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How to Protect your Portfolio Through Life’s Ups and Downs
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...
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...
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...
Don’ts for Skiing on a Budget
Ski season is almost, so here are some tips to get the most of your skinny skiing budget.Don’t Check Your Baggage, Compare FeesCalculate the cost of baggage fees for flying with your own equipment versus the cost of renting on-siteDon’t go Alone, The More the BetterGo...
A Late Bill Won’t Kill Credit
Even the most responsible borrowers slip up sometimes. Maybe a utility bill went unpaid after you moved and the missed payment went into collections. Or perhaps there are unpaid library fines or parking tickets in collections that are hanging on to your credit history...
Which credit card is the best to earn mileage points?
There are so many credit cards to choose from to earn mileage points – a lot depends on your anticipated travel patterns and your preferred payment options.When reviewing your options, don’t forget to look at the small print and get a handle on the interest rate...
Ditch These Three Major Money Wasters and Save Hundreds
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAThis weekend, my family and I spent some time browsing plasma TVs at Best Buy. Strolling past walls of pulsating light and sharp-as-a-knife imagery, I was amazed at how much prices have dropped lately. In line, I was even more amazed at the...
Bounce Back Boot Camp
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFARecently, I received an email from one of my “Bounce Back Boot Camp” members who has difficulty planning a budget with a fluctuating income. I’ve found that uncertain incomes are a common occurrence and can make your wallet stretch...
Your Cell Phone Bill: Is Prepaid a Better Option?
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAAt a recent family get-together, the conversation turned to cell phones. More specifically, my sister-in-law had received a statement that morning. Stunned that she had used less than a third of the minutes she paid for, she wanted to know...
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...
Nanny Tax 101
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAI do not make it a habit to eavesdrop, but the girls at the table next to me at the smoothie bar this morning were so loud and animated, there was no way around it. They were all international students, pushing the benefits of babysitting...
5 Things You Should Know Before You Buy a Stock or Fund
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA, Founder Savvy Ladies Are you considering buying a stock or fund? A 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...
