Overview: Join us on this week’s episode of Launch Financial as we discuss a rough end to February in the stock market, the 10-year treasury yields record high, home prices, tax season, cash strategies and more. Email info@shermanwealth.com with inquiries or questions.
Show Notes:
We all know that being a part of a couple takes work and that open, honest communications is key! We read an interesting article that spoke about how individuals choose their partners and that often times, we match with those who have similar interests and values as ourselves. However, while this may be true, Jenny Olson, an assistant professor of marketing at Indiana University who studies couples’ financial decision-making, found that “when it comes to money-management styles, opposites do attract.” As financial advisors, we have seen many cases where two partners have different backgrounds and relationships with money. It is very common for partners to have different approaches to their finances, but it’s important in how they to approach the merge them.
In order to have a relationship that is strong financially, as well as emotionally, remember to regularly discuss and review your finances and goals to help make sure that you and your partner are not only on the same track, but on the right one for you as a couple. When you become serious with your partner or even get married, many couples have to sit down to talk about both their relationship with money and how the merging of finances will work. While we know its not easy, its important in order to avoid financial lies. In fact, we read an interesting article that said financial lies between partners are way more common than you’d think. The study from Forbes Advisor found that the top three financial lies American’s tell each other are relating to debt, spending and large purchases, and spending patterns. While you and your partner may not have the same spending habits or relationship with money, but finding a happy medium or compromise to allow honesty is extremely crucial.
At Sherman Wealth, we work with many newly weds, young professionals and couples on the merging of their finances and how to find a medium that works for both parties. As we have said time and time again, communication, transparency, and honesty is key to a healthy relationship, especially as it relates to finances. We know money conversations can be awkward and uncomfortable, but they really are necessary for couples wanting to build a financial roadmap.
So, let’s take a look at some important topics couples should regularly review and discuss.
While financial topics can be difficult to discuss, they’re an important part of a happy and successful relationship. As mentioned prior, here at Sherman Wealth we help couples facilitate these conversations, especially when it comes to merging finances and creating combined goals. Make sure that both you and your partner are on the same page when it comes to finances, and set short and long term goals together to help keep you both on track.
If you need help going over your finances or coming up with a plan, you may want to seek working with a financial advisor to help point you in the right direction, based on your own goals, and help facilitate difficult, but important, discussions. If you have any questions, email us at info@shermanwealth.com or schedule a complimentary intro call here.
We know that it can be difficult or overwhelming to stay on top of your finances. At Sherman Wealth, we focus on helping young professionals and families get their finances on the right track, and curate strategies to help simplify their life as it becomes more complicated. So whether you are working with a financial advisor or not, let’s take a look at some costly financial mistakes we see young professionals and millennials oftentimes make.
One of the first commonly made mistakes we see with our clients is purchasing the wrong insurance products or not having the proper insurances in place. We see tons of people in their 20’s purchasing whole life and non-level term policies from large insurance companies that are truly not right for them and that they truly do not understand. Oftentimes, it is not until these individuals are starting their families and progressing their careers that they realize they have been losing money with the wrong policy for them. It is very important to discuss with a professional or research what policies are best for you and your family before blindly purchasing the wrong insurance.
Budgeting and saving is always a priority when it comes to building your financial portfolio and especially starting a family. In previous blogs, we have talked about the importance of starting and saving from an early age and the power that compounding interest and “time” in the market has on your money. Whether you are starting your first job or graduating college, it is never too early to start saving, even if it’s only a few dollars per month. On the topic of spending, many young professionals inflate their lifestyle way too quickly and are subject to lifestyle creep. Make sure you are aware of your cash inflows and outflows, and are not spending more than you make. Creating a budget and using the “bucket strategy” can allow you to effectively keep track of your spending.
Another commonly made mistake we see among this demographic is not signing up for your company 401(k) and taking advantage of the match. We have seen tons of cases where individuals are not signing up for their company’s retirement plan and matches until five to ten years later, which is giving away a large chunk of your salary benefits and essentially, “free money”. It is always the right move to sign up for your company 401(k) and contribute the full match if your situation allows you too in order to build a strong retirement account.
Lastly, another mistake we see individuals making is not contributing to their health savings accounts (HSAs). A health savings account (HSA) can help you lower your taxes as they are triple tax free. Our advice is to always take advantage of these types of accounts if you are eligible, that can help you make the most of your current situation and future.
By avoiding these four commonly made financial mistakes in your early years, you and your family will be in a much better situation as you embark on the next chapter in your life. If you made financial resolutions earlier this year, make sure you are checking them off as you make way through the year and let us know if you need any help. As always, speak with your financial professional to ensure you are making the right decision for your particular situation. If you have any questions, please email us at info@shermanwealth.com or schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation here.
Estate planning is a financial topic that many individuals oftentimes overlook; however, it is one of the most important components of a solid financial plan. We know that estate planning is not the most joyful conversation topic and it is typically avoided due to its morbidity, but if you are reading this, we want you to take this opportunity to revisit your estate plan and avoid these common mistakes.
The most common mistake you can make around estate planning and your will, is NOT having one. Everyone knows they should have a will, but many either think they are too young for it to make sense or think they do not have enough assets to need one. However, this misconception has been proved wrong time and time again. In fact, we recorded a podcast episode with Head of Trusts and Estates Practice, Adam Moskowitz on why it’s never too early to establish a will, medical directive, and power of attorney. Many also believe that they only need a will, and forget about their power of attorney and medical directive, that plays a crucial role in your wishes should anything happen to you.
Another common mistake we see is not updating your will as your life becomes more complicated. Whether it’s a new house, more children, marriage, or complexities within your familial situation, updating your will as your life becomes more complex is extremely important. Making regular updates to not only your will, but also the beneficiaries on your retirement and other investment accounts is a great way to make sure you remain protected as your life goes on. Make sure that when you make changes to your will or living trust, that you are reflecting and updating those changes on your beneficiary designations as well.
Depending on your financial and life situation, creating a will, medical directive, and power of attorney can include many moving parts, which is why we encourage you to at least speak with a professional who can help guide you through it or in the right direction. Another common error many individuals make when it comes to their will is losing their original copy, so make sure you are holding onto your original copy somewhere safe.
As you can tell from above, drafting a will, medical directive and power of attorney is a crucial player in your financial plan. Not only do you want to protect yourself should anything happen to you, but you also want to think about your heirs and make sure that they are taken care of as you wish. If you have any questions for us regarding your need for a new or updated estate plan, let us know and we are happy to set up a conversation to head you in the right direction. If you have any questions, email us at info@shermanwealth.com.
Overview: Tune into this week’s episode of Launch Finanical as we discuss the impact rising rates have on your wallet, the importance of having an estate plan, the markets, bond yields, and more.
Show Notes:
We’ve been talking a lot about the importance of having a financial plan in place, especially given the current market climate with hot inflation and rising interest rates. Establishing financial goals and creating a roadmap to achieve them is extremely important to your financial life. It’s often hard to see the whole scope of your financial picture on your own, which is why we want to discuss the value of establishing a financial plan. So, for those of you who have never utilized a financial place, let’s discuss some services you can expect.
Whether you work with a financial professional or build a financial plan on your own, having all your finances in one place with a strategic plan and goals in mind is crucial. Financial literacy in this country is lacking, so it’s extremely important to educate individuals on the true value of financial planning. Financial planning isn’t as daunting and scary as you might think – it’s actually quite a seamless process that allows you to organize yourself and set you and your family up for financial success in the future.
At Sherman Wealth, we take a holistic, micro and macro approach when attacking your financial plan, beginning with a qualitative risk tolerance questionnaire to gauge your comfortability with your current asset allocation risk and risk for future investments. We then take a look at everything you have, aggregating your whole financial into our financial software in order to analyze it and see the bigger picture.
As you can see in the document above, we offer many services and can help you in all assets of your financial life, whether its getting organized and automating, establishing a budget and goals, discussing your cash flows and tax efficient strategies, reviewing your insurance and estate planning needs, or preparing for college. While these are only a few of the services we offer, having a financial concierge to talk these topics through with can simplify your life.
For example, as mentioned in a previous blog, many people sit on too much cash that is not growing as inflation rises, while others find themselves with too little cash when an emergency pops up. It’s okay not to know what to do with your money, but it’s important to seek advice or ask for help. A solid financial plan can help you separate your needs from your wants and create a budget that allows you to put your money into “buckets” – one for saving, one for investing and one for spending.
Many people think they are in a good financial situation if they can simply pay their monthly bills and have some money in a savings account; however, oftentimes, this mindset won’t allow you to reach your financial dreams. While this isn’t necessarily a bad position to be in, creating a financial plan can help you learn some different ways to grow your money and how to save for retirement.
At Sherman Wealth, we say that life is complicated, but your finances don’t have to be. We have designed a customized and comprehensive financial plan system that helps you see your whole financial picture and makes sure you don’t forget about things such as investing, employee benefits, and more. Encourage your friends and family to start thinking about their personal finance and empower them to seek help to better their financial future. If you have any questions or would like to demo our financial planning software, email us at info@shermanwealth.com or schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation here.
Being a business owner ourselves, we feel that financial education and empowerment of everyone, including your staff, is extremely important. As a small business owner, do you ever feel that there’s more you can be doing to better and further the financial education of your employees? Creating a work environment where your employees are given the proper resources to understand the full scope of their benefits and become financially literate is key to creating a team that can make sensible and educated decisions regarding their financial futures.
It’s easy to let your finances get away from you, especially when you are busy with day-to-day life and feel that you have the basics taken care of. However, as a business owner, we encourage you to help your staff see beyond that financial comfortability and challenge them to set themselves up for financial success by contributing to their 401(k) for retirement, seeking financial advice, and asking questions about all the benefits you may offer. We know that you are most likely too busy and pre-occupied to answer financial wellness and financial benefit questions from your staff, which is why we created a service to alleviate this weight from your shoulders.
We’ve found that companies who offer financial wellness programs have less anxiety-ridden and financially stressed employees. According to a nationwide survey from Bank of America, “91% of employers see higher employee satisfaction when they offer resources to manage overall wellbeing.” This finding reinforces the need for stronger financial education, especially when it comes to retirement and setting financial goals in our country as well as within our firms. Reducing the financial anxiety of your employees should not only increase their workplace satisfaction but efficiency and work product.
As a business owner and entrepreneur, it is easy to get sidetracked with miscellaneous tasks and other aspects of keeping your company running, but it’s important to not only make sure your employees are happy, but are on the road to financial success. If you find yourself too overwhelmed or don’t feel you have the necessary expertise to educate your employees regarding their finances, consider hiring a financial planner or 401(K) consultant as a guide. At Sherman Wealth, we specialize in 401(k) education and can also serve as a financial fitness coach for your company. If you feel that your staff needs more financial empowerment, coaching and guidance, contact us at info@shermanwealth.com or schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation to discuss your company’s financial needs here.
Overview: Join us for a very special Valentine’s Day and inflatoin data episode of Launch Financial as we discuss CPI data released this morning, money conversations in a relationship, the superbowl, and the impact inflation has on your wallet.
Show Notes:
As we are in the depths of tax season and making our way through the beginning of the year, we want to discuss some important financial dates and deadlines to keep in mind over the next few months. Financial organization is a large component of financial success. Staying on top of deadlines, compiling forms, filing your tax return before April 15th, paying your bills on time, and funding your accounts are just a few ways you can remain organized financially. For example, your 1099 may be ready for download, meaning you can get ahead of your tax filing this year.
So, let’s take a look at some important dates that may impact you and your financial situation. If any of these dates apply to you, jot them down in your calendar or notebook so you don’t forget!
February 15: Individual Exemptions Due (2022)
March 15: Tax due date for certain types of businesses
April 1-30: Financial Literacy Month
April 1: If you turned 72 in 2022, you have until April 3, 2023 to take your 2022 required minimum distribution
April 17: Last call to fund your IRAs and HSAs
April 18: Tax Day
June 15: Second Quarter 2023 estimated tax payment due
September 15: Tax Extension Deadline for S-Corps and Partnerships
September 15: Third Quarter 2023 estimated tax payment due
October 1: FAFSA forms become available
October 15: Medicare Open Enrollment
October 16: Tax Extension deadline for individual and C-Corp returns
November 28: Giving Tuesday
December 31: Last call to fund your 401(K), Donor Advised Funds, 529 Plans
While these are just a few financial dates that stick out to us, this is a good starting point when getting financially organized. If you have any questions about these deadlines, let us know and we are here and happy to help. Of course, everyone has a different specific financial situation, so its important to fully understand yours and speak with a financial professional if you are unsure. Email info@shermanwealth.com if you have any questions or schedule a complimentary introductory call here.
Overview: Tune into this week’s episode of Launch Financial as we discuss the Federal Reserve raising interest rates by 25 basis points and how that impacts your wallet. We saw dissapointing earnings last week from mega-cap tech firms Apple, Alphabet, and Amazon as well. All eyes await for Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s clarity on future rate hikes later today. For inquiries or questions, email info@shermanwealth.com.
Show Notes:
