Last year was a financial mess. The markets were tough to negotiate as we experienced unusual issues that were complicated and difficult to understand. Reviewing some of them might help us make better decisions in the future. Although many economic, political, and financial events led to the 2022 markets, I’m limiting my discussion to five…

Halloween can be fun, or it can be scary, depending on our choices. Do we curl up with smiling jack-o-lanterns or shriek our way through extreme haunted houses? Our financial situation also can be frightening; however, we can take steps to lower our financial fears. Here are some tips to make your money more like…

Happy 4th of July! Although Christmas in July is trendy, I want to move one week forward. How are your New Year’s resolutions? Have you been successful, or have you given up in despair? If you’re like most people, your plans didn’t last long enough to see Valentine’s Day, let alone our nation’s birthday. Don’t…

If you’ve been watching TV recently, you’ve seen ads often featuring older celebrities. “You may be missing out on available benefits. Call this number to see if Medicare Advantage is right for you.” The disclaimers are in a font so small you couldn’t read them with a magnifying glass. What is Medicare Advantage? Medicare Advantage,…

I hope on St. Patrick’s Day, the Leprechaun takes you to his pot of gold! Unfortunately, leprechauns are difficult to find, but don’t despair. The luck of the Irish is still with you. I’ve got some tips to help you better understand your investment portfolio. Investments rise and fall, and we earn a portfolio return…

The Russian invasion of Ukraine shook financial markets around the world. The resulting rollercoaster stock returns, rise in the price of oil, and fears of cyberattacks can leave you uncertain about your investing strategy. How should you handle your portfolio during times of great uncertainty? If you took the time to create a solid risk…

Forget the flowers, candy, and teddy bears. What you and your love should share this Valentine’s Day is a heart-to-heart conversation about money. Wow—what a buzzkill! Not really. Did you know financial discord is the leading cause of divorce? To keep this from happening to you, here are a few tips. Start talking about finances…

It’s Halloween season, the time when we decorate with pumpkins, buy candy for little goblins, and watch monster movies. A perennial favorite is Dracula. Movie vampires are spooky fun, but financial vampires can be more dangerous. These creatures of the night drain your wallet of cash. Sometimes, they leave your money feeble, or even worse,…

Is anything more fun than college football on a Saturday afternoon? I love the game, the tailgating, and even seeing everyone dressed in their team’s colors. You might be surprised to learn that winning a football game and creating an effective financial plan involve similar skills. They both require a powerful offense, a solid defense,…

My husband died unexpectedly in March after a brief fight with advanced cancer. He was a tremendous human being—smart, kind, humble, and funny. He was also organized. We had talked about what I would need if something happened to him. We had an estate plan in place, and he had an excellent job. His employer…