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Originally posted on March 11, 2015

There are a lot of opinions about the price of oil. Some experts are suggesting the price could plummet to $10 per barrel while others are making the argument for $150 or more. The correct answer is that nobody really knows. However, we can’t stop reading about the predictions.

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Originally posted on Fri, September 23, 2016

It’s that time of year again: Wedding Season!

The financial burden of putting-on, or even attending a wedding is something to think about. However, with proper planning, it’s possible to keep wedding costs under control! In this article, we hope to share a few financial tips so you can enjoy your day without depleting your savings.

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Originally posted on April 2, 2015

I have been managing investments for over twenty years and, during this period, I have met with many prospective clients. It is during these initial meetings that I review investment statements and other financial documents to determine if I can be of assistance. As an independent advisor, there is one specific situation that I believe deserves attention since it is a potential conflict-of-interest when acting in a fiduciary capacity. The situation looks like this:

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Originally posted on April 29, 2015

Remember playing Monopoly with your kids or as a kid? It’s a game of strategy and most of us choose one of two ways to go. The first way is to spend most of our cash on a high-end property like Park Place or Boardwalk in the hopes that we will score a big profit when the other players land there. The other strategy is to purchase a combination of high-rent and low-rent properties to spread out our investments.

Let’s go through some data that will prove, historically speaking, that a diversified portfolio is a better way to invest than simply the S&P 500 Index. In keeping with my Monopoly metaphor, this would be akin to purchasing various valued properties and not just the most expensive rents.

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Originally posted on June 25, 2015

We all know it’s natural for the market to go up and down. But when you have hard-earned cash invested in that market, those ups and downs can sometimes weigh heavily on your emotions. The downs can cause stress, self-doubt, and more importantly, a smaller investment account. While the ups can sometimes make you feel smart, wealthy, and confident. The successful investor knows how to handle his or her emotions when dealing with a prolonged bull market or when the inevitable happens and she is stuck in what seems like a never ending bear market.

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Originally posted on July 30, 2015

“Enough is as Good as a Feast.” This was the quote at the end of an e-mail I received the other day and it intrigued me. It would be such a simple way to live, having just enough of everything you need—no more, no less. The problem is, when it comes to money, many people are unable to define “enough.” John D. Rockefeller purportedly was once asked, "How much money is enough?"  He candidly replied, "Just a little bit more."  

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Originally posted on Tues, August 23, 2016

If you are anything like us, you are always busy -- right?

We tend to make time for what is most important to us but never seem to be able to achieve everything we want to accomplish. I’m sure there are things you would like to learn if you had the time to train or study. For example, playing a musical instrument or speaking (another) foreign language are probably popular bucket list items.

Personally managing your hard-earned wealth may be another. However, determining if you should manage your investments, in our opinion, boils down to three simple criteria: time, training and temperament. 

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Originally posted on Tue, August 16, 2016

Last week we met with a long-time client who retired from the federal government. Prior to retiring, she had the foresight to purchase the long term care insurance offered through the federal government (FLTCIP). However, she and (we) were shocked to find out about the most recent increase in this program’s costs – over 125%!!

In terms of the “sticker shock,” there will be an average increase to your monthly insurance premium of 83%, or $111, for those that opt not to change their coverage. John Hancock Life & Health recognizes that not all policyholders will be able to afford this change; therefore they have provided a personalized letter indicating the various options available to maintain the premium at the current level. Ultimately, this change will take effect on November 1, 2016 for affected policyholders, and there is a September 30^th, 2016 deadline to review and choose your option.

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Originally posted on August 19, 2015

Discipline is an easy word to say (in comparison to, well, Worchester) but requires a mental strength that some of us simply can’t overcome when it comes to certain topics. So what is the secret to becoming a disciplined saver, athlete, student, or whatever it is you want to do? How do some people have the discipline to exercise five to six days a week? How do people have the discipline to do the hard things in life?

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