Four Reasons Why a Starter Home Is a Bad Investment
Owning a first home is an exciting prospect. It has long been part of the quintessential American Dream. While owning your own house comes with many intangible benefits that are difficult to quantify, there is a financial aspect you must consider. A house and its mortgage will likely be the biggest Read more…
End-of-Year Tax Planning Tips
As the year draws to a close, so does the opportunity to take advantage of certain tax and financial planning strategies. While this is not an exhaustive list by any means, below are several considerations to keep in mind and discuss with your advisor or CPA. Read more…
Five Star Professional: 2018 Winners
The Five Star Wealth Manager and Five Star Investment Professional awards recognize professionals in the financial services industry who are committed to excellence. The organization conducts market research to define and promote professional excellence in the professions we serve. Five Star Read more…
The Plancorp Recipe for a Balanced Portfolio
When I’m not busy reviewing client investment portfolios or researching fund options at Plancorp, I’m an avid cook and baker. I love to compose a gourmet dinner or whip up my favorite batch of chocolate chip cookies from scratch, while of course following my tried-and-true recipes. Read more…
How Much Money to Put in Your Emergency Fund
Emergency funds. Everyone has heard of them, and most of us know we need to have cash ready for unexpected expenses. But what many do not know is how much money they, specifically, should set aside. Read more…
The Top Five Benefits of Investing in a 401(k)
On average, Social Security replaces around 40% of income for retirees, and even less for high earners. So unless you’ve got a cushy pension lined up, that means the majority of your retirement income will be a result of your own planning and investing. Enter the glory of the 401(k). Read more…
Behind Kathy Lambert's 'Connections to Success'
Kathy Lambert, Co-Founder and CEO, opened Dress for Success Midwest in 1998 after reading an article about Dress for Success (DfS), New York. The article explained how DfS provided interview appropriate attire to women in disadvantaged situations, helping them be on the same playing field as other Read more…
How Donor-Advised Fund Saved My Parents $15,000 In Taxes
“It’s the perfect opportunity to save taxes!” This is a statement that is typically only exclaimed by tax accountants, but as a CPA, this opportunity had me excited. I was able to proactively tax plan for two of my favorite people, my parents. After a 30+ year career, my dad was planning to retire Read more…
How to Put Your Paycheck to Work
You work hard for your paycheck. So shouldn’t your paycheck work for you? If you’re like most people, you’ve wondered what to do with your money. It can be tempting to spend it as it comes in, even if you know you should be saving. But to get the most out of your income, it’s important that you Read more…
