It is with great enthusiasm that I am writing to you for the first time as the CEO of Whelan Financial. Vin announced my promotion earlier this year and it is a privilege to lead my fabulous team into the next era. Over the course of my seventeen years with the firm, I have witnessed …
End of Year Financial Checklist! Seriously? It’s almost Christmas again? Yikes! Before you go and “break the bank” this season, let’s review a few things you can do before year-end to protect both your financial present and future. 1.) Maximize Your 401(K) Contributions! This strategy is among the top priorities in almost every financial plan. …
We have all heard the expression, “there is more to life than money.” No one would dare disagree, but we also can’t deny that money is at the heart of much stress. It is also no secret that money stress can be devastating to a marriage. The happiest couples I meet are those who are …
There is a list of objections commonly used against the use of a Roth. The following are answers to the most common tax concerns. Concern #1: Is it better to pay taxes now or later? Because there are many unknowns related to tax code and changes in individual earnings, there is only one good way …
Most people think that they can’t retire until they take Social Security. So, when I advise them to delay their Social Security benefit until age 67 (and most often until age 70), all they hear me saying is, “YOU HAVE TO WORK LONGER!” Not True! The age when you take Social Security and the age …
You cannot take control of your financial life if you don’t know two basic things: (1) how much money is coming in, and (2) how much money is going out. Most people operate in the dark as it relates to their finances. They often take the head-in-the-sand approach or the, cross-your-fingers and hope approach to …
Relationships are typically divided into two financial roles: the active and the passive. To be more specific, the person who assumes the domestic financial lead by paying bills and making financial decisions and the person who takes a passive approach to the finances (“I don’t know” … “fine” … “you decide.”) Although this is typical, …
It is typical for people to turn to “common wisdom” when looking for answers to major decisions about money. But this is a mistake because each financial situation is unique. You cannot maximize the success of a financial plan by simply following rules of thumb. One such rule I frequently hear, purports to simplify the …
Misconception: “My designated beneficiaries on my IRAs and 401(k) are no longer relevant because I have had my estate planning done and I have a living trust.” Not so – don’t make this mistake. Bottom Line The beneficiary statement, whether it is for your 401(k), IRA, life insurance and so on is a will substitute. …
