Congress just passed a controversial tax bill. There has been much discussion about what it “could” mean, but now it’s passed, let’s look at what we know. New tax brackets The number of brackets remains the same at seven, but rates have changed and the income levels to which they apply have moved. Notably, the …
Archives for December 2017
Five Investing Traps to Avoid
We all know somebody who thinks they’re the smartest person in the room. They know the best vacation spots, the hottest bands—and the best wealth building ideas. But just because they know the difference between echidnas and enchiladas doesn’t mean they’re a financial wizard. Chances are you’ll run into one of these people at a …
Who Needs Friends?
I remember the time my sales training coach said, “We are not trying to make friends. I got all the friends I need. What I need is more clients.” He was urging us to be more direct in asking a prospect to buy our products. Like a lot of people, this was challenging for me. …
Millennial Parents Are Different
I’m a baby boomer. I was born in 1962 during the trailing years of the baby boom and I was raised by parents who can remember the Great Depression (the one from the 1930s, not the one from 2008). My parents are savers. They saved for most big purchases and they both retired with a …
Planning for your financial goals
Most folks don’t have a financial goal at all. Many feel their true financial goals are unrealistic, or they don’t see a path to achieve them. But putting goals into words can be the first step toward a sound financial future. For years, I’ve been told that simply writing goals down on paper can be …