Art for Art’s Sake
I purchased my first piece of real art (i.e., not an art poster from a shop in the West Village) as a housewarming and anniversary present for my husband years ago. It is a silkscreen print of firecrackers from a local artist (Clay Huffman, now deceased) who had a studio at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town, Alexandria.
Continued Growth in Cybercrime and Tips to Protect Against It
With continued advancements in the digital world, individuals have inevitably seen an increase in cybercrime. According to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, financial losses due to investment schemes rose more than 300% to $10.3 billion in 2022, compared to the previous high of $3.3 billion in 2021.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go
Stereos, Records, & Cassettes
I LOVE that I had the childhood that I did – playing outside for hours on end with little to no supervision, climbing on metal playground equipment, Saturday morning cartoons (Scooby Doo, Where Are You?) reading Nancy Drew books, and listening to Casey Kasem’s Top 40 countdown on the radio. I also had the benefit of growing up on a farm, so caring for the horses was among many things that I did to earn my allowance.
Investing Unplugged: Embracing the Art of Probabilities
In the world of investing, uncertainties abound and, as investors, we are confronted with pivotal questions. “Have interest rates peaked? Will the U.S. have a recession this year? Will the U.S. default on its debt?” While it's valuable to have an informed opinion, making large portfolio decisions based solely on these macro events can be extremely challenging.
Invest in Your Dog's Mental Health
Financial Literacy for Kids – Start Early
As a financial planner, I often hear clients comment that their teenage, or even young adult children, have a limited understanding of savings and investments. Usually, our advice is to sit down and talk to them about the basics of financial responsibility, or we may recommend a book or two. However, the best advice is to start long before your children are teenagers or college age. I’ll share with you what I have done with my own family, maybe you can relate to it.
Time… Is On My Side… Yes It Is
The Rolling Stones’ originally released their single “Time Is On My Side” in the U.S. in September 1964. It became their first U.S. top ten hit, peaking at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart in December 1964. The Rolling Stones would go on to deliver a total of 23 top ten hits and the band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
Growing Up (At Home?)
My son is looking for his first apartment without a roommate. I’m worried that he won’t find anything in his price range by the time he has to move out of his current place. I don’t want him to not have a place to live, but I don’t want him back home, either.
When You’re Ready, Come and Get It
We tend to get a lot of questions regarding Social Security. Some older clients are interested in claiming strategies to maximize their benefits, while younger clients ask whether Social Security will even be around when they reach full retirement age.