July 21st, 2022

What Happens When There Are No Beneficiaries

Where do those accounts and policies end up?  Some accounts have no designated beneficiary. Rarely, the same thing occurs with insurance policies. This is usually an oversight. In exceptional circumstances, it is a choice. What happens to these accounts and policies when the original owner dies?  The investment or insurance firm gets the first chance … Continue reading “What Happens When There Are No Beneficiaries”

June 28th, 2022

The Behavior Gap and Your Financial Health

How might it affect you? “It turns out my job was not to find great investments but to help create great investors,” writes Carl Richards, author of “The Behavior Gap.” From increasing our budget mindfulness to taking a steadier approach to investing, Richards has drawn attention to how our unexamined behaviors and emotions can be … Continue reading “The Behavior Gap and Your Financial Health”

May 18th, 2022

Should You Downsize for Retirement?

Some retirees save a great deal of money by doing so; others do not. You want to retire, and you own a large home that is nearly or fully paid off. The kids are gone, but the upkeep costs haven’t fallen. Should you retire and keep your home? Or sell your home and retire? Maybe … Continue reading “Should You Downsize for Retirement?”

May 17th, 2022

Couples Retiring on the Same Page

Agreeing about what you want from retirement is crucial. What does a good retirement look like to Middle-Class Millionaires? Does it resemble the retirement that your spouse or partner has in mind? It is at least roughly similar?    The Social Security Administration currently projects an average retirement of 18 years for a man and … Continue reading “Couples Retiring on the Same Page”

March 21st, 2022

How Market Cycles Can Impact Retirements

Sequence of returns can play a role in your overall portfolio. A thoughtful retirement strategy helps Middle-Class Millionaires pursue their many retirement goals. That strategy must consider many factors, and here are just a few: income needs, the order of withdrawals from taxable and tax-advantaged retirement accounts, the income tax implications of those withdrawals, and … Continue reading “How Market Cycles Can Impact Retirements”

March 10th, 2022

Major Risks to Family Wealth

Protect your family assets for future generations. All too often, family wealth fails to last. One generation builds a business-or even a fortune- lost in the ensuing decades. Why does it happen, again and again? Often, middle-class millionaire families fall prey to serious money blunders, making classic mistakes, or not recognizing changing times. This article … Continue reading “Major Risks to Family Wealth”

February 11th, 2022

IRA Deadlines Are Approaching

Financially, many of us associate the spring with taxes – but we should also associate December with important IRA deadlines. This year, like 2021, will see a few changes and distinctions. December 31, 2022, is the deadline to take your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from certain individual retirement accounts.    April 15, 2022, is the deadline … Continue reading “IRA Deadlines Are Approaching”

February 11th, 2022

Retirement Preparation Mistakes

Why are they made again and again?  Much is out there about the classic financial mistakes that plague start-ups, family businesses, corporations, and charities. Aside from these blunders, some classic financial missteps plague individuals, or as we say, the Middle-Class Millionaires.   Calling them “mistakes” may be a bit harsh, as not all of them represent … Continue reading “Retirement Preparation Mistakes”

January 19th, 2022

Is Inflation Peaking?

One lesser-known indicator is called the Baltic Dry Index. We know our middle-class millionaire clients see it in prices at the grocery store and the gas station and feel it in their monthly budget. So why don’t the financial markets seem too concerned about inflation? Remember, financial markets are considered “discounting mechanisms,” meaning they are … Continue reading “Is Inflation Peaking?”

December 14th, 2021

Eight Money Moves to Jumpstart Your Financial Health in 2022

For many, the new year is a time of renewal and reinvention, which makes it the perfect time to optimize your personal finances for 2022 and beyond. What financial, business, or life priorities do you need to address in the new year? Here are some ideas on how to get started: Review your financial plan. … Continue reading “Eight Money Moves to Jumpstart Your Financial Health in 2022”