As we conclude our series, Values Drive Decisions, we focus on our final core value: Conscientiousness. Financial planning is rarely a discipline of perfection. In dealing with numbers, you would assume that most decisions we help our clients make are 1+1=2 equations, however generally the opposite is true. Much of what we do involves weighing facts against the unique, personal situation of each client. That being said, this business is… Read More

I was recently working on a project to load some old doors and shelving into the back of our SUV to drop off at the refuse center. The individual helping me said, “we’re not going to fit all of this in here.” My response was, “yes, we will!” I am convinced that our attitude toward obstacles in our life is the key determining factor of our ability to overcome what… Read More

Today’s blog will focus on our next Master’s Core Value – Empathy. You will see this value highlighted on our website, as follows: “Empathetic – Giving generously of our time and attention to fully understand and appreciate the perspective of another.” This is another value that we deem essential in creating long-lasting and meaningful relationships with you, our clients, and friends. Internally, we sometimes describe our actions driven by Empathy… Read More

One of our core beliefs here at Master’s is that our clients are at their best when they are living in alignment. This does not mean that we refer everyone to chiropractors, rather, it means that we spend time helping our clients discern their core values. In last week’s blog, Garry highlighted the emphasis we place on helping our clients align their actions with their values. He also outlined our… Read More

Have you heard the phrase, “Tell me what you value, and I might believe you, but show me your calendar and your bank statement, and I’ll show you what you really value”? This quote is attributed to management guru Peter Drucker, and it is a good gut-check for us to consider if our actions are lining up with what we say is most important to us. You hear us talk… Read More

  If we had to pick one overarching metric to a successful financial plan, it would be that our clients do not run out of money. Most of the long-term cash flow planning we do for clients focuses on them not running out of money. A plan is deemed successful if they are projected to still have money in the bank at the end of their life. Certainly, this is… Read More

On December 23, the US House of Representatives passed a bill known as the SECURE Act 2.0 nearly three years to the day of them passing the original SECURE Act. The original bill was passed at the end of 2019 and brought a broad array of changes to the retirement planning landscape, including raising the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) age to 72 and eliminated the ‘stretch IRA’ for non-spouse beneficiaries…. Read More

As financial planners, we spend a lot of time talking about the best way to save and invest our clients’ money. A healthy savings rate, no matter your income level, is one of the keys to building a successful long-term financial plan. However, there are also times when we must encourage our clients to spend money! Whether it is a special vacation, a family event, or a long-anticipated goal, it… Read More

If the year 2022 has shown us anything, it is that investing in the stock and bond markets is subject to risk. If the markets continue their current trajectory through December 31, the year 2022 will be the first year since 1969 that both the stock market and the bond market ended a calendar year with negative returns. I mention this to draw attention to a few important reminders that… Read More

As we officially enter the Christmas season and year-end is in sight, charitable giving becomes more of a focus for many people. It seems like there is some debate about how much of total charitable giving happens in December, but it clearly is the highest percentage month of giving for the year. As you make year-end giving preparations, here are five things to keep in mind. Giving appreciated securities to… Read More