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By Jim Shellenberger, CFA, CFP® Have you ever made a mistake with money? Don’t worry, no one is looking…you can raise your hand. When it comes to handling finances, some of us are better at this than others; but we all have made some financial blunders at least once in our lives. A 2019 study […]

By Jim Shellenberger, CFA, CFP® We’ve all procrastinated at some point. Maybe it was a homework assignment when you were in school or that house chore that just never seemed to get done. When we procrastinate on these little things, usually the consequences aren’t too large. But if you put off creating a plan for

By Jim Shellenberger, CFA, CFP® We all love secrets, right? Especially when they benefit us. While a backdoor Roth IRA isn’t the world’s best-kept secret, it’s one that surprisingly few people know about and understand. If you’ve never heard of this type of IRA before, let’s explore what it is and how it could help

By Jim Shellenberger, CFA, CFP® When we were kids, our parents likely told us to save money, especially for times when we might need it.  Now that we’re adults, we work, aim for promotions, and save part of our pay in a savings account every month. It sounds good, but then you realize that while

By Jim Shellenberger, CFA, CFP® When you encounter an emergency, it often goes hand in hand with an unexpected cost. Whether it’s a car repair, a hospital visit, or a leak in the roof, having emergency savings can act as a safeguard against those surprise expenses. We’ll explore the essentials of creating an emergency savings

By Jim Shellenberger, CFA, CFP® Financial professionals offer a range of services, from investment advice and management to financial planning and wealth management. Although these terms are often used interchangeably, they involve different processes and outcomes. It’s a common misconception that these terms are synonyms for the same thing, but that couldn’t be further from

By Jim Shellenberger, CFA, CFP® Surprises are usually enjoyable—unless it’s time to file your taxes. For many people, tax season is a time of stress and anxiety, especially after all the economic instability over the past few years. Navigating the intricacies of your own finances and the continually changing tax codes and regulations can be

By Jim Shellenberger, CFA, CFP® Working decades of your life to one day reach retirement is a goal most of us share. But we all know someone who seems to be doing more, traveling more, and just enjoying everyday life more than most. You may find yourself asking, “How can I live in the now

By Jim Shellenberger, CFA, CFP® Money is an essential part of our lives, yet many of us often don’t learn the fundamental principles of personal finance until later in life. Many schools don’t offer personal finance education, and it’s not a given that your parents will teach you the basics. Adding to that, when we

By Jim Shellenberger, CFA, CFP® Small business owners have a lot to think about: daily business operations, attracting and retaining both customers and employees, and managing cash flow are just a few that top the list. When you add retirement planning to the mix, it can feel downright overwhelming. Thankfully there are many retirement plans