Beginning Financial Building Blocks
Q & A with Financial Planning Expert Roger Wohlner Beginning Financial Building Blocks Beginning a Career Q: I’m just starting out in my career. I put money monthly into a 401(k), but what else should I be doing? Roger Wohlner: Funding your 401(k) is a great start. You should also look to build up an [...]
How Does Probate Work Without A Will?
How does probate work without a will? The purpose of probate is to distribute assets and debt, if there is no will, the estate may not need to go through it. Q: What happens, if a person passes away and no one files probate because the estate has no assets? Do any of the deceased [...]
Beware of Financial Clutter
When I work with a new client in my financial planning practice, I often come across a condition that I call “financial clutter.” This has many forms, but a common version might look like this: Husband and wife have worked at several jobs and have a number of 401(k) plans left with their former employers. [...]
What Financial Advisors Talk About, and Why You Should Care
Since 2003, I have been a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, or NAPFA, which is the largest professional organization of fee-only advisors. Several years ago, NAPFA created a number of small study groups. The group to which I belong has nine members, and all of us are either solo or have [...]
The Real Cost of “Free” Financial Advice
Recently, a friend asked me to look over his mother’s holdings. His mother is in her late 60s, recently divorced, and on her own financially for the first time. She decided to go with the financial advisor rep at her local bank for some free investment help. Because she didn’t pay for any sort of [...]
How to Save Money on a Tattoo
When I was 18, I decided I needed a tattoo. Very original, I know. But I was determined. A friend of mine and I went to a new tattoo shop in our college town. I had a coupon for 10% from the local Penny Saver-type paper. In my defense, I was a broke college-kid. My [...]