Life is unpredictable, and sometimes unexpected events can rain on our parade. A few years ago, friends were visiting us from out of state. Our kids were at that really rambunctious stage and some high-flying playing in the basement resulted in the broken arm of one of our friends’ kids. Suddenly, I’m liable for the…
Each year leading up to Christmas, my family watches many of the same movies over and over again. They never seem to get old. While It’s a Wonderful Life is my all-time favorite, a scene from Home Alone struck me this year. Home Alone takes us back to 1990 and contains a scene where Kevin,…
The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina is America’s Largest Home and was first opened to family and friends on Christmas Eve, 1895. Sitting on 8,000 acres, the Biltmore House has 175,000 square feet (or 4 acres of floor space), and 250 rooms with 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces. Around the home is…
Periodically, I will see articles highlighting what a great opportunity the holidays are for discussing your estate plan. The idea is that with all the family together, let’s be on the same page about mom and dad’s wishes. I imagine someone passing the mashed potatoes and being asked if they would be willing to serve…
Retirement is a relatively new “stage of life.” The ability to save and invest and live without the need to work for an extended period of time was once reserved for royalty and head of state. Now, with millions of people living in retirement for often many decades, finding purpose has become a new, modern…
Sitting down with clients recently, the first thing out of their mouths was, “Where has this year gone?” Doesn’t every year end with some sense of “time flies”? 2023 has been a year of anniversaries and milestones. As I reflect on what I’m thankful for, I wanted to share some of them with you. This…
In retirement, you have your normal, everyday expenses, but in some years, you will buy a new car or update your kitchen or be a really generous grandparent. From where will this extra money come? Retirement portfolios are typically made up of a mix of different assets that are all taxed differently when withdrawn. With…
During the summer of 2023, the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS), notified thousands of state retirees that their names and social security numbers were compromised. These security breaches happen all too often these days making all of us vulnerable. But in the case where you know your information was compromised, what should you do? Prevention…
Social Security is a significant portion of many retirement income plans. The program does much more than pay a benefit to retirees. Below are some of the aspects of the plan that are commonly misunderstood: To make the most of your Social Security benefits and understand how they apply to your unique situation, it’s wise…
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash Most of us, if we haven’t experienced it ourselves, know someone that has been the victim of Identity Theft. On several occasions, I’ve had to make a call to our credit card company reporting a compromise and requesting a new card. This form, likely the most common, is also…