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Navigating College Savings Accounts: What You Should Know
In this guide, we'll explore four key types of college savings accounts - UTMA accounts, 529 College Savings Plans, Coverdell ESAs, and Roth IRAs for minors - to help you…By: Crystal Rau | Education, Financial Planning
Financial Planning Considerations for Single Individuals
If you are single (or recently single) in your prime earning years, you have planning needs that will differ from the needs of a married couple, especially if children or dependents are involved.…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
Retiring in Uncertain Times – The Do’s and Don’ts
The coronavirus, bear market, and recession struck the retirement dreams of millions of Americans like uncharted rocks in a turbulent sea. With no warning, strategies built on a decade of…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
Is a Roth Conversion Right for Me? And When You Should Consider
A Roth conversion is a strategy that we implement with our clients when the markets are down, or when we project future tax savings on a conversion. Today’s blog post…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning, Taxes
How Do I Choose a Financial Advisor?
You started on this journey of looking for a financial advisor – you know, to help make sure you’re on track, get your finances in order, and help you choose…By: Crystal Rau | Education, Financial Planning, Investing
Should I Invest or Pay Down Debt? How to Choose …
Should you invest in the stock market or pay down debt? This is a question I get all too often and the answer is usually, it depends. Things to Consider…By: Crystal Rau | Debt Management, Investing
How to Start Investing: A Beginner Guide
You’ve mastered balancing your budget, established a strategy for paying off debts, and you’ve accumulated a sizeable emergency fund – it’s time to think about investing. Investing in the stock…By: Crystal Rau | Investing
Preparing for Tax Time as a Small Business Owner
March 15th, 2021 is the deadline for those that have an S Corporation election (Form 1120S) or those filing a Partnership return (Form 1065). For everyone else, April 15th is…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning, Taxes
What’s Your Money Story? Do You Avoid or Perhaps Worship?
In our modern world, money is a necessity. We simply cannot avoid it as we need it to function in our everyday lives. So when it comes to our relationship…By: Crystal Rau | Behavioral Finance
4 Reasons You Should Start a 401(k) in January
If you are a business owner, chances are you’ve wondered whether starting a retirement plan would be beneficial for you. Not only does it allow you to save more than…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
What do I do with my money during the coronavirus outbreak?
The coronavirus pandemic has thrown our life out of order, brought instability to our economy, and has caused a low rumbling of uncertainty below our feet as we try to…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
How Much Do I Need to Retire? 3 Rules of Thumb
It’s a common question: “How Much Do I Need to Retire?” It’s one of those questions that we know is surrounded by vagueness and uncertainty but we still continue to…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
What’s New in 2020? Contribution and Income Limits
Every year or so, the IRS looks at retirement savings programs and adjusts cost-of-living estimates based on their review. For 2020, they decided to increase contribution limits for 401(k) and…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
Mindfully Making Better Financial Decisions
One of my favorite books is Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow. He explains that we have two systems of thinking. “System 1” is fast and comes from an emotional response.…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
3 Money Moves to Gain Clarity Right Now
I recently finished reading The Next Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley and Sarah Stanley Fallaw and found the following quite interesting: WANTED: Household CFO Description: The role of Household CFO is…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
Getting Financial Help When Your Spouse Objects
You’ve read several financial blogs, personal finance books, and listened to all the money podcasts you can find. You’re motivated and you’ve been working hard to improve your money skills.…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
Super-Charge Your Retirement Savings
This amazing retirement account is technically not a retirement account. If you take advantage, however, it can be one of the best places to put your money when saving, especially…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
Roth Conversions Can Add Great Value, If Done the Right Way
With the lowering of marginal income tax rates, the new tax law is actually reducing the cost for investors who decide to convert traditional IRA assets to a Roth IRA.…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
Do Medical Bills Hurt My Credit Score?
A car accident, a broken bone, a sick child . . . many things can land us in the hospital which can throw a wrench in your other plans. Requiring…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
5 Signs You Have an Unhealthy Relationship with Money
Regardless of whether you have a high salary or you’re killin’ it paying all your bills on time, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a healthy relationship with your…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
Tricking Your Brain To Save More Money Over Time
We know we’re supposed to save for specific financial goals and for the general future, however, it’s not always easy sticking to our goals. Why do we aspire for all…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
Retirement Planning for Small Businesses
If you are a small business owner, typically you’re running around trying to keep up with all the other things, and not thinking about retirement. That’s why it’s no surprise…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
A Powerful Savings Tool for Working Teens
As a teenager, I always kept myself busy during the summers with a job. Living overseas I taught English, I was a lifeguard, I taught swim lessons, and I even…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
Our Thoughts on the Current Market, June 29, 2018
After years of a significant run-up in the markets, 2018 has been full of volatility. Maybe these trade wars are for real, maybe it’s the tension in the oil markets,…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
Financial “Rules-of-Thumb” They Don’t Teach In School
Our lives are filled with financial decisions ranging from how much to take out in student loans to what we should spend when buying our first car or home. It…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
Money Topics Couples Should Agree On
I get it … the topic of money is not always the most pleasant conversation to have with your significant other. It’s an emotionally-driven subject with lots of complexities. However,…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
Find Yourself Sitting On A Lot of Cash?
Cash is king, so we hear, and if you’ve been stockpiling cash over the last few months – you’re not alone! From the beginning of 2018, we watched an already…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
How to Know if a Roth IRA Right For You?
The more cash you are able during to save during your working years, the more likely you will be able to achieve the retirement you have always envisioned! That is why…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
Why Estate Planning Is Not Just For The Elderly
My brother, a recently retired Naval Senior Chief Petty Officer, passed away from malignant melanoma this past February. He was only 43. He had spent 21 years of his life…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
6 Ways A Financial Advisor Can Add Value
First of all, I would like to preface this with the fact that not all advisors are equal. You have those out there that call themselves financial advisors but really may only…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
Choosing The Right Investments For Your IRA
You’re saving in your IRA. First of all, congrats! That’s a great accomplishment on its own as you’re putting your money away in a tax-deferred account, or in the case…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
What Do I Do With My Old 401(k) Plan? Here Are the Options.
As you say goodbye to your old employer, you’re probably experiencing a variety of emotions. There’s a sense of excitement for what’s to come but perhaps some nervousness too. You’re…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
How Much You Really SHOULD Have Saved By Now
You hear a ton of advice about how much you SHOULD be saving, and where to save, but how do you know whether you’re on track especially if you got…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
How to Easily Simplify Your Finances
I love simplicity! Anything I can do to improve processes, reduce errors, and just make my life easier, then I’m on board. This is probably why I put my household chores…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
Find Your Joy – Financial Independence
In our amazing country, we have a set of norms that encourage us to go to school, get a good job, get married, take out a mortgage, have 2 1/2…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
What the Financial Planning Process Looks Like
When I tell people that I am a financial planner, they typically understand the idea of what a financial planner does but a follow-up question usually ensues. “What does that…By: Crystal Rau | Financial Planning
Navigating College Savings Accounts: What You Should Know
In this guide, we'll explore four key types of college savings accounts - UTMA accounts, 529 College Savings Plans, Coverdell ESAs, and Roth IRAs for minors - to help you…By: | Education, Financial Planning
Financial Planning Considerations for Single Individuals
If you are single (or recently single) in your prime earning years, you have planning needs that will differ from the needs of a married couple, especially if children or dependents are involved.…By: | Financial Planning
Retiring in Uncertain Times – The Do’s and Don’ts
The coronavirus, bear market, and recession struck the retirement dreams of millions of Americans like uncharted rocks in a turbulent sea. With no warning, strategies built on a decade of…By: | Financial Planning
Is a Roth Conversion Right for Me? And When You Should Consider
A Roth conversion is a strategy that we implement with our clients when the markets are down, or when we project future tax savings on a conversion. Today’s blog post…By: | Financial Planning, Taxes
How Do I Choose a Financial Advisor?
You started on this journey of looking for a financial advisor – you know, to help make sure you’re on track, get your finances in order, and help you choose…By: | Education, Financial Planning, Investing
Should I Invest or Pay Down Debt? How to Choose …
Should you invest in the stock market or pay down debt? This is a question I get all too often and the answer is usually, it depends. Things to Consider…By: | Debt Management, Investing
How to Start Investing: A Beginner Guide
You’ve mastered balancing your budget, established a strategy for paying off debts, and you’ve accumulated a sizeable emergency fund – it’s time to think about investing. Investing in the stock…By: | Investing
Preparing for Tax Time as a Small Business Owner
March 15th, 2021 is the deadline for those that have an S Corporation election (Form 1120S) or those filing a Partnership return (Form 1065). For everyone else, April 15th is…By: | Financial Planning, Taxes
What’s Your Money Story? Do You Avoid or Perhaps Worship?
In our modern world, money is a necessity. We simply cannot avoid it as we need it to function in our everyday lives. So when it comes to our relationship…By: | Behavioral Finance
4 Reasons You Should Start a 401(k) in January
If you are a business owner, chances are you’ve wondered whether starting a retirement plan would be beneficial for you. Not only does it allow you to save more than…By: | Financial Planning
What do I do with my money during the coronavirus outbreak?
The coronavirus pandemic has thrown our life out of order, brought instability to our economy, and has caused a low rumbling of uncertainty below our feet as we try to…By: | Financial Planning
How Much Do I Need to Retire? 3 Rules of Thumb
It’s a common question: “How Much Do I Need to Retire?” It’s one of those questions that we know is surrounded by vagueness and uncertainty but we still continue to…By: | Financial Planning
What’s New in 2020? Contribution and Income Limits
Every year or so, the IRS looks at retirement savings programs and adjusts cost-of-living estimates based on their review. For 2020, they decided to increase contribution limits for 401(k) and…By: | Financial Planning
Mindfully Making Better Financial Decisions
One of my favorite books is Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow. He explains that we have two systems of thinking. “System 1” is fast and comes from an emotional response.…By: | Financial Planning
3 Money Moves to Gain Clarity Right Now
I recently finished reading The Next Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley and Sarah Stanley Fallaw and found the following quite interesting: WANTED: Household CFO Description: The role of Household CFO is…By: | Financial Planning
Getting Financial Help When Your Spouse Objects
You’ve read several financial blogs, personal finance books, and listened to all the money podcasts you can find. You’re motivated and you’ve been working hard to improve your money skills.…By: | Financial Planning
Super-Charge Your Retirement Savings
This amazing retirement account is technically not a retirement account. If you take advantage, however, it can be one of the best places to put your money when saving, especially…By: | Financial Planning
Roth Conversions Can Add Great Value, If Done the Right Way
With the lowering of marginal income tax rates, the new tax law is actually reducing the cost for investors who decide to convert traditional IRA assets to a Roth IRA.…By: | Financial Planning
Do Medical Bills Hurt My Credit Score?
A car accident, a broken bone, a sick child . . . many things can land us in the hospital which can throw a wrench in your other plans. Requiring…By: | Financial Planning
5 Signs You Have an Unhealthy Relationship with Money
Regardless of whether you have a high salary or you’re killin’ it paying all your bills on time, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a healthy relationship with your…By: | Financial Planning
Tricking Your Brain To Save More Money Over Time
We know we’re supposed to save for specific financial goals and for the general future, however, it’s not always easy sticking to our goals. Why do we aspire for all…By: | Financial Planning
Retirement Planning for Small Businesses
If you are a small business owner, typically you’re running around trying to keep up with all the other things, and not thinking about retirement. That’s why it’s no surprise…By: | Financial Planning
A Powerful Savings Tool for Working Teens
As a teenager, I always kept myself busy during the summers with a job. Living overseas I taught English, I was a lifeguard, I taught swim lessons, and I even…By: | Financial Planning
Our Thoughts on the Current Market, June 29, 2018
After years of a significant run-up in the markets, 2018 has been full of volatility. Maybe these trade wars are for real, maybe it’s the tension in the oil markets,…By: | Financial Planning
Financial “Rules-of-Thumb” They Don’t Teach In School
Our lives are filled with financial decisions ranging from how much to take out in student loans to what we should spend when buying our first car or home. It…By: | Financial Planning
Money Topics Couples Should Agree On
I get it … the topic of money is not always the most pleasant conversation to have with your significant other. It’s an emotionally-driven subject with lots of complexities. However,…By: | Financial Planning
Find Yourself Sitting On A Lot of Cash?
Cash is king, so we hear, and if you’ve been stockpiling cash over the last few months – you’re not alone! From the beginning of 2018, we watched an already…By: | Financial Planning
How to Know if a Roth IRA Right For You?
The more cash you are able during to save during your working years, the more likely you will be able to achieve the retirement you have always envisioned! That is why…By: | Financial Planning
Why Estate Planning Is Not Just For The Elderly
My brother, a recently retired Naval Senior Chief Petty Officer, passed away from malignant melanoma this past February. He was only 43. He had spent 21 years of his life…By: | Financial Planning
6 Ways A Financial Advisor Can Add Value
First of all, I would like to preface this with the fact that not all advisors are equal. You have those out there that call themselves financial advisors but really may only…By: | Financial Planning
Choosing The Right Investments For Your IRA
You’re saving in your IRA. First of all, congrats! That’s a great accomplishment on its own as you’re putting your money away in a tax-deferred account, or in the case…By: | Financial Planning
What Do I Do With My Old 401(k) Plan? Here Are the Options.
As you say goodbye to your old employer, you’re probably experiencing a variety of emotions. There’s a sense of excitement for what’s to come but perhaps some nervousness too. You’re…By: | Financial Planning
How Much You Really SHOULD Have Saved By Now
You hear a ton of advice about how much you SHOULD be saving, and where to save, but how do you know whether you’re on track especially if you got…By: | Financial Planning
How to Easily Simplify Your Finances
I love simplicity! Anything I can do to improve processes, reduce errors, and just make my life easier, then I’m on board. This is probably why I put my household chores…By: | Financial Planning
Find Your Joy – Financial Independence
In our amazing country, we have a set of norms that encourage us to go to school, get a good job, get married, take out a mortgage, have 2 1/2…By: | Financial Planning
What the Financial Planning Process Looks Like
When I tell people that I am a financial planner, they typically understand the idea of what a financial planner does but a follow-up question usually ensues. “What does that…By: | Financial Planning
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