Retiring At A Time Like This?
Anytime a person utters the phrase, “This time it’s different” I get a little skeptical. I’ll bet you do too. It seems that being alive for at least a few decades leads us to believe that we’ve seen it all before, there’s nothing new under the sun. This is likely why kids are so fun to be around, because it’s …
Rent A Dumpster, Change Your Life
A good friend woke up one day with the fire in his belly to get his financial life moving forward in a big way. Paying off old debts, setting aside savings, and making some tax-wise moves hit his radar screen in a big way. He was, and is, urgent about it. I couldn’t be happier for him and his young …
Back To Normal. Right?
Have you ever known a couple who breaks up after a long relationship, then reconciles again? It’s a huge sigh of relief for all of those who know them because, after all, they’re meant to be together. And while this looks and feels great from the outside, it’s complicated for the couple. They now appreciate one another more than ever, …
Income Backwardization
As I’ll often do, I recently carved out time to review the latest in retirement income planning research (Some people golf, others travel, this is what I do for fun!). In my quest, I stumbled upon a summary titled, ‘39 Modern Retirement Income Planning Techniques’ by Wade Pfau. Since this is so fascinating to me, I thought I’d fully explain …
Report: Making a Difference – Surprise Video Message
Making A Difference Surprise Video Message Dear Friends, We hope you are all well and safe. During this troubling time, it’s nice to know the little things are appreciated and do make a difference. We received this surprise video message from Make-A-Wish and we wanted to share it with you. So many of you have donated time and or money …
Forecasting the Weather and Pending Economic Collapse
Imagine for a moment that you’re tasked with instructing others how to select a wardrobe. Given the regularity of the seasons, you could do pretty well suggesting a mix of warm clothes for winter and cool clothes for summer. However, naming the exact day when a 70-degree day interrupts the 40-degree days of early spring would prove very difficult. If …
Breakthrough in a Box
When an Amazon box arrives at the front door, it’s an exciting moment. Is it…for me? Boy, I sure hope so (having forgotten what I may have ordered in the first place). Generally, the thing in that box is the result of a decision process that was either minutes long or one that took months of research. Either way, taking …
Employee Spotlight: Brook Chavers
Brook Chavers, Client Services Associate Brooke moved to Kansas City to study music and literature at the University of Missouri – Kansas City. She is a St. Louis native and visits home often to attend baseball games with her family, at Busch Stadium. Her favorite thing about Kansas City is its rich artistic culture. She enjoys going to the symphony …
Back to the Basics: The Great Decluttering
For everything there is a season. For many of you, it’s time to declutter. Nobody is forcing you to declutter, but you’re probably feeling that desire on some level. Sitting in your home due to quarantine, there’s never been a better time! Looking back, we spent an entire childhood wishing for more things like bikes, games, our own room. Then …
Briefcase Study: What Is Your First Memory Of Money?
What Is Your First Memory Of Money? A few years ago, I was talking with a man who was contemplating retirement. He and his wife had worked very hard for a long time and had accumulated considerable assets and carried no debt. As we ran and re-ran the numbers, tweaking and questioning all assumptions and variables, he continued to struggle …
