Should High-Income People Apply for College Aid?
It’s not a newsflash to note that college is expensive. One year at CSU is about $25,000 and at CU it’s about $30,000. (That’s for in-state tuition, room and board and other expenses such as books.) Whether you’re a high-income family or not, it’s good to know that the Department of Education says that “most […]
Financial Spring Cleaning
The weather is turning warmer and we look forward to a beautiful spring. But first, perhaps some “financial spring cleaning” would help you enjoy the summer a bit more. While this task may not be the most exciting, it usually is rewarding in the end. This spring, while you’re tidying up your home, consider getting […]
Fiduciary Duty Rule Delayed
The Obama administration passed a rule that required investment advisors to adhere to fiduciary standards. Simply put, this means recommending investments that are in the client’s best interests. Previously, advisors merely had to recommend suitable investments. This often led to them recommend investments that, while suitable, offered the advisor the highest possible commission which was […]
Are ETFs or ETNs Right for You?
What is an ETF? An ETF is an Exchange Traded Fund. ETFs are similar in many ways to traditional mutual funds, except that shares in an ETF can be bought and sold throughout the day like stocks on a stock exchange through a broker-dealer. An ETF holds assets such as stocks, commodities or bonds. It […]
Baby Boomers Retire
Are you a boomer? This generation was born between 1946 and 1964. They’re currently between 53 and 71 years old and they’re in various states of financial preparedness for retirement. Unfortunately, the AARP reports that 49% worry about financial matters followed by 42% worrying about health challenges. It’s easy to understand this concern when you […]
Financial Planning Resolutions
Well, we’re one month into 2017. If you haven’t made any financial resolutions yet, now is a great time to review your financial scorecard for last year and then look for ways to improve in 2017. Here are some financial goals you could take in to consideration this year. Calculate Your Net Worth If you […]
Financial Travel Tips
Do you have travel plans for 2017? If so, there are a few things that will make the financial aspects of your trip easier. (By the way, I was reminded of some of these things as I prepared for my trip to Japan a few weeks ago!) Set Your Budget We all like to cut […]
Budgeting for the Holidays
It’s that time of year for giving gifts, entertaining, hosting holiday parties and for many, overspending and financial stress. Setting a realistic holiday budget and making sure to stick to it are the first steps to a more affordable and less stressful season. The tips below will allow you to enjoy the season without letting […]
Should I Refinance My Home?
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dipped below 3.5% a couple of days ago. (The 30-year rate has been gradually decreasing over the last year and the 15-year rate has been fairly flat in 2016.) So, this might be a good time to ask, “Should I refinance my mortgage?” If the current interest rate is lower than […]
Protecting Your Identity
Identity theft comes in various forms, but the bottom line is that it involves people stealing information about you for their own gain without regard to the theft’s impact on you. Estimates as to its frequency vary, but there’s no disagreement that it’s widespread. Recovering from identity theft takes a lot of your time and […]