Having versus Being
Do you confuse your needs with your wants? Have you caught yourself thinking that you “need a vacation” or “need to try a pumpkin latte”? If yes, your sense of entitlement may be making you lose sight of what you really need versus what you want. So, where does a sense of entitlement come from? […]
Back to School- Money 101 for Parents
It’s back-to-school time! Take this four month Money 101 for Parents challenge and make the rest of this year count.
Inheritance- The Taboo Topic
As part of my client’s financial planning process, we discuss retirement and even the taboo topic of inheritance. There are three camps that most families with young children fall into: 1) They think they’ll get something, 2) Their parents are set with pensions and savings but there will not be anything left over for inheritance, […]
Don’t Miss the Journey to Financial Freedom
Is the freedom that money buys worth the sacrifices you make to reach this freedom? “What is important in life is life, and not the result of life.” ~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe Setting financial goals and creating your financial plan is all about determining your destination. And if life is about the journey, not […]
Time to Buy Real Estate?
Time to Buy Real Estate Market uncertainty, record low interest rates, lack of housing inventory, signs of economic recovery, increasing rents… When you put all of these together, what do you get? A lot of questions about whether this is the “perfect” time to buy or keep renting. I speak with a lot of people […]
Why Nobody Should Have a 529 Plan
Saving for college is a daunting task for parents. Here is why to NOT use a 529 plan.
Affording Childcare
For most dual income families, childcare is often the second largest monthly expense for families (#1 is housing). If you have two children under the age of five, you may be spending thousands each month on childcare if you both are working. Even if you have a stay at home parent, I find that budgeting […]
How Strong is Your Money Relationship?
Money touches almost every decision a couple makes. Whether you ask “What’s for dinner?”, or “Which movie do you want to rent?” money is involved. And within every couple’s relationship, there is a relationship with money. Since people see money through different lenses there can be conflict in this money relationship. Opposite money types tend […]
Cost of Food: Eating up your budget?
Family Food Budget One of the wonderful things about living in the Bay Area is the excellent food. But spending at great groceries stores, farmer’s markets and restaurants can add up each month. Food related expenses tend to eat up a big part of a family budget, and one of the most frequent questions I […]
Can We Afford a Second Child?
There are many factors that go into the decision to have another child and affordability is typically the biggest one. To determine whether having a second child is financially feasible, you need to consider the costs of raising that child from birth through financial independence, which is hopefully when they graduate college. As you know […]
