Many studies have shown that charitable giving provides greater happiness than buying more stuff. Eventually, you get used to your fancy new car, and the enjoyment it provides goes down. But giving forges feelings of connected-ness and community that don’t fade away. Incorporating charitable giving into your financial plan is a great way to make… Read more »
That piggy bank we remember from childhood wasn’t just a place to store our birthday money and spare change: it was a lesson, a way our parents encouraged us to get into the habit of saving. Many parents even go so far as to deposit half of any monetary gifts their children receive directly into… Read more »
Most married couples take a “divide and conquer” approach to household tasks and chores. One spouse might handle weekly shopping, the other might handle garbage and recycling. One spouse might handle laundry and cleaning, the other might handle yard work and maintenance. One spouse might drive the kids to school, the other might handle pickup… Read more »
“Do I have enough money to do the things I’d like to do?” “Will I have enough money to retire?” These are two questions that people often ask themselves when they start thinking about financial planning. And that’s only natural. We expect our money to help us feel safe, especially as we grow older and… Read more »
There’s a movement toward redefining money: instead of accumulating money for what it can buy, more of us want to use money to live the best life possible with what we have––a concept known as Return on Life™ (ROL). With ROL, money becomes a tool to help you live the life you want. Accumulating… Read more »
There’s a pretty good chance that your parents and grandparents retired just because they turned 65. Today’s retirement is a bit more complicated than that. While age is still an important factor, your ability to connect your financial resources to your lifestyle goals is what will truly determine if you’re ready to retire. Here are… Read more »
A hamster in a wheel. Have you ever watched a hamster running in a wheel? All that running, all that effort, day after day after day … and the poor little critter never really gets anywhere. Many of us feel the same way about our money. More specifically, we feel that way about… Read more »
Many folks who have just begun working with us are surprised by how our planning process starts. We don’t begin by talking about IRAs, 401(k)s, or how much you’re saving. Instead, we begin by talking about you, not your money. Putting your life before your financial plan. As Life-Centered Planners, our process begins… Read more »
Imagine that you plant a tree. For the next 40 years, you water it and protect it from harsh weather and animals. You never pick its fruit or climb it for fun. You don’t take a break and rest in its shade. You don’t even cut down some branches to build a house. You never… Read more »