News

How to Tell if You Are Saving Enough for Retirement

aca_admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:59:00 GMT

In the US News & World Report article "How to Tell if You Are Saving Enough for Retirement" by Emily Brandon, ACA member Connie Stone advises that individuals need to monitor their spending. She goes on to say, "Most people don't change how much they spend when they retire. Work off the scenario that you are going to spend about the same as you do now in retirement." Click here to read the entire article.

The Budget Smart Girl Newsletter for February 2010

aca_admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:26:00 GMT

An interview with ACA member Ken Robinson about his book Don't Make a Budget: Why it's So Hard to Save Money and What to Do About It appears on "The Budget Smart Girl's Guide to the Universe." Click here to read the entire interview.

President of the Financial Planning Association ends an eventful year

aca_admin — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:05:00 GMT

Kansas City Business Journal writer James Dornbrook reviews the accomplishments of exiting FPA President Richard Salmen. Dornbrook writes that during his term Salemen "sought to help strengthen the financial planning industry and spent much of his term talking with federal officials about regulatory reform, being interviewed by the national media and helping explain complex financial planning issues." Click here to read the enire article.

Save $100 (or More) a Month

aca_admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:36:00 GMT

In the "Save $100 (or More) a Month" article in the January issue of Good Houskeeping Richard Salmen provides insight on reasons for refinancing a home. Click here to read the entire story.

Promises you can keep

aca_admin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:06:00 GMT

In the Boston Globe article "Promises you can keep" Lynn Astinof explores how individuals can keep their financial New Year's resolutions. "If you have a family, the top priority should be writing a will and naming guardians for your children. But if you already have a will, buying life insurance could be the first item on your list," says Dana Levit.

Click here to read the entire article.

We Need a Makeover!

aca_admin — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:24:45 GMT

In the "We Need a Makeover" section of January's Money Magazine, Jeff McClarren helps a semi-retired couple allocate their retirement assets to accommodate their current and future lifestyles. His recommendations include: cut back on stocks, protect against inflation, build a bond ladder, hedge against higher taxes and plan to spend less.

New You, Now

aca_admin — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:44:36 GMT

In the "Save Up" section of the January issue of Southwest Airlines' Spirit magazine, Ken Robinson encourages individuals to set aside $5 each time they are paid to help curb unncessary spending. Click here to read the entire article.

Marley’s Ghost Was Haunted by Regret

aca_admin — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:11:00 GMT

In his story for mensnewsdaily.com entitled "Marley's Ghost Was Haunted by Regret" author David John Marotta analyzes the financial personalities of Charles Dickens characters from A Christmas Carol, Jacob Marley and Ebenezer Scrooge. He relates their behaviors, one as a miser and the other driven by greed, to the financial personalities described by Bert Whitehead in his book Why Smart People Do Stupid Things with Money. Click here to read the entire article.

Should couple stick with 'boring' returns or jump back into the stock market?

aca_admin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:46:50 GMT

In the "Ask the Expert" column of the Cleveland The Plain Dealer, Ken Robinson warns that comparing returns with others can be misleading and that investing is not a competition. Individuals would be better served by working with a financial advisor to develop a long-term diversified asset allocation that serves their unique needs. Click here to read the entire article.

A plan for getting by, working less

aca_admin — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:59:00 GMT

In the Boston Globe article, "A plan for getting by, working less" Lynn Astinof explores whether an unemployed, single woman in her 50s is able to retire. With the help of Dana Levit, it was determined that while her investments were not yet able to fully fund her retirement, she would need to earn far less than expected to cover her living expenses.

Click here to read the entire article.

Finding a Financial Planner Who's Right for You

aca_admin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:48:29 GMT

In a special report from Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Jeff Kosnett helps individuals understand what to look for when evaluating financial planners. He identifies ACA as part of a growing segment known as “life-planning” or “holistic financial planners.” While investments play a role in the planning, holistic financial planners see them as a means to achieving your life goals. Rather than playing the role of a “yes man” they provide guidance, support, and candid collaboration that help you identify and accomplish your goals.

Read the entire story.

New widows can learn from the experiences of others who have lost their husbands

aca_admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:59:00 GMT

For this week’s U.S. News & World Report article “Four Financial Tips for Widows” Philip Moeller collaborates with online baby boomer resource Boomerater.com to help widows plan for the future and avoid mistakes others have made.

One Boomerater member whose husband just passed away writes that for 40 years he handled all their finances and now she is lost without him: “There are so many decisions to make; where do I start?” One of the tips offered by other Boomerater members is to get help to develop a realistic financial plan: This includes deciding whether or not to change jobs or move to a new home, taking a hard look at your income and living expenses, and assessing what sources of income you’ll have when you retire.

A financial planner can help with these, and other, important decisions such as estimating future medical expenses, determining when to begin collecting Social Security, and deciding when and how to withdraw money from retirement accounts. One of their suggestions is to contact a member of the Alliance of Cambridge Advisors: “It might make sense to contact a member near you to set up a financial review that could give you peace of mind now and a guide to help for full planning later when you’re ready to take that step.”

Click here to read the full article.

You can double-check your broker’s recommendations

aca_admin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:35:00 GMT

This month’s Bottom Line Secrets/Personal article “Get a second opinion on investments” has advice for those who aren’t entirely comfortable with their broker’s recommendations. One of their suggestions is to find a planner through ACA: Their members—who are all fee-only advisors—give unbiased investment advice as opposed to brokers who may be compensated by earning a commission on products they sell.

August is a good month for a financial seventh-inning stretch

aca_admin — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:43:00 GMT

In today’s Chicago Tribune article “Time to make sure your fiscal ducks are in a row” reporter Carolyn Bigda points out that August is a good time to take stock of our progress toward our financial goals: We’re more than halfway through the year, but even if our behaviors have been counter-productive we still have time to get back on course. Take a look at the credit card and banking fees you are paying; check to make sure that you are contributing an appropriate amount to your 401(k) or 403(b); and pull together records of your spending for the first half of the year to see exactly where your money is going. Troy Von Haefen of Von Haefen Financial Management in Nashville, Tennessee weighs in on this last point: “It’s all about making choices,” he says. “In my family we’d rather cut coupons and save money at the grocery store so that we can enjoy the golf club.”

Click here to read the entire article.

The lazy days of summer are a good time to do some after-life planning

aca_admin — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 13:19:00 GMT

In today’s Sunday Oregonian column “Downturn a good time to brush up on will” Brent Hunsberger says that the lull of mid-summer is the perfect time to tackle a topic we all hate to face: “In death, how do I part?” For those who don't have a will, a good place to begin, he notes, is to decide whether or not you need one. On this point Troy Thompson of Thompson Advisory Services in Portland, Oregon weighs in decisively: “I think everybody should have a will. Certainly, if you’re married or have children, there’s absolutely no excuse.”