View from the Lake
Where Financial Planning meets the Real World
Think the Markets are Too High? Review Your Budget
Written By: Kevin Reardon, CFP® The financial press has been reporting a growing concern that people think the markets are too high. The implication is that if the markets go down, a person’s lifestyle will be impacted, and that’s a problem! The reality is market performance is not the main factor that impacts the success […] Read More
Financial Advice During a Health Crisis
Written By: Brian Ellenbecker, CFP®, EA, CPWA®, CIMA®, CLTC® It is one of the days you may fear most – you have a serious health event for the first time. This can be challenging for even the best prepared individuals. On top of the health event itself, it can be very emotional for you, your […] Read More
2021 Closing Thoughts | Market Updates
Written By: Nick Ziarek, CFA, CFP®, AIF® Every few months it’s my turn to write the blog post and I stare at a blank screen trying to think what will resonate with our clients, what is worth writing and will anyone read this (I hope you do!). This time I thought I would share snippets […] Read More
Family Discussions During the Holidays
Written By: Kevin Reardon, CFP® Family Finances & Holiday Cheer The holidays are here and it’s time to get together with those you love the most. We can all picture the scene – the front door opens and people pour in. The family is together again. Perhaps your special guests include adult children, grandchildren, parents, […] Read More
Brian’s Tip of the Month | December 2021
Top Lessons of 2021 A former colleague of mine, Mike Antonelli, who is the Market Strategist at Baird, recently shared some of his top lessons from 2021. There were three that I thought were particularly relevant given the current market and political environments we find ourselves in. I hope you enjoy them as much as […] Read More
Carrying a Mortgage into Retirement
By Ryan Rink CFP®, ChFC®, CLTC® Pros & Cons of Carrying a Mortgage into Retirement Twenty years ago, the thought of carrying a mortgage into retirement was scary, especially if you had enough assets to completely pay it off. However, the notion behind this has changed over time with interest rates decreasing over the years. […] Read More
Year-End Planning Reminders
Year-End Financial Planning Reminders By Brian Ellenbecker CFP®, EA®, CPWA®, CIMA®, CLTC® As we approach the end of the year, now can be a good time to make some last-minute planning moves. Position yourself to start 2022 off on a good financial note. Congress is currently debating the Build Back Better Act. To pay for infrastructure bills […] Read More
Sustainable Investing – What is It?
By Nick Ziarek CFP®, CFA Sustainable Investing Today More and more, returns are no longer the only driver that investors look for when making their investment decisions. Among the hottest trends in the markets today is sustainable investing. This is driven by investors following a values-based philosophy of wanting to do better by being better. […] Read More
