My husband was up to something. He was pounding away at the computer and printing like a madman. When I didn’t hear the whir of the printer, there was the distinct sound of the three-hole punch chewing its way through paper. “I’m working on something,” is all he would say. It seemed to excite him, this project. I wondered what it was. When “it” appeared, it wasn’t impressive looking. It was a plain white three-ring binder. “Open it,” is all he said, smiling. I wondered if it was something romantic. I didn't figure him as a poet; could I have missed that after all these years of marriage? He was beaming like a cat that just dragged home a bird carcass as an affectionate offering. “What is it?” I asked. “The Death Book.” For some strange reason, he was still smiling. “In case something should happen to me, this book will tell you where everything is, who you need to contact…” he continued on, but I wasn’t listening any longer. I recoiled from this stark white book Read on...
Why the “F” Word is so important for Women Investors
Ladies, it’s time to take charge of your money. You know you need to; you know you want to. So what’s holding you back? According to a 2015 Money Fit Women Study conducted by Fidelity Investments, 92% of women want to learn more about financial planning, and yet only 47% feel comfortable discussing money with a planner on their own. What is the cause for this insecurity? Trust. They don't trust their own knowledge and they are not sure what professional they can trust. Here’s the “F” word that can change all that: fiduciary. Here’s another “F” word – fee-only. Put them together and you have someone who is looking out for your best interests (fiduciary), who will only receive compensation from you, their client, and not from mutual fund companies, insurance companies, and other financial institutions for selling products. This keeps their advice conflict-free, since the only criteria for investment selection is what is in your best interest (as opposed to which investment Read on...
When the Meter is Running Out on College Planning
Your child is just a few years away from going to college, and the acid in your stomach is churning. You worry if you will have enough; you're mad that you didn't focus on this sooner. Desperation is a dangerous thing. It can cause reckless behavior -- a gambler's mentality of, "Let's try and hit it big!" Of course, anything that can rocket can plummet; that's the way it is with investing. When any goal is short-term (5 years or less), the money needs to remain "safe". You can't afford to lose it now. So, what can you do? First, understand that you still have time to position yourself in a more favorable light to receive financial aid. Colleges start looking at your finances from January of your child's junior year to December of your child's senior year (the look back period -- "LBP"). Effective 2017, they are changing this period to the "Prior, Prior Year" ("PPY"); meaning your finances will come under scrutiny from January 1 of the child's high school sophomore year to Read on...
Ignorance is Bliss … for Your Sales Guy
Before my children understood what a lollipop was, it was very easy to swap it out with an apple slice. I was looking after their best interests, after all. But what if I wasn’t a concerned mother? What if I were a manipulative saleswoman needing to hit a certain commission level on apples that month to stay employed; or worse, to win a crystal paperweight and bragging rights among my very competitive colleagues? My example may seem strange, but if we apply this to personal finance, and not apples, the sad truth is this is how the brokerage world operates; and it may as well be rotten apples they are selling. Perpetuating confusion is easy when you have created your own terminology. Most adults feel very childlike in the presence of polished and seasoned salespersons who throw around terms that are never explained. It is not uncommon for investors to sign on the dotted line, heads bobbing while thinking, “How embarrassing! I feel so stupid. How do I not understand this?” The Read on...