By Preston Rosamond Out of sight, out of mind. That’s how most of us approach life insurance. You bought your policy and did your job of protecting your family, so you’re good, right? Maybe; but maybe not. Life insurance is not supposed to be a set-it-and-forget-it financial product. It’s great that you have a policy, but if you don’t review it, how can you know it’s working for you if you don’t check in every...
*photo credit to Larry D. Moore CC BY-SA 3.0 By Preston Rosamond Marble Falls, Texas, is a wonderful place to live and work. This 130-year-old town sits right by the Colorado River and is located in the middle of the Highland Lakes area, the biggest series of lakes in Texas. (1) It never gets too hot or too cold here (with an average summer temperature of 85℉ and an average winter temperature of 55℉), making...
By Preston Rosamond Talking to your kids about money can feel like a taboo topic. It’s often right up there with the birds and the bees. But a recent study by Cambridge University found that children develop money habits by the age of 7. (1) This means we need to talk to our kids about money now—whether your child is a toddler or about to graduate high school. If you are unsure how to teach...
By Preston Rosamond I don’t know what it is about summer, but it seems that everywhere you look, you hear about people vowing to read more in the summer and stumble on book lists for great vacation reads. Whether you’re looking for a beach read, something to stimulate your mind, or just want to dig deeper into a particular subject, reading is never a bad idea. In fact, Yale researchers have found that people who...
By Preston Rosamond We are now well into 2019, and things are looking much better than they did only six months ago. Now is a great time to pause and take a look around at the economy. The Markets Are Soaring So far, 2019 has been a much-needed breath of fresh air for many investors, several of which just got the wind knocked out of them there at the end of 2018. Not only have...
By Preston Rosamond Have you had a major life event happen recently that’s forced you to rethink your finances? Maybe you just had a baby, got married, or experienced a death in the family. Whatever it is, it usually takes one of these life-altering events to make you realize you need to take action with your finances. Thankfully, it’s never too late to start. Here are 5 steps you can take today to get your...
By Preston Rosamond What is your number-one fear in retirement? If you’re like most Americans, you might be afraid you won’t have enough money to last through retirement. In fact, only 27% of pre-retirees believe they will be financially ready for a retirement lasting 10 years. (1) While your current retirement account balance may be causing you stress, there are other little-known and often ignored threats that could cause you to lose the nest egg...
By Preston Rosamond Your employer is always looking for ways to both reward and effectively motivate you. They feel if they can align your financial well-being with that of the company, it will motivate you to do your best and contribute positively to the company’s performance. One of the ways they do this is by offering an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). How Does An Employee Stock Purchase Plan Work? An ESPP is a program...
By Preston Rosamond If you are reading this article, chances are you are among the few who have a decent understanding of finances. However, when you really stop to think about it, how much do you actually know when it comes to the basic financial concepts that impact your portfolio? The unfortunate truth is the majority of adults today are financially illiterate. In 2014, McGraw Hill Financial teamed up with Gallup, Inc., the World Bank...
By Preston Rosamond Taxes can give anyone a headache, but even more so if you have investment property as one of your assets. What do you do if you want to sell your property or move on to something else but are wary of capital gains taxes? That’s where a 1031 exchange, or a like-kind exchange, can help. But like anything tax-related, there are plenty of rules and options that can make or break the...
By Preston Rosamond When it comes to financial planning, talking about death is oftentimes a very sad and uncomfortable topic to dig into. Think about it. Who wants to imagine their spouse leaving sooner than expected? Nobody! However, no matter how hard the conversation may be to have, that should not stop it from happening. The reason for this is because a truly comprehensive financial plan must consider and prepare for losing a loved one...
By Preston Rosamond As the saying goes, “Work smarter, not harder.” This applies to anything in life, especially retirement. More money saved up in your 401(k) means more freedom to do what you want later on (e.g., travel). While making larger contributions from your paycheck is one way to make a huge impact on the bottom line, there are other simple strategies that can maximize your 401(k) even further when properly put into place. Three...