When you marry, you buy life insurance. Right? You buy it out of consideration for your spouse, and also realize that in the event of either your untimely death or your spouse’s untimely death, your household could be left with one income to shoulder expenses that may not lessen.

These days, people are marrying later in life. Take first marriages, for example. A recent study by the Pew Research Center says the median age for marriage in America is now 30 for men and 28 for women, compared to respective median ages of 23 and 21 in 1968. Today, 16% of us are waiting until at least our late forties to marry.^1,2

This summer we have plans to take a few days off here and there to relax and spend some time with family – always a good thing to do during the summer months! One of these occasions included a long weekend in Park City, UT which is one of our favorite places in winter and summer. My son Alex wanted to take a mountain biking trip and, although I haven’t ridden a bike in quite some time, I agreed to tag along. Overall, it was a good experience and a beautiful day in spite of the downhill tumble that I took! Get the “full” story in my video below!🚵

Learn the 3 R's to help you prepare for market volatility

It's time to “get your financial house in order.” But, what exactly does that mean? 

There's a lot that goes into the process of getting your finances in order, but the first step is to be sure your financial house is built on a solid foundation. This means that you have six fundamental pillars (accounts) in place that are designed for sustaining your financial well-being and creating wealth. 

One of my favorite movies of all time is UP. The story is about an older man who is on a journey to save his property from developers who want to tear down his beloved home. At one point in their travels this gentleman and his boy scout companion encounter a talking dog.

Human nature is so interesting! I love to watch people, and I love to see their reactions as they are going through life. When they’re at Walmart (that’s interesting!) Out grocery shopping. With family. As you observe people in various situations you see all types of emotions and reactions.

We live in a "do it yourself" world. There are television networks and countless websites dedicated to learning how to "DIY" tasks that previously one would pay to have done for them.  

Over the years I often receive questions from people who want my “great insight” about investing and financial matters. When someone finds out that I work in wealth management, they usually ask for my best “hot tip” – and to that I want to reply,

Here are some things you might consider before saying goodbye to 2020.

What has changed for you in 2020? For many, this year has been as complicated as learning a new dance. Did you start a new job or leave a job behind? That’s one step. Did you retire? There’s another step. Did you start a family? That’s practically a pirouette. If notable changes occurred in your personal or professional life, then you may want to review your finances before this year ends and 2021 begins. Proving that you have all of the right moves in 2020 might put you in a better position to tango with 2021.

Even if your 2020 has been relatively uneventful, the end of the year is still a good time to get cracking and see where you can manage your overall personal finances.

Focus on your overall approach during times of short-term volatility.

As an investor, it can be tempting to get caught up in daily news headlines. Consider how news about the election and COVID-19 vaccines have moved the markets over the past several weeks. But having a financial strategy can help you ignore short-term volatility and focus on your long-term vision.

As you know, investing is a process based on your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. Interestingly enough, it’s also a process that may help you prepare for life’s financial challenges.