Last week was a reminder of the value of diversification. A bank that focused on a niche portion of the economy succumbed to “unexpected” events. The fallout took down the investors, but not the depositors. This is a serious issue for those directly impacted and a...
Success in retirement requires maintaining the standard of living you are accustomed to living as long as you are alive. Granted, that standard will change as you age, but the trick is maintaining the opportunity for making financial decisions at retirement age with...
Relationships exist between two or more people, but we also develop relationships with things. My wife would suggest I have a tumultuous relationship with my golf game. Others may find themselves in relationships with investments statements. How we mentally frame and...
In recent days, Congress passed a $1.7 trillion spending bill. Like most spending bills that are passed, many things are put into the bill that no one can decipher. However, within the spending bill the SECURE Act 2.0 was passed, allowing eligible families with 529...
Starting over and beginning again contain similarities in nature, but they are different. Starting over is when we recognize we could have done things differently in previous years and are looking to improve our focus in the upcoming year. Beginning again is...
In 2004, a Harvard Business Review article argued that ambidextrous leadership was crucial to long-term business success. Ambidextrous was defined as a business that exploited existing market opportunities, displayed operational excellence, and mandated executional...
Is it just me or does “crypto” anything remind you of a funeral? Cryptocurrency derives its name because it uses encryption to verify transactions. Per Wikipedia: “A cryptocurrency, crypto-currency, or crypto is a digital currency designed to work as a medium of...
My body weight varies daily by small percentages, but over time the change can be substantial. Because, as a human, I am fixated on the reason why something happened, I blame or credit the result on nutrition, exercise, and various other conditions. The only thing I...
Rarely do we question what might be wrong when things appear to be working. The inverse is also true: we seldom ask what works when things appear in disarray. This column will be a two-part article addressing investment tools of the trade and then techniques for how...
Confidence comes from a belief in understanding a situation, even if the conclusion or “reason why” is inaccurate. Placing a name to the culprit or the potential cause of a condition generates more ease internally. It’s inflation, consumer debt, student loans, energy...
When would you want to know if you were heading on a road trip and something ahead created a challenge? Your answer likely depends upon the severity of the issue and the potential alternatives. What about significant issues at the moment that will be resolved by the...
Getting understanding and clarification from the deceased is somewhat tricky. For more than 25 years, I have been involved in many estate planning situations with varying outcomes. Inevitably, “peaceful and easy” situations shared two common denominators:...
The Certified Financial Planner certification (CFP®) is a formal recognition of expertise in the areas of financial planning, taxes, insurance, estate planning, and retirement. The Financial Enhancement Group is honored to announce that Daren Hardesty, Senior Advisor,...
The US legislature is required to raise revenue for bridges, armies, and social safety nets. The budget changes and the need for more income seem obvious. The tax code creates a rule book attempting to uncover the necessary revenue to run our country. Bear in mind...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment, we will cover: Is higher inflation a cause for concern? Unfortunately, inflation impacts your retirement dreams. Inflation is like high blood pressure; whether you know you have it or not, it can still...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment, we will cover: Creating your Letter of Intention - Legacy Planning and Estate Planning It is difficult to speak when you are no longer here. A letter of intention gives your family the easiest opportunity...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment, we will cover Life Insurance Basics: What you need to know. Is your life insurance policy current? They call it permanent insurance because you are supposed to die with it; however, the average person ends...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. Do your Retirement accounts need to be rebalanced? Rebalancing retirement accounts means selling from what did well and purchasing what did poorly the quarter before. We will discuss if you should and how to go about it in...
“Everyone pays the price. Either you pay the price of discipline today or the price of regret later on.” That was one of the first business quotations I took to heart years ago and came from the legendary Zig Ziglar. The concept is true in saving money today versus...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment, we will cover: There are several ways to get to Florida, but you can’t switch along the way! The goal is to get where you want to go, but there WILL be interruptions along the way, and we need to plan for...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment, we will cover: Moving money from a 401K into an IRA makes sense, but sometimes you have to reverse your decision. Your Retirement Playbook” is an educational program designed to help listeners better...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment, we will cover: 72(t) allows you to get money out of an IRA before you turn 59.5, but it comes with serious stipulations and consequences; proceed with caution!! Your Retirement Playbook” is an educational...
Investments have varying characteristics. The most essential issues are volatility, taxation, and liquidity. Occasionally, assets have to be divided amongst children and spouses in the case of divorce. Picking and choosing assets to be exchanged or delivered to a...
The stock exchanges report the price that a willing buyer and willing seller agree upon for a share of a publicly traded stock. In most cases, the buyer and the seller are unaware of each other's identities, and the desire to buy or sell can stem from many scenarios....
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment, we will cover: We think things are crucial to consider in your financial journey. You get one shot at retirement, and we are here to help you reduce financial regrets. Your Retirement Playbook” is an...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment, we will cover: In this segment of Your Retirement Playbook, we will discuss how to use and gift your money in the best way. We want to help you be a better giver, not a bigger giver. Your Retirement...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment, we will cover: What does it look like when you begin to transfer from your working life to your life after work? You need to plan for how your taxes change and how you can be proactive. Your Retirement...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment, we will cover: You have done a great job saving for your life after work, but what happens when it is time to take money out of your accounts? Your Retirement Playbook” is an educational program designed...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment, we will cover: We have Your Retirement Playbook program to help people reduce financial regrets, and in this episode, we will talk about four things you need on your radar right now. Your Retirement...
Character trust and competency trust are separate issues. Character trust is derived from believing a person has your best interest at heart and liking them. Competency trust exists when you believe they can do the task expected and required to meet stated objectives....
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment we will cover: On this segment of Your Retirement Playbook, we will explore a cautionary inheritance tale so that you don't make the same mistake! Your Retirement Playbook” is an educational program...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment we will cover: When you have an extra dollar, where should you put it? Do you have a checklist or process on how to make that decision? Join us as we break it down! Your Retirement Playbook” is an...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment we will cover: The art of childhood is knowing what to tell your parents and when! Join us on "Your Retirement Playbook" as we discuss what to think about when you are getting an inheritance and why you...
Separating from the workforce and living off your accumulated savings requires an organized and dedicated strategy. The new life of distributing your assets generates natural emotional responses. You have diligently saved and accumulated savings for the last 30-40...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment we will cover: What can possibly go wrong?! The things that happen on your financial journey are similar to the struggles you will face in golf. Let's talk about your financial hazards. Your Retirement...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment we will cover: What economic condition are we in today? Sure, the economic condition matters to help you decide what you need to do next in your financial planning, but what do I need to take into...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment we will cover: How do you know where "A" dollars and "B" should be invested? When faced with a buffet of options, which one should you choose first? In this segment of Your Retirement Playbook, we will...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment we will cover: Golf is a lot like financial planning. Life is a series of decisions based on shots in the current conditions. Financial planning is a series of decisions based on shots and conditions. Golf...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment we will cover: Should you use additional income streams like social security, home equity, or sell other assets to provide income in uncertain times? We break it down on Your Retirement Playbook. Your...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment we will cover: How will drawdown impact your chances for success in retirement? You need to hear this episode of Your Retirement Playbook! Your Retirement Playbook” is an educational program designed to...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment we will cover: How will drawdown impact your chances for success in retirement? You need to hear this episode of Your Retirement Playbook! Your Retirement Playbook” is an educational program designed to...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment we will cover: Success is never dependent upon one thing, but failure can be. What does a failed retirement journey look like? Learn more on this episode of Your Retirement Playbook. Your Retirement...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment we will cover: Whether you are a new retiree or a seasoned one, we often have the same concerns. The best way to avoid retirement mistakes often comes from having the best questions formulated. My advice...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment we will cover: How did that wind up in your portfolio? I've been married for 34 years, and when we meet new couples, they always ask one question, "How did you meet"?! In this segment, we will get into the...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment we will cover: Should you cancel your life insurance policy? There are many things you consider when you look at Life Insurance. Should you keep paying that premium or cancel it? We will discuss the...
The bell rings, and the excitement begins at 9:00 EST Monday through Friday most weeks. Wall Street opens up for trading, and thousands of companies are available for purchase as stock shares. Willing buyers and sellers reach a price for each of those stocks second by...
In this segment we will cover: You know there are a lot of different ways to skin a cat, or so they tell me- I've never tried but when it comes to retirement, or what we call Your Life After Work, there are many different ways to get it done. There are some basic...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment we will cover: Avoiding bad decisions, that's the key to success! We have to break down our thinking and what our processes are to make a decision. It can not be based on reaction as opposed to responding...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment we will cover: Get out of the penalty box! You know I hate rules (or are the guidelines or the suggestions?). When I look at most people's financial plans, other people's decisions were actually made,...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment we will cover: Get out of the penalty box! You know I hate rules (or are the guidelines or the suggestions?). When I look at most people's financial plans, other people's decisions were actually made,...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment we will cover: What in the world is a tax bomb?! Ed Slott's retirement Tax Bomb. I've been a part of Ed Slott's organization for the last 18 years (hard for me to believe), where we study taxes. This...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment we will cover: You know there's an old expression in the business world that you can either work in the business (that's looking at the day-to-day things) or work on the business, and that is where you will...
Your Retirement Playbook with Joe Clark, CFP. In this segment we will cover: Hey, where's Waldo?! what happened to Consider This Program? In the last seven months, I have taken time off from creating educational content, just resting and thinking about the messages...
Who doesn’t want to retire? More people than you may think, including myself. The rationale for continuing to work comes from the obvious “I love what I do” to “What would I do?” Our experience would suggest there is also a large contingency that is simply unwilling...
My first airplane ride was in 1988. I remember the anxiety, but it was thrilling! My new bride and I went through security and boarding, got on the plane, popped the Dramamine, and held hands during takeoff. The crew efficiently served beverages, and 40 minutes later,...
King Solomon famously wrote, "It is the little foxes that spoil the vine." In a secular moment, he might have written: "it is the little assets that spoil the estate plan." We uncover forgotten assets in a family's financial situation more often than not with...
Overpaying fees and expenses is an area of investing that require dedicated focus. Twice last year, our firm changed ETF providers due to cost versus benefit. The reduction of fees does not guarantee outstanding performance, but unwarranted or necessary fees and...
Change happens all the time - different routines affect people emotionally, financially, and often relationally. Retirement is one of those times. Whether leaving the workforce was your own choice or a result of outside circumstances, it can cause stress with your...
The discussion of inflation is on the rise after being dormant for the last decade. Having Social Security rise by 5.9% this coming year highlights the conversation. Inflation lives a tormented existence. We want our homes to appreciate, yet we want our food cheaper...
When I was a boy, I mowed lawns around my neighborhood. I started with my parents’ lawnmower, and after I saved up enough money, I went out and purchased my very own mower. I took great care of that mower because I could not perform the job that paid me without it....