A question we sometimes get is, “Are you a fee-only advisor”? In other words, is all your revenue derived from fees paid to you by clients, either for planning or investment management, or do you receive any commissions from companies for distributing their financial...
In her July 2025 piece, Geopolitical Jitters, Karen Umland offers a timely reminder that long-term investing requires resilience in the face of global unrest. The recent conflict between Israel and Iran has stirred uncertainty, but history shows that markets have...
Let’s be honest—long-term care insurance isn’t exactly the most exciting topic at brunch. But if you’ve ever seen a loved one navigate the costs of assisted living or in-home care, you know it’s a conversation worth having. So, when’s the right time to buy long-term...
In today's volatile global landscape, investors often grapple with the question of how to approach the market amidst geopolitical uncertainties. A recent conversation with a client highlighted this very dilemma and provided an opportunity to discuss the merits of...
We recently completed a retirement planning engagement with some new clients. As part of the planning process, we modeled what their cash flow might look like in the event one or both needed assisted living or nursing home care. The husband asked me, “Doesn’t Medicare...
Last week in a client meeting we fielded a not-uncommon question: ”When should I think about buying long-term care insurance coverage?” The answer is a two-parter. First, the potential expense of a long-term care event to both spouses should be built into a retirement...
When it comes to planning your estate, one question that often arises is whether to use a trust. Let's explore what a trust is, its benefits, and whether it might be the right choice for you. A trust is a legal arrangement where one party, known as the trustee, holds...
The question of transitioning to a Roth comes up frequently in conversations with clients. A Roth IRA conversion involves moving your traditional IRA money—which is typically pre-taxed—to a Roth IRA, where your contributions can grow tax-free. Sounds appealing, right?...
I run my own financial advisory business and am not employed by any financial services firm. However, you might notice the name Integrated Financial Group (IFG) appearing frequently on statements, business cards, websites, etc. Naturally, this leads to the question,...
As a financial advisor, I recently had an enlightening conversation with a client who is set to retire next year. During our meeting, he expressed a desire to eliminate volatility from his investments moving forward. This was quite a curveball, as a core strategy of...