With all the kids going back to school this week, we’re all thinking about everything they’re going to learn this year. Exciting stuff! But don’t forget to keep teaching and talking to your kids at home about money, budgeting, and other basic financial topics.
This time of year, we’re all noting that in Central Kentucky, we’ve got about a month until school is back in session. Some us look forward to that, and getting back into our “normal” routines, but at the same time, a lot of us are trying to maximize these last few weeks of summer with the kids by heading to the beach, the pool, or taking a nice hike while the days are still long and warm.
I recently watched an excellent Ted Talk on how gratitude leads to happiness. The gist is that being truly grateful, even for the small things, and showing that gratitude throughout each and every day, leads to a much greater feeling of happiness and satisfaction in life.
When it comes to budgeting, we see people falling into the same traps over and over again. Now, in theory, well all know what it means to budget: live within your means, spend less than you make, save for emergencies. Sounds simple, right? Then why do so many people, no matter how much money they’re bringing in, have trouble with budgets?
It’s that time of year when caps and gowns are being packed away and newly minted college graduates have walked across the stage and into the real world here with the rest of us. Many of those students – and their parents and grandparents – will soon start paying off student loans, and will likely be thinking about consolidating some of them to make things a little more manageable.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve seen a lot of you at Keeneland enjoying the beautiful Kentucky spring while we watch the races. Even if I invited you out and you weren’t able to make it, I think we can all agree spring in the Bluegrass is truly a wonderful time of year. One question that always comes up, whether we’re talking about the financial markets or the horse races at Keeneland, is “What do you think Dave?”
As you know, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates recently, and we’ve gotten several questions from clients wondering how this could potentially affect their financial plan. The answer is that it could, and there are three areas within your portfolio to consider as interest rates are rising.
Our team may be different from other advisors you’ve worked with. Here’s why.
Whether you’re a client at Family Financial Partners or you don’t work with us yet, you may have noticed that our team approach looks a little different than other financial planners or advisors. First and foremost, what sets us apart and makes us unique is that we have a team of folks who are truly all in this together. Typically, within many other practices, we find that advisors are siloed, in that they have their own book of business, and they don’t share clients or work within client accounts that aren’t primarily the folks they deal with.
Keeping up with Joneses – it’s human nature, right? Your neighbor brings home a brand-new Beamer, and your 10-year-old Honda looks a little dull in comparison. Everyone has felt this way at some point, and it doesn’t start in adulthood. We all remember the kid who got a new bike every Christmas, and a new sports car for their 16th birthday. Now, that has evolved into who has the bigger engagement ring, who had the most lavish wedding, and who buys the biggest first home.
One thing I hear periodically as a financial advisor is, “I wish I had enough money to invest and work with you.” What I always tell these folks is to start with what they can control, rather than focusing on what they don’t yet have or can’t control. The best time to start saving is today.
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