Every November I begin to feel the excitement (and stress!) that can come with high expectations for a festive holiday season. Now, with Thanksgiving under our belts, no pun intended, we have the next round of holidays just around the corner. For many, this time of year can be “the most wonderful time” and yet, it can be tinged with sadness, anxiety or depression. Of course, severe bouts of depression and anxiety are best served...

It was Socrates who said, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new”. As we advise our clients who are making their way through various life transitions, it is important to begin by acknowledging the mental and emotional toll of the transition period. We encourage clients to take time to honor their feelings without the added burden of also trying to decide...

Disasters can strike with little notice. Some are the product of mother nature, such as Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Jose and Maria, along with the horrible fires in California. Others, like the recent Equifax breach, are man-made. While these disasters may seem to have little in common, what they share is the personal and financial devastation left in their wake. The hurricanes devastated many homes and lives. In Hurricane Harvey alone, early estimates indicate that 230,000...

One day your life looks a certain way. You have goals, some are lofty and some are reasonable. You have a pretty decent plan for how your life is going now and how it will go in the future. You are content and comfortable with the life you have laid out before you. When your life changes instantaneously from a financial windfall the impact can take a toll on you, both emotionally and physically. Depending...

It is said that change is the only constant. While that proverb can be confusing to people experiencing relative stability in their lives, it is the constant change and lack of certainty that can bring people in the middle of a major life transition to their knees. Transition and change are two very different things, and while one will never stop occurring (change), the other (transition) can feel in the moment like there may never...

Adults are faced with challenges (and advantages) that can date back to our experiences as children, particularly when it comes to money values. Our long-term financial perspectives are strongly influenced by money conversations and experiences with parents. However, even kids that grow up in the same household can end up with very different money values. For example, my 12-year-old son is a “spender” and money seems to burn a hole in his pocket, while my...