Blog

I am a self-proclaimed member of what I like to call the “Van Clan”. No, I’m not part of the adventurous group of people that travel around the world in campervans. My wife and I just have a plain old minivan that we carry our three kids around in. Although not the coolest of vehicles, I’ll admit that it’s extremely practical, and the sliding doors are nice. However, our...

One of the most popular retirement plans is the beloved 401(k). This allows participants of the plan to make pre-tax or Roth contributions during their earning years. Also, employers generally will match contributions up to a certain percentage, giving the employees a major incentive to contribute. As of March 31, 2018, 401(k) plans held an estimated $5.3 trillion¹ in assets. The “good old days” of pensions are gone, and it’s up...

When it comes to retirement, the traditional pension slowly is becoming extinct. But for those who still have one, it’s a huge benefit and, typically, a key part of their retirement plans. There’s usually a number of decisions to make about how you take the pension. You often have the option to elect a lump sum payment or an income stream. If you take the income stream, you...

On the morning of July 3^rd, I got the call. My Dad was on his way to the hospital with what would turn out to be his second stroke. Thankfully and miraculously, Dad survived without any long-term effects. As I was driving to the hospital, a multitude of thoughts were bouncing around in my head; “Will dad survive?  Will he be paralyzed?  Will we have to move him to a...

Executives have an array of benefits that can be very effective in meeting their financial goals. One of those benefits is deferred compensation plans or, more technically, Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans. These plans typically are offered as an executive benefit to highly compensated individuals because 401(k) plans don’t allow highly compensated individuals to save as large a percentage of their incomes as most other employees. Each plan is different, so it’s important...

A few weeks ago, my wife, Annie, and I were having lunch with our 13-year-old son, Joe. Because he’s often curious about what I do at work, I decided to ask a question: Do you understand the difference between stocks and bonds? He had an answer which was generally correct but not entirely complete. So, I asked him to pretend he had started a company that manufactures video games. His company...

Joan of Arc, Sacajawea, Marie Curie, Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, Princess Diana, Mother Teresa, Oprah, and many other women have influenced history greatly, because of things they accomplished and who they were. When I see these names, I feel discouraged, because I don’t see myself doing anything extraordinary like these women. I recently listened to a podcast that interviewed a woman named Dr. Kristy Archuleta, who went to college to become...