Category: Blog 2019

Recently, I ran across an article about the best (and worst) states for retirement.  It caught my attention because the “best” state turned out to be ….  Nebraska!  Many would be surprised at this.  After all, who would retire in such a cold place in the middle of the country?  Actually, I was not at all surprised.  I was born in Lincoln, Nebraska and spent the first twelve years of my life there.  I still visit relatives in the Cornhusker state and enjoy the wonderful people, slower pace and beautiful scenery the state has to offer.

Recently, I ran across an article about the best (and worst) states for retirement.  It caught my attention because the “best” state turned out to be ….  Nebraska!  Many would be surprised at this.  After all, who would retire in such a cold place in the middle of the country?  Actually, I was not at all surprised.  I was born in Lincoln, Nebraska and spent the first twelve years of my life there.  I still visit relatives in the Cornhusker state and enjoy the wonderful people, slower pace and beautiful scenery the state has to offer.

Of all the things we look forward to when planning to get married – from picking a venue to a honeymoon locale – one area we tend to glaze over is our finances.  Conversations about money with our significant others can oftentimes be difficult or uncomfortable, but making sure you are both on the same page about your finances is a crucial part of any relationship.  In fact, studies by SunTrust Bank and Kansas State University found that finances are the leading cause of stress in relationships and the number one reason for divorce in America.  When preparing to join finances in holy matrimony there are several things to keep in mind.

Life has recently become more exciting (and frustrating and tiring) as we have welcomed a new addition to our household – Ollie, a Great Pyrenees/Border Collie/Who-Knows-What-Else mix.  Since its been 6 years since we brought Tucker home, the first lesson learned was how quickly you forget how much work a puppy is. The second lesson – and most shocking one – is how much difference the breed makes when it comes to training. Tucker is a Shetland Sheepdog, a breed known for being smart and eager to please.  And among an incredibly easy-to-train breed, Tucker stands out as possibly the poster child for a compliant, well-mannered dog.  Like most parents with an “easy” first child, I of course came to believe his faultless manners were due to my superior training.  So, when we fell in love with sweet Ollie in the rescue cage in the middle of PetSmart, I found myself thinking how much Tucker would love a playmate, and “How hard can this be anyway?”

As we move past the midpoint for 2019, the economic outlook for the US continues to be positive but at a slowing pace, with market watchers focusing on the Fed and interest rate movements as a signal for what might lie ahead. Why are many focused on the Fed and how do markets react to interest rate moves?

As you know from my previous blog, I recently bought a new house (more house, bigger mortgage.) Also, my amazing wife Julie, and I, just had our second daughter, Elizabeth (another girl, another college, another wedding, more dresses and purses.) Since I don’t want to be guilty of planning better for my clients than my own family, I thought this was the ideal time to take a look at some of the plans I have in place for my family.