Impact – Wealth Management

Your Money and the Meaning of an Empty Nest

By Richelle Hofer, CEO & Financial Advisor at Impact Wealth Management This post is deeply personal. It’s a reflection I wrote the night before my youngest son graduated from high school—and the season of life that followed. I’m sharing it here not just as a financial advisor, but as a mom entering a new chapter. … Read more

Are You Underestimating Your Retirement Spending? Here’s Why It Matters.

If you’re getting close to retirement and working with a financial advisor, chances are you’ve been pretty organized. Most of the prospective clients I meet for the first time come in with: But there’s one question that almost always stumps them: “How much are you spending each month?” It’s the most important—and most underestimated—part of … Read more

How to Align Your Financial Goals With Your Personal Values

A grandfather spending time with his grandson at a ball game

Why real wealth isn’t just about growing your money—it’s about using it to build the life you actually want. We talk a lot about money in this business. But if you’re like most of the people I work with, you’re not chasing wealth for wealth’s sake. You want to use your wealth—wisely, thoughtfully, and with … Read more

Investor Biases: The Poodle Principle

In today’s blog: a poodle named Scarlett, offended by my investment advice, teaches us an important lesson about the biases that can hinder our financial success. A couple of weeks ago in our blog looking back over 2023, I compared the different sectors of the stock market to the many different breeds of dogs.  In … Read more

How to Get the Pay Raise You Deserve in 2024

negotiating a pay raise

Strategies for Securing A Raise and Advancing Your Career For many people, the new year signals a compensation review with their employer. Compensation reviews can be intimidating and often dreaded, but they are obviously extremely important.  Securing a raise not only affects your immediate budget and spending power, but it also impacts your future retirement.  … Read more

Christmas is Ruined (Part Two)

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

How Much Should You Pay for Financial Advice?

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

Preparing for a Happy Marriage in Retirement

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