Financial Planning

,

Getting the Most ROL from Your Smile

,
Getting the Most ROL from Your Smile

As Life-Centered Financial Planners, we always want your finances to bring a smile to your face. 

But for most seniors, it's your spending that's going to "smile" as you age through the Go-Go, the Slow-Go, and the No-Go years of retirement. 

That's because spending, like life, doesn't progress in a straight line. At every stage of retirement, your needs are going to change, your goals are going to change, and your perspective on the future is going to change. It's important that you have a spending plan that's capable of supporting you today while also preserving your long-term financial security. 

And it's also important that you avoid two potential pitfalls of the spending smile: spending too much too early in retirement or being too afraid to spend and really enjoy your retirement every step of the way. 

Here's what to expect from the three stages of retirement and some tips on how to keep "smiling" across your whole Lifeline.

,

Teaching Kids Self-Efficacy with Money

,
Teaching Kids Self-Efficacy with Money

When parents begin teaching their children about money, they often focus on the mechanics. Counting coins and cash. Earning money through chores and part-time work. How to open accounts and what different accounts are for. The magic of compounding interest. Budgeting and saving for purchases. 

But understanding how money works will only take your child so far. Kids also need to understand the correlation between the actions they take with money and resulting outcomes. They need to believe that they are in charge of their money, not the government, the markets, or turmoil on the other side of the world. 

Here’s why self-efficacy should be a bigger part of your money conversations with your kids. 

Preparing for a First Meeting with a Financial Planner

Preparing for a First Meeting with a Financial Planner

You have a first meeting with a new financial advisor, congrats! You’re taking an essential step in forging a path to financial confidence and clarity. But this is more than just a casual chat; it’s a critical conversation to determine if this professional is the right fit for you. You’ll need to equip yourself with the right questions, clarify your goals, and more. 

,

The Never-Ending Pursuit of Money

,
The Never-Ending Pursuit of Money

What would it be like to be ultra-wealthy? Would it mean homes in Hawaii and Paris? Do you envision sailing a luxury yacht across the Mediterranean? What about chartering a trip to space? While it’s fun to imagine, this isn’t the reality for most of us. 

You might have heard the term “Ultra High Net Worth” (UHNW) before. It’s a term for those who have north of $30 million in net worth. There are currently 142,990 UHNW individuals in North America1 out of 369 million in total2. That’s less than one-tenth of 1% (.03% to be exact). 

There simply aren’t that many people flying private, sitting front row at sporting events, or buying private islands…contrary to what we see on TV or in social media. So why do we sometimes feel the desire for more, even though we’re doing just fine financially?

The mindset of accumulating wealth is deeply ingrained in most of our psyches. It’s important in the sense that we all have goals and want to retire comfortably, but it can be dangerous in its extremes. Let’s take a moment to understand some of the psychology behind why this happens:

, ,

Defining Your Money Values

, ,
Defining Your Money Values

Understanding your money values helps to ensure that your financial decisions align with what matters most to you and your family. These values serve as a foundation for making consistent, purpose-driven choices, while reducing financial stress and potential arguments. 

For instance, prioritizing education might mean setting aside funds for college rather than opting for an extravagant vacation. It’s not that you wouldn’t vacation, family memories are important too, but opting for something in-state may align better with your family’s goals than taking three weeks in Bali.

Let’s get practical and discuss some steps to help arrive at meaningful goals as a family. We think you’ll find the exercise itself to be rewarding and insightful.

, ,

Bracket Busting: Coping with Life’s Unexpected "Upset" Wins and Losses

, ,
Bracket Busting: Coping with Life’s Unexpected "Upset" Wins and Losses

Out of 36 million brackets submitted to major online games for the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, only four perfect brackets remained heading into the final day of the second round.

And none of those brackets stayed perfect heading into the Sweet 16.

Still, even though "perfect" is no longer possible, the tournament will go on. There will be more upsets, more blow-outs, and more brackets busted. And fans all over the country will cheer some wins, cope with some disappointments, and find new teams, players, and storylines to root for if their favorites don't make it all the way.

Throughout the course of your financial plan, you'll often have to let go of "perfect" and adjust to the ups and downs that life throws at you. These three strategies can help you stay in the game and win round by round all the way to retirement.

,

How to Maximize Your Credit Score

,
How to Maximize Your Credit Score

For the wealthy, credit scores can feel like a formality. After all, when you have ample liquidity, who’s really checking your credit? 

Turns out, plenty of people are. Lenders, underwriters, insurers, and even business partners may review your credit as a measure of trustworthiness and financial discipline. And while a high-net-worth can open doors, a poor credit score can close a few behind the scenes.

Whether you're acquiring property, investing in new ventures, or simply maintaining your financial reputation, your credit score matters. These strategies can help you protect and elevate it.

,

How to Fire Old Financial Habits

,
How to Fire Old Financial Habits

You’ve advanced in your career. You’re earning more and managing the responsibilities that come with success. Yet maybe you’ve maintained some financial habits that you should have left behind.

These habits are often rooted in past visions of security or achievement. But if the conditions have changed, it’s worth asking whether the behavior still fits. You might recognize some of these signals:

,

Should You Purchase a Second Home with Friends?

,
Should You Purchase a Second Home with Friends?

Owning a home away from home can add some significant value to your portfolio and your ROL. A second home can be an escape, a change of scenery, a place to immerse yourself in specific interests, sports, or hobbies, or the focal point of meaningful get-togethers for generations to come.

But if you can't make owning a second home work on your own, should you consider sharing the costs, responsibilities, and space with another family?

While the logic might seem compelling, sharing real estate will add a complex business arrangement to your friendship. Make sure you and your prospective co-owners talk through these three important issues.

,

What Does Financial Independence Mean to You?

,
What Does Financial Independence Mean to You?

According to a recent poll of 2,000 U.S. adults, "financial independence" equates to earning $94,000 per year, or about $20,000 more than the median income in 2023.

Some folks might feel like they're just a promotion or two away from achieving that kind of independence. Others might not feel like $94,000 is enough to feel truly free. And still others might wonder how they'd ever spend that much money in the first place.

That's because true financial independence isn't a number. It's feeling confident enough in your money to do things that will improve your Return on Life, such as: