SIMPLY INVESTING:4 key elements of successful Budgeting A Budget is not A straight jacket. It constrains how I can live my life and stifles creativity and fun. But, of course, none of this is true. A budget is a way for you to plan to succeed in the money game that we play. Almost everyone works to earn Money. And they…

Eight keys to successful money management Money management is key to success in life. He who buys what he does not need, steals from himself. — Swedish Proverb Money management is one of the most important skills you can learn in life. When done well, it will reduce stress and allow for smooth sailing through life’s troubles. I struggled with Money my whole life…

What is a balanced portfolio? A balanced portfolio is whatever you want it to be. It could be 100% stock funds (risky). It could be 100% bond funds (low return and low risk). As advisors, we tended to lean more toward 60% stocks and 40% bonds. But it is up to you. As you move…

Simply Investing: What do I do now that I have a portfolio? The simple answer is just to put money in every month. What does the value of your portfolio mean? It means nothing unless you sell shares to put money in your pocket. Likewise, gains and losses in your portfolio are not real money in or out of your pocket unless you sell on that given day. They are…

Simply investing: Why you should plan for retirement? I didn’t start saving for my retirement; when I finally started, I didn’t save enough to set myself up for a worry-free retirement. So, at 77, I don’t know whether I will outlive my money. Inflation isn’t helping any, either. To live comfortably in retirement, you must plan and save…

To save or not to save is the question. I didn’t start saving until I was in my third job out of college, and now as I look forward to my last decade life I may run out of money. So despite the recent academic article in the Journal of…

What is life insurance? Life insurance is a financial contract between you and the insurance company. Life Insurance provides financial protection for your loved ones if you die. You agree to pay a monthly or annual premium. If you die while you are paying, the insurance company will pay your…

Simply Investing: Building a Diversified Portfolio-The Bingo Method Chris Liverani| Unsplash.com | Building a Diversified Portfolio Building a diversified portfolio is like a cover-all bingo game. You have to have coverage in each of the spaces to win. So what does our bingo card look like when discussing the investment market? It is a card with nine squares…

Simply Investing: People vs. Online DIY Investing Are you the person who wants to do it yourself, or do you want the help of a financial professional? You can start your investing journey either way. Using a financial professional is helpful when couples see investing differently or when you want to rely on someone else to help…