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You always hoped that you would be both friend and trusted advisor to your children...
You are planning for your children to become self-supporting—but are they? According to a recent study, 70% of young adults received support from their parents last year, often living with their parents because of financial needs.
Read MoreIt’s not what you don’t know that makes you a fool….
(But rather, what you do know that isn’t true!) According to a recent report, investment returns over the past two decades show a stunning failure by individual investors. Over the period of June 30, 1999 – June 30, 2019...
Read MoreThis is easy; right, so what could go wrong?
In recent years, the media has implied, and even suggested, that investment advice is simply a commodity, and that a smart, non-professional with internet access has all the tools he needs. Is this true? It’s true that many...
Read MoreDo you keep your financial records in a junk drawer?
Do you keep your financial records in a junk drawer? After all, a junk drawer is a quick, easy filing system, and you always know where everything is – pretty smart. Really? What if even simple and basic organizational habits...
Read MoreWhat's your plan - should you start your Social Security early or should you delay?
For a long time, Americans have tended to dismiss Social Security as too little to matter, or likely to “not be there when they retire.” Those objections tend to go away as retirement approaches. As Boomers approach...
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What do you feel? What do you think? What do you know?
What metric do you use to measure your financial progress? Do you rely on your feelings? Your thoughts? Or do you rely on what you know? If you could only pick one, which would it be? … Be careful, your answer matters a lot! If...
Read MoreWill Your Retirement Income Last?
That depends. How long will you live? Financial advisors call this longevity risk. Basically, it’s the simple relationship embodied in a question that almost every hard-working person asks: “will my money last as long as I...
Read MoreHigh in the Saddle, eh?
As the year closes, it’s a good time to consider the path you’re on. Are you sure that your financial plans will be accomplished? How do you know? Are there questions you should be asking at this point in the journey? For...
Read MoreYou thought you had this...
But What if it Requires More? Consider: That a portion of your retirement account actually belongs to the Federal government (in the form of future taxes), and that the government’s formula for retirement distributions may mean...
Read MoreDo you really need a special decoder ring to plan your retirement?
Listening to financial advisors, you could easily get the impression that retirement planning requires a special costume, secret words or a crystal ball. Actually, nothing could be farther from the truth. The concepts and strategies...
Read MoreIt may look like just another tax law, but ...
In 2018 Americans will experience the most far reaching tax reform change since 1986. The changes are foundational and impact nearly every person and business. The new law will have winners and losers, and you want to end up on the...
Read MoreExcited about your 401(k)?
No one likes cold water thrown in their face. However, if your primary retirement savings vehicle has been your 401(k), you may be in for some of that. When it comes to your savings strategy, ask yourself: have you chosen to pay tax on...
Read MoreWho Will Be the Last One Standing?
Hint: She’s Had Your Number for Years Is retirement different for men and women? YES! Women tend to live longer than their partners, an average of five to eight years longer. They also tend to retire earlier than men for various...
Read MoreWhat if the Least Important Thing in Retirement is ... $$$?
What if the Least Important Thing in Retirement is … $$$? Retirement is supposed to be a happy time, but what if it isn’t? You may be surprised to learn that a successful retirement isn’t just about how much money...
Read MoreThe Shocks of Retirement: Are you ready?
Many enter retirement married but, sadly, few couples leave it together. In most cases, wives outlive their husbands. We've all heard this, and dispatches from beautiful places like Sonoma or Naples, where the women outnumber the men,...
Read MoreWHERE DO YOU FIND TAX STRATEGIES? IS IT YOUR CPA? Right.
Does Your Financial Advisor Facilitate This Discussion? With all the noise about the new tax laws, have you heard how the changes affect you? It’s a good time to ask: My family owns a small business and I’ve heard that I...
Read MoreDon't Count On A Do-over
You Didn’t Think You’d Need It. You Weren’t Sure It Would Be There. But You Paid It Forward on Social Security, and Now It’s Your Turn. How Do You Get the Most Income? How Does Your Decision Impact Your Spouse?...
Read MoreAre We There Yet?
Retirement is like going on a cross country trip without knowing how long you’ll be gone for. How much money should you set aside? What happens if something goes wrong with your car? Will your trip lead to days at the beach? How...
Read MoreProcrastination?
Financial procrastination is not a common term, yet many of us see it in our daily lives. While late fees on a routine bill may seem like a small cost, the real cost for financial procrastination can be quite large. What’s worse,...
Read More#IdentityTheft!
But what about identity theft? This recent Equifax breach has left many of us wondering what it means that we “may have been impacted.” The truth is, we don’t know yet. Identity thieves are patient, often waiting...
Read MoreMarket Highs: Is it "Fake News"?
You hear the term ‘Fake News’ thrown around a lot these days. It makes sense—our media has been caught in lies, and celebrity culture threatens to overtake more important things. But beneath the term ‘fake...
Read MoreWhat Gives You Financial Security?
Is it a general sense that you have “enough”? Is it because your investment performance has been good the last few years? Does it come from comparing yourself favorably to others? OR Is it because you’ve had an...
Read MoreSo You Think You’re An Expert?
Safe Distribution Rate, Value Investing, BLACK SWAN, High Yield Bond, CDSC, Mortality & Expense Ratio, Value Trap, Separately Managed Account, Limit Order, Hedge Fund, Emerging Market, Currency Risk, Tax Loss Harvesting, Market Neutral...
Read MoreTaps, do you know the sound?
From it’s very first note, the song played at a military funeral, sunset and flag ceremonies, floods my memory. Personally, I think it is one of the most moving songs I know; just a single bugle and played entirely from the C...
Read MoreChasing Returns: A Good Idea?
Chasing returns is a popular form of the game called, “I can tell when it’s time to get in the stock market, and when it’s time to get out,” a favorite of amateur investors for many decades. This is a dangerous...
Read MoreConsider the risks before you jump!
Four questions to ask before you retire. Will I outlive my assets? How can I know? I love my life, but I cannot imagine living another three or four decades. Do I really need to be prepared for that? Could health care expenses be a...
Read MoreValue of an Advisor; Is an advisor worth it? (Part 2)
Is it worth the cost to hire a financial advisor? Wouldn’t I be better off keeping that fee for myself? These are excellent questions and the answers depend on many factors. Recently, two well respected firms have weighed in....
Read MoreValue of an Advisor; It's all about the outcome. (Part 1)
Do you need a financial advisor? Americans today want help in planning a successful financial outcome. But while there’s no shortage of advice— conferences, seminars, books, and, yes, financial columns in the media —...
Read MoreIs Conservative The New Aggressive?
Is conservative the new aggressive? Everyone wants the perfect investment—high returns and low risk. But it’s interesting that many clients who once described themselves as aggressive investors, now shy away from taking...
Read MoreThree Unexpected Reasons Your Retirement Plan May Fail
You’ve probably worked hard to create a retirement plan that will sustain you in the future and allow you to focus on your passions and family. But did you know that there are some factors that could derail your retirement...
Read MoreIs Your Retirement Plan Protected From Market Risk?
Do you get stressed over our unpredictable economy? Watching the market every day can be frustrating or exciting or both. You do your part, working hard to save for retirement and choosing suitable investments. But just doing your part...
Read MoreGood Financial Decisions: Brad & Monique
As a boy, I recall my grandfather showing me his closet full of neckties and telling me, "never throw your ties away." He told me that even when a tie went out of style, with just a little patience, the style would make a comeback at...
Read MoreWhat Would Boomers Gain From a Life Insurance Review?
If someone were to ask you, “What level of excitement do you feel for a life insurance review,” what would your response be? You might respond that you’d rather stare at a broken TV, watch your phone recharge, or only...
Read MoreIs Your Financial House in Order?
We would all love to spend less time worrying about our finances. One of the simplest and most effective strategies to make this a reality is first to spend some time organizing your financial house. By investing some time upfront, you...
Read MoreHow Will the Brexit Affect Your Portfolio?
As you’ve likely heard in the news, voters in the United Kingdom (U.K.) have chosen to leave the European Union (E.U.) after 43 years of membership. The resulting “Brexit” will likely affect the U.K. markets as well...
Read MoreWhy I Became a Financial Advisor
It recently occurred to me that I’ve been in this business for over ten years. This epiphany was an eye-opening moment for me and has caused me to spend some time reflecting on our practice and examining the reasons for my...
Read MoreDoes Your Financial Plan Deserve a Second Opinion?
In general, we understand the value of obtaining a second opinion, whether it is for our health, our families, or our career. When we research all the options, gather information, and get second opinions, we tend to have more peace of...
Read MoreFinancial Planning As Life Changes
By: Michael and Toby Goostree The Greek Philosopher Heraclitus said, “There is nothing permanent except change.” Though most of us agree that change is inevitable, we often live our lives wishing he were wrong. We tend to...
Read MoreWhy I Became a Financial Advisor
For as long as I can remember, finance has always intrigued me. Even as a young boy, I was curious about how investments work and which tools and techniques were available to help people reach their financial goals. When I was 16, I...
Read MoreWhat Does Goostree Financial Group Do?
Goostree Financial Group is an independent wealth management and retirement planning firm based in the greater Kansas City area. Led by father-son team, Michael and Toby Goostree, the firm provides comprehensive financial planning that...
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