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 Read on...
Learn the Game Before You Get Played
When Tony and I started our registered investment advisory firm back in 2002, we had a clear idea of who would be walking through the door. There was no shortage of former amateur day-traders with the powder burns from the technology stock blow-up still on their hands. Certainly that's who would come piling through our door. Boy, were we wrong. The vast majority of people with investing horror stories came to us from the hands of "investment professionals." People who should have known 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” 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 Read on...