Posts by Taylor Stanfill, CFP®
20 Second Advisor: We Are Here & Refinance
WE ARE HERE: Uncertainty surrounds the investment markets and our economy right now. We understand this is hard, and we want to be here in every possible way for our clients (and for anyone else who needs help). Thankfully, we can work anywhere we have internet. So, we are open for business and available if…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Coronavirus and Investment Markets
NOTE: Given the topic, this post is slightly longer than 20 seconds 🙂 In light of the recent COVID-19 epidemic and it’s effect on some investment markets, we wanted to try and put it in perspective. First, let’s remember the doctors, patients, and families who are directly dealing with the virus. We encourage you to…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Beliefs Drive Decisions
Every one of us carries around a set of beliefs about how the world works. These beliefs drive our decisions. For example, we used to believe that the world was flat. Therefore, we didn’t venture very far offshore. Everything changed when we discovered that the world was round! This principle applies to our money as…
Read More20 Second Advisor: 2019 Market Review
2019 was a great year for investors! Further, the past decade produced healthy returns as well. The chart below outlines the 1, 5, and 10 year annual returns for different investments. Click here for our full 2019 Market Review
Read More20 Second Advisor: Shift Your Focus
Approximately 1/3 of all annual giving happens in December*. Clearly, there is a deep pull in us to help others around the Holiday season. Act on that and donate money or time to an organization you believe in! Not sure where to start? Answer these questions: What local organizations are doing great stuff in your…
Read More20 Second Advisor: 2020 Retirement Contributions
Now is a great time to plan for 2020. How much will you save towards retirement in 2020? Do you know how much you should be saving? Here are the maximum amounts you can save into the most commonly used retirement plans in 2020: 401k Pre-tax or ROTH – $19,500 (increased from $19,000) 401k Catch-up…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Why Am I Doing This?
We work with a lot of business owners. At some point, they always ask “why am I doing this and what am I going to do when it’s done?” Usually, they are asking this about their business, but these questions carry over into our broader financial lives. It’s important to think through the long term…
Read More20 Second Advisor: An Overlooked Topic
When it comes to financial planning, I find that a topic that’s often overlooked is generosity. People who have a plan to share some of their hard earned money with others are more fulfilled and satisfied. I believe we all have an inherent desire to help others. We can express this by sharing our time…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Top Reason People Seek Financial Help
The first question I ask when I meet with someone is… “What happened that made you want to reach out?” One of the most common answers is… “I’m doing this for my spouse; I want to make sure they have peace of mind and understand our finances.” This is a great reason! Many times, one…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Urgent vs. Important
I recently re-read 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. It is a fantastic and timeless book that has the capacity to permanently impact our lives if we apply the principles. In the book, Stephen introduces the concept of the Urgent vs. Important matrix pictured below. Everything we do fits into one of…
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