Article

Resolutions in the Heat of Summer

Resolutions in the Heat of Summer

Amid the draining heat of mid-summer, do you remember your New Year’s resolutions regarding your personal financial planning? How are you coming with your to-do list? Now is the time to check in and see how you’re really doing. Time passes quickly. August is just around the corner and then the year is half over. This is a great time to take action to keep your resolutions on track.

July 13, 2023
Resolutions in the Heat of Summer
Important Disclosure: Content on our website and in our newsletters is for informational purposes only. The information provided may (or may not) directly apply to your situation. We recommend that readers work directly with a professional advisor when making decisions in the context of their specific situation.

Amid the draining heat of mid-summer, do you remember your New Year’s resolutions regarding your personal financial planning? How are you coming with your to-do list?

Time passes. Our children grow up and we get older. Sand keeps passing through the hourglass of our earthly sojourn. The year is over half gone. Soon children will start back to school and traffic will worsen. The summer break for most will be over. So, it’s high time to get done what you need to get done.

As a financial planner, it’s amazing to see the number of people with no wills or obsolete wills. Such a lapse in planning is especially critical in a marriage with minor children in the mix. An old will is better than no will, but it carries potential problems for minors, especially if both parents die at once, or a single parent passes on.

Often the bulk of a couple’s savings, or that of a single parent, resides in retirement plans. There too, money passing to a minor presents problems. Have you checked both the primary and contingent beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, and personal and group insurance policies?

For those with young children, have you funded a 529 college savings plan? Anyone, a parent or a grandparent, annually may gift to such a college plan. Gifts are made with after-tax dollars but the money grows tax-free and may be spent tax-free to meet qualified college and graduate school expenses.

How are you coming with plans to pay down debt and build savings outside of your retirement plans? Think about creating Your Personal Freedom Fund – a pool of liquid capital equal to at least one-year’s worth of living expenses. Living paycheck to paycheck is motivation-draining stress. Liquid and available capital creates peace of mind and freedom to roll with the punches or pursue opportunities.

If you are a key breadwinner in a family or household, are you adequately insured against the consequences of disability or death? The same question goes for key persons of an enterprise, including business owners. Is there a succession plan? Is it up to date?

August is almost upon us. In less than three short months, Christmas and holiday decorations will pop up in your local mall.

And if you haven’t made progress on your New Year’s Resolutions, don’t worry – you still have time.

Other content you may like

  • Planning for Your Financial Future

    Planning for Your Financial Future

    April 5, 2023
    Money plays an important role at every turn your life takes. There are ways to develop good financial habits now so you can be prepared for the different strategies that certain events require in the future. And the good part is, you can start from wherever you are currently, to make decisions that will go a long way towards achieving your financial goals.
    Read this Article
  • Roundtable Template

    Investments in Volatile Times

    May 26, 2022
    In this Mid-Quarter Roundtable Adam, Chris, Jason, and Kyle recap where we are at for 2022 so far, including inflation data, lower stocks, and lower bonds with rising interest rates. The team wraps up with where they see things going by the end of the year(-ish).  Along the way, they address common questions clients are asking right now.
    Read this Article
  • A happy, young couple just got the keys to their first home.

    Can the Next Generation Afford Home Ownership?

    July 22, 2025
    This article explores factors influencing housing affordability, the impact of current economic conditions, and future prospects. Readers will discover insights into decision-making for first-time real estate purchases and strategic approaches to homeownership.
    Read this Article
  • What's Driving the Market

    Podcast Highlight - Debt Ceiling Resolution

    June 21, 2023
    Congress recently passed a debt ceiling deal that is still being analyzed and politicized across the nation. The team gives their insight on what the fuss is all about and how the system works when a debt ceiling reaches an impasse.
    Read this Article
  • The link you have selected is located on another server. The linked site contains information that has been created, published, maintained, or otherwise posted by institutions or organizations independent of this organization. We do not endorse, approve, certify, or control any linked websites, their sponsors, or any of their policies, activities, products, or services. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information contained therein. Visitors to any linked websites should not use or rely on the information contained therein until they have consulted with an independent financial professional. Please click “Continue to Link” to leave this website and proceed to the selected site.
    phone-handset