Finances & Your Family

Financial Design Studio Cash Flow

[Video] Cash Flow: Merging Accounts Together

STEPHEN & MICHELLE SMALENBERGER, EA & CFP ® We’ve found four to five common hesitations that people have about merging their finances together related to cash flow. Common Hesitations: Loss of control:  It’s not just my money that I can decide where to spend.  We are both contributing to our income and we need to…

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FDS Merry Christmas

[Video] Merry Christmas

[Video] Merry Christmas STEPHEN & MICHELLE SMALENBERGER, EA & CFP ® We are having a Christmas Tree Drawing Contest!  You can vote for who you think draws the best tree. As we think about Christmas we are reminded it’s not just about gifts.  Even something just as silly as our tree drawing contest these holidays…

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Financial Design Studio Thanksgiving

[Video] A Thanksgiving Greeting

STEPHEN & MICHELLE SMALENBERGER, CFP ® Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 from Michelle and Steve! Were there big changes in your life this year? Let’s sit back and reflect on all to be thankful for this holiday!

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Financial Design Studio Understanding Stock Gifts

[Video] Understanding Stock Gifts

MICHELLE SMALENBERGER, CFP ® Let’s take some time to talk about the behind-the-scenes of stock gifts.  This is when you are giving stock you own to charities or not-for-profit organizations.  That’s exactly what is happening you give them shares of stock because you want to give them money. One benefit to you is that you…

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| Fee-Only Financial Advisor, Deer Park, Chicago, IL FDS Financial Professionals

[Video] Small Business Retirement Plan Options: 401(k)

STEPHEN SMALENBERGER, EA ® We have already talked about setting up a retirement plan for a company that’s not incorporated.  What if your company is incorporated? What options are available now with a 401(k) and what’s different? With an S-Corp you’re required to pay yourself a reasonable salary. This just means that out of your…

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Financial Design Studio Move Forward

[Video] Stepping Back to Move Forward

MICHELLE SMALENBERGER, CFA ® This summer our daughter started swimming lessons outside again and we were reminded of the progress she had made the year before.  The first week into her second year we noticed it was a little bit tough and she was starting to doubt herself. We just realized that sometimes you make…

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