Embracing Mental Accounting
The phenomenon known as "mental accounting" shapes how we categorize and value money, consciously or not, and influences how we behave and interact with it.
Paying for Certainty
Every decision to keep or pay down debt balances both personal and financial benefits, and not every circumstance is created equal.
Planning While the World is in Flux
Plans rarely come with a guaranteed outcome. However, the process of planning reduces uncertainty and increases the likelihood that you will arrive at an outcome that aligns with your values and priorities.
Tender Offers: The New IPO
Tender offers provide employees of pre-IPO companies the opportunity to sell some shares while a company is still private. It's a strategy the benefits both the company and its employees.
Firewise Planning
Fire season is now an annual concern for Californians. Having a plan for the risk of fire can better protect your family's financial resources.
Taking Control of ‘Losing Control’
Addressing our mortality, and the gradual lack of capacity that often precedes it doesn't rank on our favorite things to do. Starting conversations early paves the way for specific problem solving when issues arise and can create peace of mind.
The Right Amount of Liquidity
As you build wealth over time, you start to develop a portfolio of investments beyond cash, which provides other options for funding your financial needs.
Your Retirement, Your Values
A successful transition to retirement must express your values. Understanding the motivation behind your decision, and being prepared for how you will spend your time post-retirement, are key steps to achieving a fulfilling retirement.
Two Things in Life are Certain
Taxes is one of life’s certainties and we have seen countless times that having the right professional and effective collaboration can make all the difference.
Donor Advised Funds
Donor Advised Funds are powerful tools for legacy planning, can also benefit tax planning, and help mitigate gains from appreciated stock.
Who’s Got Your Back?
The point of estate planning is to prepare now to make things easier for yourself and your loved ones later.
Equity Compensation – Know your Options
Equity compensation in the form of stock options is a complex issue. Understanding the balance of risk and benefits will lead to a confident decision when considering a new job.
Mindful Finance
Periodically taking time to review your financial situation can alleviate stress and give you a sense of control.
Important but not (yet) Urgent
We rarely know when our estate plan will become urgent. And all too often, “later” comes too late.
Living the Dream?
Our daily routines and rituals are a reflection of how we are learning to cope. We consider how daily routines and respecting boundaries help us find a sense of normalcy in a world that is out of balance.
Tax Extensions & Updates Amidst Coronavirus
July is the new April! At least as it applies to tax filings and deadlines. Among the many changes that coronavirus has brought, one is the extension of a variety of tax filing and payment deadlines for 2019 and 2020.
Giving in the Time of Coronavirus
During times of crisis, there is an innately universal desire to help others in ways both big and small. This week’s Monday Moments looks at options for giving back in your community and offers thoughts on how you too can make a difference.
Making Good Financial Habits Permanent
The dawn of a new year can inspire a sense of hope and potential. Moving forward into a new calendar gives us space to reflect, and the desire and confidence to change. We explore how to build good financial habits.
Asking the Right Question
We have an almost incomprehensible amount of information at our fingertips. Making use of that information is another thing entirely. In personal finance, like many other aspects of life, asking the right question is the essential element in decision making.
Retirement Planning for Real People
Faith and hope can take many forms. Belief in “big data" makes it easy to think that if you have enough hard data, the truth will emerge. We see this regularly when people expect there to be a simple, technical answer to how much money they need to retire.