Plain-language articles on investing, taxes, retirement income, market context, and planning updates from our CFP® team.
In mid-September, Financial Plan Inc. received the Best Practices Award for being a “top innovator” from Investment News; a fairly major publication in the finance world. They identified their winners based on a series of surveys and interviews and awarded the top 6 advisory firms from around the country. As part of accepting this […]
Today’s Powerball estimated jackpot of $500 million has created a fair amount of buzz in the media. We all know how it works. You buy a ticket and instantly begin fantasizing about what you will do when you win. We’ve crunched some numbers to help optimize your daydreams. Lump Sum or Annuity? With a $500 […]
For the last ten years Financial Plan, Inc. has incorporated funds from DFA (Dimensional Fund Advisors) into our diversified investment portfolios. Barron’s recent article “Where the Smart Money is Headed” has DFA as the #1 place the “smart money” will invest, and discusses their approach. We use DFA as one of our investment partners because their investment […]
Our very own Devin Wolf was interviewed by M.O. (Modus Operandi), a website that focuses on small businesses and entrepreneurs. In addition to some personal history, the interview focuses on how small business owners should approach their financial planning and their business retirement needs. MO: Why are you so passionate about helping small business owners navigate […]
Once again, the S.E.C. proposal to hold all brokers to a fiduciary standard has run aground. This from a September article in Bloomberg by Jesse Hamilton and Margaret Collins: Retail investors typically put their money in the hands of broker-dealers or investment advisers. Brokers earn commissions on sales and work under a professional standard that […]
Recently I came across this sketch posted by best selling financial author and illustrator Carl Richards. The message it conveys has the ring of truth. Most of us want to escape the constant stress that so often comes whenever we think or talk about money. As Richards says, “ Money is insanely emotional because of […]
Articles such as this one in Fortune regarding retirement plan fee disclosures are beginning to hit the mainstream media. This particular article focuses on an issue that has been erroding returns throughout the industry, not just 401(k) plans. At Financial Plan we believe this is a step in the right direction to increasing awareness and transparency in retirement […]
My dad told me recently that he just celebrated his “Heavy Metal” Birthday. He said it means that he has gold in his teeth, silver in his hair and lead in his butt. This is a good reminder article of another reality of investing in gold or precious metals. I’ve talked with a lot of people […]
Our quarterly newsletter, the Plan, has been updated for the 2013 Summer Quarter. Read more about it here.
I came across this article today in the Investment News written by Mebane Faber. It reinforces the futility of trying to pick individual stocks in building a portfolio. It’s an eye-opening, quick read and definitely worth a look…and I am definitely a better than average driver. David Dick, CFP®
