View from the Lake
Where Financial Planning meets the Real World
What your Grandkids can teach you about Financial Planning
One of the best things about having little ones around is they teach you all about the small joys in life. Picture the last time you were with your grandkids, or even think back to when your kids were just little tikes playing their favorite game, finally getting the toy they always dreamed of on […] Read More
Your Parents’ Inheritance
Your parents called, and they asked me to write you this note about what to do when inheriting their money. I wasn’t thrilled with the idea, but they are good people, so I figured I better do it. We both know how hard it is to say “NO” to them so let’s take a look […] Read More
Case Study: Planning Issues for Spouses with Large Age Differential
Love has no age limit. Couples who meet in high school or college are typically less than 4 years apart in age. However, when spouses marry later in life, the age gap can be 10, 15 or even 20+ years. Planning for spouses who have a large age differential presents unique planning issues. Meet the […] Read More
Financial Planning for the One Who Has It All
Imagine this. We are going to take everything from you except the clothes on your back. Now we are going to give you a bag of money that equals your net worth before we took everything away. What are you going to do with this money? Will you have the same house and the same […] Read More
Why your Pastor may Refer you to a Financial Planner
As you settle into the pews for Sunday service, the pastor mentions to the congregation that it’s ‘Giving Sunday’ – the annual ritual of giving parishioners the opportunity to give, the responsibility to share, the joy of tithing. Imagine the pastor beginning the homily with a parable about the time the sinner met with the […] Read More
Estate Planning from the Cottage Pier
You’ve all read the articles about the importance of having a well drafted estate plan. The articles start with the importance of having a Will, then dovetail into the necessity of having Power of Attorney Forms. The article reaches a not-so fascinating crescendo by talking about Revocable Living Trusts and how they work. Yep, we’ve […] Read More
Retirement Income Strategies: A Case Study
Retirement is top of mind for many of us, especially those of us who can see the finish line less than a few years away. You’ve likely saved your entire life and developed a nice nest-egg of assets. You’re modestly confident you have enough money to retire comfortably, but you’re still unsettled. Why? You haven’t […] Read More
What is the Best Investment Strategy?
If you ask 10 different financial advisors how they would invest a client’s money, you’ll get 10 different answers. So, what’s the best strategy? Shakespeare believes the best investment strategy is achieved when it is derived from your financial plan with the sole purpose of achieving your life goals. An advisor could have great investment […] Read More
Bunching Charitable Gifts and Property Taxes to Save Money
The new tax law signed into law in December 2017 for future tax years increased the standard deduction from $12,000 to $24,000 for married couples, and half that amount for single filers. As a result, over 80% of the population will use the standard deduction moving forward. Although an increased standard deduction is a good […] Read More
