financial planning Archives - Page 5 of 6

8 Financial Goals for your 40s and 50s

jmuch2020-12-09T11:39:35-06:00December 9, 2020|Categories: Weekly Update|Tags: financial planning, retirement|

8 Financial Goals for your 40s and 50s

Our clients in their 40s and 50s are faced with many unknowns: How much longer do I want to work? How much longer do I need to work? How much do I need saved for retirement? Am I making good progress? There’s a lot to consider as you approach retirement, but we feel that there are 8 key things that almost everyone should have on their radar. We shared these points in a recent article, and we hope you find them useful. https://bit.ly/3ltL5fh.

What’s Your Number?

jmuch2025-03-25T12:58:53-05:00October 8, 2020|Categories: Resource Center|Tags: financial planning, investing, retirement|

What’s Your Number?

What’s Your Number?

Most people will spend 30, 40, or even 50 years working toward retirement, putting a little away each month so that they can enjoy their golden years. But when it comes to retirement savings, how much is enough?

Determining how much you need saved for retirement is a crucial first step in the retirement planning process. The goal is to balance saving enough for your future without sacrificing too much of your present lifestyle. To figure out how much you’ll need, start by understanding your expected retirement expenses. Consider factors like whether you’ll stay in your current home, have additional or fewer expenses, and whether you’ll support family members or focus on philanthropy.

Next, evaluate your income sources during retirement. Social Security, rental income, pensions, and investment dividends may be key to your retirement budget. Comparing your expected income to your monthly expenses will give you an …

8 Financial Goals For Your 40th Birthday

jmuch2025-03-25T13:03:33-05:00June 3, 2020|Categories: Resource Center|Tags: financial planning, retirement|

8 Financial Goals For Your 40th Birthday

8 Financial Goals For Your 40th Birthday

For investors in their 30s, life can feel busy, hectic, and a bit disorganized at times. How do you focus your time and energy on the things that matter most?

In your 30s, life often feels hectic with a mix of responsibilities like paying down debt, starting a family, and saving for retirement. To make things easier, focus on these key financial goals before turning 40. First, ensure you’re investing with purpose. This means defining your retirement goals, understanding how much you need to save, and creating a strategy to reach those goals. It’s a great time to consider working with a financial advisor to help make your vision a reality.

Another key goal is to ensure your career and salary are advancing. Your 30s are when your hard work should start paying off in terms of salary growth. …

CARES Act Overview

jmuch2020-04-10T09:44:59-05:00April 10, 2020|Categories: Resource Center|Tags: financial planning|

CARES Act Overview

As the CARES Act was signed into law very recently, we wanted to share a summary of the key provisions and how they might affect you. Take a look at our quick overview. In particular, small business assistance and the waiver of Required Minimum Distributions. https://bit.ly/3e9kZvt.

The Value of a Fee-Only, Fiduciary Advisor

jmuch2025-03-25T13:09:40-05:00March 27, 2020|Categories: Resource Center|Tags: financial planning, retirement|

The Value of a Fee-Only, Fiduciary Advisor

The Value of a Fee-Only, Fiduciary Advisor

What makes financial advice “good enough”? Well, that depends on if your advisor is working under the fiduciary or the best interest standard. The good news is that as the client, you have the power to decide which standard is the right fit for you.

When meeting with a financial advisor, it’s important to understand their motivations and how they prioritize your best interests. Financial advisors are held to different standards of care: the best interest standard and the fiduciary standard. Under the best interest standard, advisors must recommend investments that are in your best interest but can still disclose conflicts like commissions or bonuses they receive. This can sometimes lead to recommendations that benefit the advisor more than the client.

In contrast, fiduciary advisors are legally required to put your best interest first in all aspects of their …

Financial Goals for Your 30th Birthday

jmuch2025-03-25T13:13:52-05:00February 21, 2020|Categories: Resource Center|Tags: financial planning, retirement|

Financial Goals for Your 30^th Birthday

Financial Goals for Your 30th Birthday

The years between 20 and 30 can be some of the most exciting – and challenging – times in life. But what really matters when it comes to the financial lives of young investors? To help simplify things a bit, we created a resource that details 8 financial goals for investors to accomplish before their 30th birthday. If you’re under 30, how are you doing on the list? If you are over 30, how are the young investors in your life doing?

The years between 20 and 30 are often filled with excitement, but also present a number of challenges, especially when it comes to personal finances. As you transition from high school to a young adult, it’s crucial to focus on financial goals that set you up for success by the time you turn 30. Here are eight key …

Tax Planning: Year End Preparations

jmuch2019-10-25T10:13:51-05:00October 25, 2019|Categories: Resource Center|Tags: financial planning, taxes|

Tax Planning: Year End Preparations

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 continues to provide Americans with opportunities and challenges as they prepare to file their taxes. As we prepare to head into tax season once again, we feel that a review of deductions, tax brackets and exemptions may be in order. Grab a copy of our updated 2020 Tax Planning piece here. http://bit.ly/2p025CF

Pro VS. Solo Investing

jmuch2019-08-15T10:26:34-05:00August 15, 2019|Categories: Resource Center|Tags: financial planning, investing, wealth management|

Pro Vs. Self-Managed

In 2018, the S&P 500 was down -4.38% and the average investor lost -9.42%. (DALBAR) Emotional decision-making was a major factor, and we explored this topic in a recent article here. bit.ly/2Zmo1Vu

Ultimate College Checklist

jmuch2025-03-26T08:24:23-05:00July 12, 2019|Categories: Resource Center|Tags: college education, financial planning|

Ultimate College Checklist

Ultimate College Checklist

With summer in the air, it means fall is just around the corner. And, for many, that means kids heading off to college.

Sending your child off to college is an exciting and emotional milestone for families, but many details require attention. At CTS Financial Group, we’ve helped families navigate this transition, and we’ve created a checklist of 13 essential tasks to ensure your child gets the most out of their college experience. Here are some key items to address:

Finances
College is expensive, so review your finances and consider using accounts designated for higher education, like a 529 Plan. If money is tight, a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) could be a good option, but consult a financial advisor before making that decision. You should also evaluate your car insurance policy to determine if adjustments are needed due to your child’s new living situation.

Health
Check if your …

Budgeting & Beyond

jmuch2025-03-26T08:37:58-05:00April 11, 2019|Categories: Resource Center|Tags: financial planning, retirement|

Budgeting & Beyond

Budgeting & Beyond

Ready to get serious about budgeting?

Budgeting is an essential practice for everyone, regardless of income, to ensure financial stability and success. It’s about managing your cash flow, saving for the future, and making sure your spending aligns with your financial goals. Whether you’re new to budgeting or refining your approach, these four tips can help you get started and set yourself up for financial success.

1. Get a Handle on Cash Flow The process of budgeting and managing cash flow can begin at any age. While many people start focusing on it in their peak earning years (ages 40-60), it’s never too late to begin. Baby boomers and Gen Xers, in particular, often find themselves carrying higher credit card debt during this time, so learning to budget effectively is crucial. To get started, consider using a cash flow analysis worksheet, which you can get for free …