Yesterday, Congress passed a budget bill ending the “file-and-suspend” Social Security planning technique. Does it matter now when to start taking your Social Security benefit? _____ Yesterday's news headlines…
Elliott Weir, CFPNovember 3, 2015
Everyone who has ever traveled by airplane has heard the pre-flight safety instructions. Those instructions tell us, among other things, that adults should secure their oxygen masks before helping a…
Elliott Weir, CFPOctober 5, 2015
Could a commonly used retirement "rule of thumb" unnecessarily restrict your retirement income? _____ Over the years, the "4% rule" has gained traction as the safest measurement to ensure…
Elliott Weir, CFPMarch 9, 2015
Many advisors charge an "Assets Under Management" (AUM) fee based on a percentage of your assets. The logic seems sound - if the value of your account goes up then…
Elliott Weir, CFPFebruary 20, 2015
In my last post (Keeping Your Money from the Crooks), I covered some steps you can take to prevent you or someone you love from falling victim to a…
Elliott Weir, CFPFebruary 6, 2015
How can we reduce the number of people who fall victim to financial fraud, and how can you avoid becoming a victim? _____ Few things make my blood boil…
Elliott Weir, CFPJanuary 22, 2015
Conventional wisdom says to pay off your mortgage by the time you reach financial independence. Why is that not always the best approach? _____ It seems to make sense…
Elliott Weir, CFPNovember 7, 2014
To some, the term estate planning conjures up images of mansions and luxury, so why can’t "regular people" afford to ignore it? _____ Note: I am NOT an attorney!…
Elliott Weir, CFPJune 9, 2014
When considering whether to buy an annuity, you will likely read glowing praises from sales materials and dire warnings from some in the media. How can you evaluate this "boogeyman"…
Elliott Weir, CFPJune 2, 2014
There is no lack of ideas on what to evaluate when deciding whether to buy or sell a stock or mutual fund, whether to invest or "sit on the sidelines",…
Elliott Weir, CFPMay 21, 2014
Few investment questions stir up more debate than whether it is better to invest with managers trying to beat an index ("active managers") or better to simply track the index…
Elliott Weir, CFPMay 14, 2014
Continuing on from last week's post, have you counted on these often-forgotten or misunderstood expenses? _____ Last week we covered certain assumptions about retirement expenses that are often not…
Elliott Weir, CFPMay 1, 2014
Do you plan for your expenses to drop in retirement, for expenses to simply increase with inflation, and to be mortgage-free? Reality paints a very different picture!
Elliott Weir, CFPApril 24, 2014
How can writing one check create a lifetime of memories for your grandchildren? _____ During my years working directly with life insurance, I learned a lot of unique ways…
Elliott Weir, CFPMarch 20, 2014
Many news outlets are running articles about the need for advisers to act as a fiduciary. So what IS a fiduciary, and should it matter to you? _____ New…
Elliott Weir, CFPMarch 14, 2014
Have the movies and the media convinced you that danger lurks around every corner on Wall Street? By taking a smart approach, you can shield yourself from letting a rotten…
Elliott Weir, CFPMarch 6, 2014
Do you find yourself comparing your portfolio performance to the S&P 500 and NASDAQ performance you hear in so many places? Is that the best yardstick to see if you…
Elliott Weir, CFPFebruary 28, 2014
How much do you know about the financial planning and preparations your parents have completed? It can be an uncomfortable conversation, but making the effort NOW can pay off for…
Elliott Weir, CFPDecember 16, 2013
Some authors and pundits believe that the retirement of Baby Boomers from the workforce will have dire consequences on the stock market since they will be selling, not buying. How…
Elliott Weir, CFPDecember 9, 2013