Anyone who has gone through a divorce knows how emotionally challenging and financially complex it can be. While attorneys handle the legal aspects, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® focuses specifically on the financial implications of divorce. This specialized designation equips professionals with the expertise to guide clients through the intricate financial aspects of divorce proceedings, ensuring better outcomes for their financial future.
Anna Marie Mock, a fee-only certified financial planner at Highland Financial Advisors, discusses the dynamic interplay between art and science in financial planning. Drawing inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci's philosophy that "everything connects to everything else," she emphasizes that financial planning is an art involving subjective goal-setting and a science-driven by objective analysis tools. In this video, Anna explains how the scientific method can be applied to financial planning, using equity compensation as a concrete example.
What are your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about money? What about your partner, and do they differ from your own? Sometimes, the conflict we experience around money in our personal lives can be attributed to incongruent money scripts with those with whom we share finances. Let’s dive into the term money script and how understanding it can help us achieve our financial goals.
In talking with clients about the benefits their employer provides during the open enrollment season, one often overlooked benefit if clients have dependents is the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are not only a savvy investment option but also offer numerous benefits, especially for high-net-worth families. An HSA is a tax-advantaged savings account designed for individuals with high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) to help cover out-of-pocket medical expenses. While the utility of HSAs is universal, they hold advantages for high-net-worth families and have steadily grown in popularity since their inception.
The holiday season will soon pass, and for many, the joy of gift-giving has been overshadowed by a mounting credit card balance. As bills start rolling in, the temptation to explore a credit card balance transfer becomes increasingly attractive. But is this financial strategy a lifeline or a potential trap?
Choosing the right financial advisor is one of the most important decisions you'll make for your financial future. But with so many types of advisors and compensation structures, it can be challenging to know where to start. In this video, Reed Fraasa, a Certified Financial Planner® and founder of Highland Financial Advisors, breaks down the key differences between "fee-only" and "fee-based" financial advisors.
When building a financial plan, many people focus on investments, retirement accounts, and life insurance. However, one crucial component is often overlooked: disability insurance. Your ability to earn an income is your most significant financial asset. Protecting it is as vital as safeguarding your home, car, or retirement savings.
Mediation offers couples a dignified, collaborative path forward when life circumstances require critical legal decisions about their future. As a trained family law mediator, Zoe Cassotis guides New Jersey families through productive conversations that lead to thoughtful, mutually beneficial solutions. Her confidential mediation approach helps people maintain control of their decisions while saving time and money, creating positive outcomes that respect both parties' needs and values.
Year-end review season can be an excellent opportunity for those in the workforce to receive feedback on your job performance and push your career forward. Sometimes, year-end conversations can create anxiety, especially if you plan to negotiate a promotion or pay raise and aren’t quite sure what direction the conversation will take.
During my first year in college, I read my first investment book, "The Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham, widely regarded as one of the greatest stock traders ever. Filled with excitement, I took copious notes, convinced I had stumbled upon the secret to success in the stock market. With this new knowledge, I eagerly deposited $600 into a trading account and made my first trade, purchasing ten shares of Columbia Sportswear Company stock ($COLM) at $56.80 per share.
As the end of the year approaches, it’s time for one of the most critical financial planning opportunities for employees: open enrollment. Whether you’re re-evaluating your benefits or making selections for the first time, open enrollment is a golden opportunity to make choices that align with your financial goals and needs.
You’ve worked hard to build a stable life for your loved ones, but are you taking the necessary steps to protect their financial future? Life insurance is a crucial tool that provides peace of mind, ensuring that your family won’t be burdened with financial worries if something happens to you. It’s an essential part of any comprehensive financial plan, whether it’s to support your family’s needs or to preserve the stability of a business.
Anna Marie Mock, a fee-only certified financial planner at Highland Financial Advisors, discusses the dynamic interplay between art and science in financial planning. Drawing inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci's philosophy that "everything connects to everything else," she emphasizes that financial planning is an art involving subjective goal-setting and a science-driven by objective analysis tools. In this video, Anna explains how the scientific method can be applied to financial planning, using equity compensation as a concrete example.
What are your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about money? What about your partner, and do they differ from your own? Sometimes, the conflict we experience around money in our personal lives can be attributed to incongruent money scripts with those with whom we share finances. Let’s dive into the term money script and how understanding it can help us achieve our financial goals.
As I approach my thirties, I've noticed that my body doesn't bounce back from workouts as quickly as in my high school and college years. The days of waking up fresh after an intense workout without a second thought are behind me. Now, I realize the importance of adding mobility work and stretching to my weekly routine. Lower back pain and tightness have become recurring issues, mainly due to sitting more throughout the day and most likely lifting too heavy without perfect form.
The recent settlement between the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and various plaintiffs marks a significant turning point in the real estate industry. This agreement, which resolves allegations of anti-competitive practices, took effect on August 17th and could substantially change how homes are bought and sold across the United States.
In today's video, Certified Financial Planner™ Ed Leach delves into a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of estate planning for dental practice owners. For both your personal and business life, ensuring the correct legal documents are in place with updated beneficiaries is essential. This video will provide a quick overview of all the estate planning documents and their purpose for your financial health.
Many people find themselves at a career crossroads in the aftermath of divorce. As a career coach specializing in helping women navigate this transition at her firm, Next Stage Career Success, Shauna Licciardi has seen the transformative power of rediscovering one's purpose. From her experience as a human resources director and career coach, Shauna explains the importance of finding your "why" when charting your next career move post-divorce.
Updating estate documents is crucial because it ensures that your wishes are accurately reflected and legally honored as your life circumstances change. Imagine the birth of a new child, a marriage, a divorce, or the windfall of significant assets. These events can dramatically alter your intentions regarding who should inherit your belongings and how it's managed.
As a business owner, planning for retirement is crucial not only for securing your future but also for attracting and retaining top talent. With various retirement plan options available, it can be challenging to determine which one best suits your needs and the needs of your employees. In this article, we'll explore four popular retirement plans, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, 401(k), and Defined Benefit Cash Balance Plans, to help you make an informed decision.
Welcome to Highland Financial Advisor's comprehensive video series, designed to guide you through the crucial steps of interviewing and starting a relationship with a fiduciary financial advisor. Whether you're new to financial planning or looking to optimize your current strategy, our clearly defined process and expert advice will help you make informed decisions. In this series, we'll cover everything from understanding fees and value to setting financial goals and creating a personalized wealth management plan. Subscribe now to stay updated and take control of your financial future with confidence.
A 529 plan is a powerful tool designed to help families save for future education expenses. The primary allure of a 529 plan lies in its tax benefits—some states allow state-tax deductions or credits on account contributions, and the investments in the account grow tax-free. Withdrawals from 529 plans are tax-free if used for qualified educational expenses, including tuition, room and board, books and supplies, private elementary and secondary school education, and student loan repayments.
At Highland Financial Advisors, we're proud to introduce Joey Casolaro, one of our talented Associate Wealth Advisors based in Wayne, NJ. Recently, Joey sat down with Caleb Brown on the New Planner Podcast for an insightful discussion about his journey into the financial planning profession and the career path that led him to our firm.
