We have been talking to a lot of clients about ethical and impact investing lately. Opportunities to align investment dollars with personal values have become more available as investor demand has increased. It is now possible to effectively make investments that focus on the environment, sustainability, workplace disparities, or gender equality. In fact, from 2014 to 2016 these types of investments grew by more than 33%.[1] The desire to align personal values with spending dollars...

I was a wreck when my daughter Maddy went off to college three years ago. I had so many emotions about my oldest child, my first baby, leaving home and venturing out on her own. On the other hand, Maddy was so excited–without an apprehensive bone in her body. She was ready to start her college experience and for that I was grateful. But I had my concerns about her safety, her well-being, her ability...

This past April, my family and I went to Spain to visit my oldest daughter, Maddy. She was spending a semester in Barcelona and that was a great incentive to take a European vacation. As a planner, it should come as no shock that I often plan my vacations fairly meticulously. I like to know where I’m going and, typically, lead the way. There was something very different about this vacation though, and it taught...

Getting a clear financial picture can help ease the transition into retirement because, at the very least, you’ll know what accounts you will be drawing from, where they are being managed, how your investments can continue to generate income for you, and what tax liabilities they may impose. It requires discipline and clarity to keep your finances organized before and during retirement. Retirement Accounts If you are like most of your contemporaries, you have held...

The recent and sudden passing of Kate Spade due to suicide has raised awareness about mental illness and the challenges women face in middle age. Based on my experience working with women of all ages, I know that the stress of life can lead to mental illness and long-term health problems if not addressed proactively. Although I’m not a mental health professional, I felt compelled to write an article about those challenges with an emphasis...

When I decided to start Flourish Wealth Management a little over four years ago, there was a great deal to consider and to plan for. But first I had to accept the fact that I could fail, things could turn out worse than I expected them to, the market could take a nosedive the day after we opened our doors, and my planning and effort could all be for naught. But, there was the other...