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The Funny Thing About Diversifying

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

Diversification is a time-tested way for investors to manage the inherent risks of investing by owning lots of different kinds of assets. Diversification, by its nature,  always gives us something to celebrate and also apologize for. And while the process of diversification can take many forms, it often looks like this example: owning 60% of a portfolio in stocks and …

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Is True Financial Independence Even Possible?

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

‘Financial Independence’ is a wonderful goal, a beautiful aspiration, a worthy pursuit. But it’s impossible. If true financial independence is the point at which we have enough money to be free from needing to serve or be served by other people, then we’ve missed the point entirely. If we look at a pile of wealth – money, property, possessions – …

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Heading Toward the Financial Finish Line

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

The Boston Marathon is an event where otherwise normal people travel great distances, at great expense, to punish themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally for 26.2 uninterrupted miles, sometimes in the rain. The very nature of a marathon race really does beg the question, “Why?” In fact, I asked a marathon runner this question years ago, “Why would you choose to …

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“So, are we doing better or worse than your other clients?”

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

This question came up recently, and it comes up often. Don’t you secretly want to know if you’ve saved more than your friends or if your income is higher? It’s easy to tell if your house is bigger or if your car is more expensive. But when it comes to retirement planning, we’d all like to know how well we’re …

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2023 Fall Newsletter: Salt Lake City

In Newsletters, Newsletters: Salt Lake City Office, Newsletters: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

Change is in the air. I’m not just talking about the leaves changing colors and the temperatures cooling. Change seems to be our theme over the past few months. As many of you know, Elevated Retirement Group will be moving to a new location this Fall. ERG continues to grow, and with that growth comes the need for more space …

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Can You See the Storm Coming?

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

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 to be much …

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Back to the Basics: When Should We Claim Social Security Benefits?

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office, Back to the Basics, Fall 2023, SLC Fall 2023 by Scott Dougan

When approaching retirement, one of the big questions you may be considering is when to file for Social Security benefits. Because most people can claim and receive benefits as early as age 62, but each year that you wait earns a bump in pay for the rest of your life, the decision can be confusing and anxiety-inducing. And while it’s …

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Briefcase Study: The Cash and Happiness Relationship

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office, Briefcase Studies, Fall 2023, SLC Fall 2023 by Scott Dougan

The Cash and Happiness Relationship With the dramatic change in interest rates this year, a lot of people are rethinking how much cash is appropriate in a financial plan. And while the answer depends on goals, resources available for short or long-term needs, and personal preference, this reminds us of the big question people continue to ponder: “Does money buy …

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2023 Fall Newsletter: Kansas City

In Newsletters, Newsletters: Kansas City Office, Newsletters: Kansas City Office by Scott Dougan

If we had to choose the 2023 word of the year, I think we might need to make it two words: interest rates. How many conversations have each of us had this year that included a reference to interest rates in one form or another? How we got here is a fun discussion that often involves comments like, “Back when …