Richelle Hofer 
Growing up, my favorite family tradition happened every year on Christmas Eve at my Grandma Helen’s house. My grandma embodied Christmas to me. And then it all changed. Christmas was ruined. Christmas at Grandma’s House Each year on Christmas Eve around 5:00 p.m. the family started gathering at Grandma’s house. Almost nothing kept us away … Read more
Two of the best Christmases I ever had started out with the feeling that Christmas was ruined. Sometimes life is crazy. Things rarely go as planned. We roll up to the Christmas season with great expectations and often feel disappointed and defeated when curveballs threaten our plans. I think about “expectations” a lot. Sometimes I … Read more
Uncovering Holiday Scams The holiday season is upon us, and while it’s a time for joy and giving, it is unfortunately also a great season for those who want to take advantage of others. Last Christmas I was the victim of identity theft myself, and while I identified it almost immediately, it still wasn’t easy … Read more
When the stock market takes a dip, it’s easy to feel uncertain and anxious about your investments. While financial advisors often tell investors that this is the time to do nothing, there are actually some things you really SHOULD be doing to make the most of this situation. Consider a Roth Conversion A Roth conversion … Read more
Have you discussed a strategy for converting the funds in your IRA to a Roth IRA with your financial advisor? If you haven’t, you should. Roth conversions are NOT for everyone, but a well thought out tax plan is an important component to a comprehensive retirement plan. If your financial advisor is not engaging you … Read more
As a savvy investor, you need to understand what fees you are paying your advisor and exactly what you’re receiving for that fee to avoid overpaying. But it can be extremely difficult to “decode” your investment fees. Types of Investment Management Fees Commission based advisors are almost a thing of the past so most financial … Read more
Serving as the executor of an estate is a big responsibility … and not one people are often “trained” to do. As an executor you are tasked with things like selling property, paying debts, distributing assets and filing the final tax return (just to name a few). In our blog “When Someone You Love … Read more
When someone you love is dying, it can feel like your world is spinning out of control. There are so many emotions, so many worries, so much to think about. While there’s nothing I have found that makes this time EASIER, there are a few practical things you can do in preparation that will help … Read more
You’re financially prepared for retirement, but is your MARRIAGE prepared for retirement? As a financial advisor who specializes in retirement planning, over the last 15 years I’ve helped somewhere around 100 couples transition into retirement. The decision to retire is obviously one of the most important financial decisions that you will ever make. You will … Read more
You’ve worked hard to save money, but now you’re finding it really hard to SPEND it. I get it. But in case you were looking for permission, here it is: Take the Vacation! The Balance between Saving and Spending Throughout my life, no force on earth proved more powerful than the “When I grow up…” … Read more