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[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…
[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…
[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…
[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…
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…
[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…
Friday’s Financial Update 5-19-2017
MICHELLE SMALENBERGER, CFP® Early in the week we saw continued growth in U.S. stocks even amidst news reports from the prior weekend that started getting louder regarding political turmoil. The biggest story for the week was Wednesday with a pull back like we haven’t seen in a while. This did create a buying opportunity that…
Estate Planning Documents: What are they?
Michelle Smalenberger, CFP® Do not hesitate to have your estate plan created! Your family is depending on it. Even a single individual or married couple with no children or assets should have an estate plan so they choose who will make their healthcare and financial decisions. Will: A legal document that allows your assets to…
Friday’s Financial Update 5-12-2017
WRITTEN BY: MICHELLE SMALENBERGER, CFP ® Welcome to the weekend when we can look back to review and look forward to refresh! With a week full of news that was exactly that, I thought it would be beneficial to review some leading economic indicators and how they help us look beyond the steering wheel for…
Friday’s Financial Update 5-5-2017
Written By: Michelle Smalenberger, CFP ® This week brought news headlines from a variety of sources that affect investors here and around the world. Let’s highlight some of the biggest stories to catch you up! Economic: Reported this morning was a drop in unemployment and a higher than expected increase in jobs added. Increases of…
Don’t Let Decision Fatigue Halt Your Financial Progress
Written By: Michelle Smalenberger, CFP ® What is it you need to do before you get your personal finances in order? Recently I came across this article in which the author talks about the amount of energy it takes to make a decision. He goes on to point out numerous examples to demonstrate this point…
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…