Author: Kelly Larson

Spring is a good time to clean out the cobwebs, and not just in your home or apartment. Your personal finances can benefit from a good spring cleaning, too. Here are some questions to ask yourself regarding your budget, debt, and taxes. Is there room in my budget to save more? A budget is the centerpiece of any good personal financialplan. After tallying your monthly income and expenses, you hopefully have money left over to save. But… is there room…
Continue reading Spring Cleaning Your Way to Better Finances

Recently we have been helping so many clients deal with their parents and estate planning. Coming to the realization that we need to take extra care of our parents later on in life is one of the most difficult things to deal with. It is hard to talk to anyone about money, let alone your parents. Regardless of whether you and your parents have always talked freely about money or never discussed the subject, there are several considerations you may…
Continue reading The Struggle We Face With Aging Parents

According to a recent survey, 76% of Americans reported having at least one financial regret. Over half of this group said it had to do with savings: 27% didn’t start saving for retirement soon enough, 19% didn’t contribute enough to an emergency fund, and 10% wish they had saved more for college.1 The saving conundrum What’s preventing Americans from saving more? It’s a confluence of factors: stagnant wages over many years; the high cost of housing and college; meeting everyday…
Continue reading Hindsight in 2020: What Will You Do Differently This Year?

Here are 10 things to consider as you weigh potential tax moves between now and the end of the year. 1. Set aside time to plan Effective planning requires that you have a good understanding of your current tax situation, as well as a reasonable estimate of how your circumstances might change next year. There’s a real opportunity for tax savings if you’ll be paying taxes at a lower rate in one year than in the other. However, the window…
Continue reading Ten Year-End Tax tips for 2019

Like almost everything else these days, the holidays have become a barrage of options and choices, with nearly limitless opportunities to overspend. Here are some tips to help you make sure your family’s spending remains in check this holiday season. Develop a spending strategy First and foremost, develop a budget. Involving family members will help you establish and maintain realistic expectations at the outset. Remember to include not just gifts, but also holiday meals and parties, travel, greeting cards and…
Continue reading Tips for Managing Your Holiday Spending

As you move through different stages of life, you will face new and unique financial situations. Did you just get engaged? Perhaps you are wondering how you and your partner are going to manage your money together. Do you have children? Maybe you are looking for ways to pay for their college education. When you navigate through these various life events, you might seek professional guidance to help you make sound financial choices. 1. Getting married Getting married is an…
Continue reading Five Times in Your Life When You Might Need Help With Your Finances