbroker wrote heaps of sell tickets for his clients back in December of last year. This may seem controversial, considering that finance gurus always advise us to sell high and buy low and it has been a long, long...
3 Signs You Are Suffering From Lifestyle Creep
by Manisha ThakorDo you ever feel like your possessions are holding you hostage? Or perhaps that you’ve bitten off more stuff than you can chew? If you’ve ever suffered the pangs of financial indigestion, you may be one of the millions of Americans suffering...
Spring Cleanout of Your Investment Portfolio
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAI love this time of the year! Trees painted in that fresh, new green, baby birds chirping in the trees, and a sense of excitement in the air. I spent last Saturday preparing my closet for spring and summer: warm, heavy jackets making room...
Job Loss as Personal Growth
by Kristina LeonardiIf you are one of those people who has lost your job, or feel like a pink slip is on the horizon, I want you to know that I believe this can be one of the best things that will ever happen to you.Job loss can give you the opportunity to make a...
The 8 Characteristics of a Successful Financial Plan
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA Having a financial plan in place means more than just having a good asset allocation or some insurance to protect the people you care for. No matter what your age is or income level, you should always have a plan in place. it is...
Why You Need a Roth IRA
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAI met with a new client last week; a woman in her early thirties eager to get started on her nest egg. A discussion of her financial goals and priorities revealed that she hoped the not-so-distant future would bring her not only a home of...
Your Financial Fitness Checkup
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFALeaving the organic produce store yesterday, a flier on the revolving glass door caught my eye. It was entitled “HEALTH CHECKUP: Do You Have the Supplement Basics Covered?” and listed five types of supplements - multivitamins, enzymes,...
The New Triangle Drama: Remarriage, Kids, and Inheritance
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAIt is rare that anyone cries in my office, but it did happen last week. A client reported between sobs that her dad had passed on a while back. Not only was she paralyzed with grief; she had also just learned that she wouldn’t get a dime...
