When she was eight years old, “Susan” lived in the backseat of a Chevy with her parents and two brothers. Today, she has more than $3 million invested for retirement. And yet, she still saves every twist-tie from the bread bag—just in case. I’ve sat across the table from clients who once relied on food … Read more
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
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
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
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
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
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
Whether we realize it or not, our finances are storytellers. They tell the story of who we are, how we live, and how we have lived. It is an interesting phenomenon to think about — the tales our finances tell. Wait. How Can Finances Tell a Tale? What are we talking about here? Well, how … Read more
Most of us know that money is a sticking point in so many areas of our lives. It is one of the most common reasons for divorce. The majority of people in this country do not change socioeconomic classes in their lifetimes. Most Americans are carrying debt, and the average amount of debt we carry … 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