Posts in Life Planning
How do I find the right financial advisor for me?

Finding the right adviser is difficult but not impossible. You will want to research advisers and then set up appointments with at least three or four of them. An adviser should be a fiduciary, should not be a commissioned. . . .

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Will my husband's financial advisor be able to learn about my personal credit card debt when reviewing our finances and joint tax return?

No, your financial adviser will only have access to information approved and provided by you and your husband. This information may come out if you and your husband were to submit your credit reports to the adviser for. . . .

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I am saving for a down payment for a house; should I keep the money in my savings account or move it somewhere different?

Considering you have a 3-year timeline, a standard savings account isn't optimal due to the low interest rates being unlikely to keep up with inflation. A money market savings account or certificate of deposit would be a better to consider. If you are comfortable with taking on more risk . . . .

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Should I take a lower salary working for my family or pursue a higher paying job for a good company?

From your question, it seems like you truly think working for the bank is the right choice, and I agree. You are not the only person who is going through a situation like this, although it might feel that way. I am also a professor of entrepreneurship and at least once a year I have a student . . . .

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Should my wife and I deplete our cash reserves, withdraw from my 401(k), or use a HELOC to finance home improvements?

I would be hesitant to pay for the home improvement either through withdrawing from a retirement account or getting a HELOC. Both options will increase your risk and harm your ability to enjoy a comfortable retirement over the long-term. There are other recommendations you should . . . .

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What is the safest way to earn a higher interest rate on our money than by using our traditional savings account or a money market account?

In order to stay within your "safest" criteria, you would want to stick with an FDIC or NCUA insured account. You can get slightly higher interest rates by shopping around for high-interest savings accounts from online banks and credit unions. Currently (November 2018), rates on savings accounts are….

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Are there any sure proof ways to safeguard my nest egg and rental business?

There are no sure proof ways to safeguard a nest egg, but there are things you can do which will improve your protections and increase the safeguards. Below are some general recommendations which can help you see what tools are available to you to protect your wealth based on the. . . .

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