Investors prone to making emotional decesions should be especially on guard this year. Those mourning last year's market losses while simultaneously hopeful about broad gains so far in 2009, may be prone to repeating mistakes without a plan. Read Mike Flower's Tip's here.
It Takes Vigilance to Navigate the New Financial Frontier – October 2009
The recession may be ending on Wall Street, but our economic environment is still wrought with changes and uncertainties. Brad Bofford urges investors to adopt a new vigilance in order to understand and take advantage of emerging opportunities. Read Bofford's recommendations here.Controlling Risk Mandates Health Insurance Reviews – June 2009
“While an annual health insurance review is always helpful, today’s risk adverse environment makes the evaluation imperative,” says Brad Bofford. Read how overlooking long-term health care could potentially jeopardize your retirement.
Lifestyle and Economic Changes May be Permanent – May 2009
The severity of the financial crisis may be laying the foundation for deep, long- term change. Mike Flower suggests three tips to help adjust to an economic shift by choosing risk management over risky business.
A Secular Bear Market May Require Changing up the Strategy – April 2009
It’s likely that we could be in a secular bear market. So what exactly does that mean, and more importantly, how does that impact investment strategy? While there is no general prescription that will solve the woes of all investors, Brad Bofford suggests any tactical moves should be a function of the safety of your income stream, how much you have already saved, and framed by your life stage and goals. Read Managing Your Finances during the Great Recession.
Growing up Is Never Easy – but Something We Must Do – March 2009
Faced with plummeting investment accounts, declining home values, and the real prospect of job loss, Americans are suddenly doing what they’ve needed to do all along – spend less and save more. This recession is causing real pain, but according to Mike Flower perhaps it will lead to more mature financial practices. Read the full article.
You Deserve a Team of Financial Champions – February 2009
Not only can multiple advisors help provide a reassuring checks and balances system, but their broad range of expertise may help translate into more strategic financial decisions. Brad Bofford looks at the ways teamwork can be particularly beneficial in managing finances. Click here for full article.
Three Steps to Take Today to Survive in the Recession – January 2009
No matter what kind of economic stimulus package comes out of Washington, it’s going to take time to feel the real impact of such action. So how will consumers survive through the coming quarters, until the economy stabilizes? Long-time financial professional, Mike Flower’s tips for managing personal finances during a recession focus on three themes.
Financial Resilience Requires a Professional – November 2008
Consumer confidence is down and questions about government response lingers. What does that mean for our retirement or the kids’ college savings? Increasingly, consumers are turning to the independent advice of investment advisory firms that are associated with independent broker dealers. Read here to learn more about the distinction between independence and wire house as it relates to financial planning.
Open Enrollment Season for Employee Benefits – October 2008
The US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates nearly 30 percent of each employee’s salary comes in the form of benefits. However, if you are like most people, you flip through the glossy brochure of options and push it aside promising to take a closer look next year. “By not investing the time to make informed choices, you may be leaving money on the table and putting your future at risk,” says Mike Flower. Review Flower’s list of Questions Every Employee Should Be Asking about benefit options.
Understanding Roth IRA Accounts – June 2008
A big opportunity is coming in 2010 for tax-free-on-withdrawal Roth IRA conversions. According to Brad Bofford, there are several reasons for choosing to enroll in a Roth IRA plan if eligible. Read the full article here.
Investing in Ben Bernanke’s World – May 2008
Extraordinary. History-making. Unprecedented. These are the words used over the course of the last few months to describe the steps taken by the Federal Reserve to stabilize financial markets and bolster the national economy. So does that mean individual investors need to make unprecedented moves of their own in order to address the current financial crisis? Read Mike Flower’s strategies to guide you through what is an extraordinary period in market history.
Getting Your Financial House in Order – November 2007
Clean Sweep takes on a whole new meaning when you’re talking about organizing your financial records. Think about how important it could be to have all of your important financial information in one place,” says Bofford. “As a society, we are more mobile than ever. Online account aggregation programs make critical information accessible from anywhere in the world.” Read Bofford’s tips to help get your financial house in order.
Preparing for Financial Disasters – October 2007
Building a “financial preparedness kit” can help consumers reduce potential money woes that often accompany life’s unexpected turns. Read Mike Flower’s suggestions for mitigating financial problems often associated with such circumstances as death, divorce, bankruptcy, loss of a job, unexpected household expenses or paying for long term care.
Credit Crunch – September 2007
We keep hearing that getting credit is much harder now that lenders are tightening their belts. But what kind of affect does this credit crunch really have on the ordinary man or woman? Read more about Brad Bofford's useful tips to surviving a credit crunch.
“Affluenza” Puts People at Risk – August 2007
Keeping up with Joneses is getting harder to do and it’s putting people at risk for developing serious financial ailments. Read Mike Flower’s recommendations for combating the urge to spend and getting back on track for a healthy fiscal prognosis.
Keeping Emotions Out of Investing – August 2007
Recent investor behavior has Brad Bofford scratching his head and remembering Yogi Berra’s famous quote, “it’s like déjà vu all over again." Click here to read four time-tested suggestions that Bofford believes could help investors avoid making irrational investment decisions during a volatile market.
Realizing the New ROI in Your Golden Years – June 2007
Mike Flowerhelps investors understand that the New ROI…Reliability of Income…during retirement means developing a solid plan to ensure that your money doesn’t run out before you do. “What many investors don’t understand is that accumulating wealth for retirement is vastly different than distributing that wealth to provide a comfortable lifestyle for themselves,” says Flower. Read six tips to help make your money last.
Estate Planning in Five Easy Steps – May 2007
“If you own anything with value, from money, stocks and property to jewelry and collectibles, you have an estate that needs to be properly planned,” Bofford says. Putting it off could spell disaster. Brad Bofford explains the essentials of preparing an estate plan. Read more
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