When it comes to financial planning, many people start off unaware of how damaging their bad financial habits can be but also relieved to find out that they may have been practicing some good financial planning all along. So to help you spot your own financial habits, we’ve collected some of the top Do’s and Don’ts of financial planning to help you shift your mindset around good money habits.
Although the term fiduciary has been around for a very long time, most have not heard of it until recently. Our former president and the Department of Labor decided that it was in the best interest of the nation to hold financial professionals who provide advice to the public as it relates to their retirement accounts to what is called the “fiduciary standard”. Despite the enhanced visibility of the term ‘fiduciary,’ many people still aren’t entirely clear about its definition, let alone how the term impacts their own financial situation or choosing a financial advisor.
Going through a divorce is never fun. Not for you, and definitely not for your children (if you have them.) The results of a heated, adversarial divorce can be catastrophic – both financially and emotionally for you. And a truly vitriolic divorce can put your children into therapy for many years to come.
If you’re among the many recent college graduates, you’re likely thinking about your future. You may even have a pretty impressive list of things you plan to do, like buying a car, taking a fabulous trip abroad or buying your first house. Your list may include dozens of adventures and treats, as reward for excelling …
Read more4 Financial Tips for College Graduates to Ensure a Strong Financial Future
Comprehensive financial planning involves the detailed review and analysis of all facets of your financial situation. This includes areas such as cash flow analysis, retirement planning, risk management, investment management, tax management and estate planning. It is only through comprehensive analysis that your true financial condition can be determined and the proper plan can be recommended.
Reverse mortgages are a relatively new product to the financial industry. The concept of a reverse mortgage can be very beneficial especially for seniors who have run out of assets to draw from to maintain their standard of living. In simple terms, a reverse mortgage allows a borrower to cash out a certain amount of money from the equity in their home to use as they wish.
Downsizing your living arrangements has become a popular topic in the financial community and rightly so. There are many financial benefits to downsizing your home such as reduced expenses and increased cash flow. Pair those with other lifestyle benefits like freedom and flexibility to do the things you always have wanted to do, and the argument for downsizing becomes more prominent.
When you ask people what are the largest financial transactions they will make in their lives, the most common answers are a home, college tuition or saving for retirement. For about half the population, these answers are correct. But for the other half, couples who are contemplating divorce, the largest financial transaction, without question, is their divorce. If you happen to be one of these people, be aware that there are many financial pitfalls in divorce that if you avoid, can result in both you and your soon to be ex getting a better financial settlement.