Encourage your student to think about their future financial self. Mid-August is the time of year that our kids pack the U-Haul and head to college. And while they’re excited about a brand-new semester, it can be frightening to see the cost – and rising college debt – that comes with the college experience. What can our college students do to ease the price tag?

Many people perceive trusts as a complex subject better left to their attorney. As a matter of fact, they often think trusts are available only to the wealthy. However, when stripped of all the “bells and whistles,” a trust can be viewed as simply a written contract between one individual, the trustee (or grantor), and another individual called a beneficiary(ies). The trustee’s job is to see that the terms of the trust are faithfully carried out according to the grantor’s wishes. The word “grantor” is another term for the person who sets up the trust and decides (with the help of his or her attorney) what the terms of the trust are going to be.

There are two schools of thought when it comes to financial planning:

On July 4th and 5th of 2019, two major earthquakes – in fact the biggest to hit Southern California in decades – reminded us that disasters like earthquakes, floods, tornados, fires, etc. can strike at any time. The two  early July quakes registered in at 6.4 and 7.1 and they could be felt from Los Angeles to San Jose. Thankfully, the two quakes hit a sparsely populated region of California and there were no reported casualties – but the results of the quakes are significant enough that they can be seen from space. No matter where you live, it is wise to be prepared for disasters. Here are some tips to help you keep important documents safe and what to do when disaster strikes. 

Setting goals can be a tough task, but it is an important step toward securing your financial future. Before we create a financial plan, we'll work together to define and document your goals. Here's a primer to help you get started:

61 Million

The number of people who received monthly Social Security benefits in 2016.

Addressing Care Options Now for Your Aging Parents Will Pay Dividends for Everyone

Whether they want the role or not, adult children often find themselves in the position of primary caregiver for their parents. Unfortunately, many of us are not prepared for that role. We often find ourselves so engrossed in how fast our own children are growing up that it’s sometimes easy to forget that our own parents are also aging.

CREATING AND PRESERVING FAMILY WEALTH: A Practical Approach to Helping Aging Relatives Prepare for the Future

Addressing Care Options Now for Your Aging Parents Will Pay Dividends for Everyone. The best plans for managing the finances of an older relative are made when that individual is still healthy. Once stricken by illness, or frustrated by the loss of mobility and freedom, an older relative may not understand questions or be able to state details of their wishes. Fueled by the uncertainty of what the older relative really wants, the lack of a plan may ignite family arguments.

How resourceful can you be during your retirement? Determining where your retirement money will come from is an integral part of planning for retirement. Most people draw on three main sources of income: Social Security, employer-sponsored plans, and personal retirement savings. Each offers important resources that can help you fund the lifestyle you seek in retirement.