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Type of Insurance

Life Insurance Video Series

MICHELLE SMALENBERGER, CFP® I’d like to talk about one area of financial planning that seems to be misunderstood. Or maybe there’s just a lack of knowledge about this topic, and that’s insurance. When you’re considering getting any type of insurance, you the insured are looking to transfer the risk to someone else. So really what’s…

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How many years will I have Insurance?

[Video] When Do I Need To Have Life Insurance?
Insurance Part 4

MICHELLE SMALENBERGER, CFP® The last part I really want to talk you through is the term, or how long we typically have life insurance. When you’re buying a policy, especially maybe this private policy, it may be that you have it for 5 to 10 years, or 20 to 30 years. And really, the purpose…

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Employer vs Private Insurance

[Video] What are the Sources of Life Insurance?
Insurance Part 3

MICHELLE SMALENBERGER, CFP® So now that we know the amount of life insurance that we agree that we need, we really want to look to where the sources of that insurance are going to be. It’s very common that someone who works for an employer or for a company may get a benefit that’s just…

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How much Life Insurance do I need?

[Video] How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?
Insurance Part 2

MICHELLE SMALENBERGER, CFP® One area of insurance that I think is hard to define a value for is life insurance. So, I really want to dig into that a little bit to help you come up with or to make a little simpler that process of what is the amount of life insurance that I…

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Alternatives Performance - 5

Alternatives Are Not Just
Miscellaneous Investments

MICHELLE SMALENBERGER, CFP® With this week’s events we are reminded again that it is important to pay attention to every investment in our portfolio, not just the current winners that are outperforming. The market just absorbed the 4th Fed rate hike announced on Wednesday.  We got another quarter point increase in interest rates by the…

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What is the Purpose of Insurance?

[Video] What is the Purpose of Insurance?
Insurance Part 1

MICHELLE SMALENBERGER, CFP® I’d like to talk about one area of financial planning that seems to be misunderstood. Or maybe there’s just a lack of knowledge about this topic, and that’s insurance. When you’re considering getting any type of insurance, you the insured are looking to transfer the risk to someone else. So really what’s…

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Financial Friday

Friday’s Financial Update 6-9-2017

MICHELLE SMALENBERGER, CFP® A week of distraction can leave you questioning future direction.  Let’s sum up this week for what it means to us. Much of this week’s news regarded events that happened later in the week.  Thursday we heard the testimony of Ex-FBI Director James Comey, which consumed most of the media.  With much…

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One Size Fits All

[Video] One Size Fits All

MICHELLE SMALENBERGER CFP®  How many things can you think of that are one size fits all? There really aren’t too many. This is true when you’re making financial choices too. I want to talk through a couple of examples of topics that are common questions we get a lot. First let’ talk through saving for…

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[Video] What Is A Diversified Portfolio?

MICHELLE SMALENBERGER CFP®  In many of our Friday Financial Updates, I keep referring to keeping a diversified portfolio strategy, even in light of what’s happening in the markets. So today I want to take some time to really dig in to what that means. What is involved in creating a portfolio, and why being diversified…

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How Long Should I Keep My Tax Documents?

[Video] How Long Should I Keep My Tax Returns & Documents?

STEPHEN SMALENBERGER, EA How Long Should I Keep My Tax Returns & Documents? The question I hear a lot, especially this time of year, is how long should I hang on to my tax returns, tax documents like W-2s and 1099s? Essentially, as long as the Statute of Limitations is in effect. Statute of Limitations…

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Financial Friday

Friday’s Financial Update 5-26-2017

MICHELLE SMALENBERGER, CFP® As we near the end of May the old theory of “Sell in May and Go Away” has been on everyone’s mind.  Some may have decided to stick it out and sell at month-end and some may have sold earlier in the month.  However, this year may not prove the best to…

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Teachable Moments

[Video] Having Teaching Moments With Your Kids About Money

STEPHEN SMALENBERGER, EA Having Teachable Moments With Your Kids About Money Earlier this year my wife and I were able to take our daughter to Disney world. And about that same time my mom pulled out my old bank. And it was through those lessons, through seeing Disney, through seeing mickey and her princesses that…

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