Blog

At Plancorp, we don’t wait for you to ask the right questions.
We take the initiative to offer insights and guidance — real enlightenment for real life.

Reduce Tax Liability with These Tips

The end of the year is an exciting time for most of us. Crisper weather, holiday celebrations, family time ... And year-end tax planning. What's not to love? Read more…

3 Ways to Raise Kids that Give

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” Dr. Seuss has always had a way with words, but his honesty in this quote really hits home for me. Read more…

Should You Lease or Buy a Car? 4 Key Questions to Ask Yourself

Showing off my husband's latest (leased) ride. Fall marks the onset of the holiday season for many of us. But for car aficionados, ‘tis an entirely different type of season—it’s when new models hit dealerships. Read more…

Will Comprehensive Tax Reform Finally become a Reality?

With a surprise win by Donald Trump in the presidential election and control maintained by Republicans in both houses of Congress, we may be on the verge of our nation’s first comprehensive tax reform since 1986. Since that time, the Federal tax law has grown from 26,000 pages to 70,000 pages. So, Read more…

Changing the Rules of Retirement

I bought an airline ticket last night for an upcoming trip, thinking I’d found a deal. But after taxes, facility charges and carrier-imposed fees (what are those?), I was not feeling as confident in my purchase. Unfortunately, some employers feel the same way about their 401(k) plan—unsure if Read more…

New President, Same Portfolio: Why the Election Shouldn’t Impact Your Investments

Few topics in America are as polarizing as politics. With the presidential election as the embodiment of political discord, it’s no wonder last night’s results have caused such a stir. Read more…

It’s Election Day: What to Expect in the Market

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How Much Can I Afford: Home, Car, Credit Cards, and Savings?

One of the most frequent questions that I get asked by my friends and family is, “How much do I need to buy ________?” Read more…

The Right Estate Plan for Your Life Stage

As a former estate planning attorney, this important aspect of financial planning has always been on my radar. But, I tend to be the exception to the rule. The vast majority of people simply don’t think about creating an estate plan; it just doesn’t seem relevant or at the least not pressing. Read more…

How to Avoid Costly Estate Planning Mistakes

For day two of National Estate Planning Awareness Week, do yourself a favor: get these five documents in place. They could save you from costly estate planning errors down the road. Read more…

It’s National Estate Planning Awareness Week

In honor of National Estate Planning Awareness Week, which kicks off today, Plancorp is bringing you daily content, tips and resources regarding this crucial aspect of financial planning. Unfortunately, as essential as estate planning is, an estimated 56 percent of Americans do not have up-to-date Read more…

Stand up to Scammers with These 6 Steps

Most of us know how to avoid obvious email scams, such as that "friend" who is trapped penniless abroad and needs you to "wire money immediately," to strange companies asking you to verify person information. But, as hackers become both more polished and nefarious in their scamming attempts, it's Read more…

Warning: IRS Scammers Are at It Again

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What's the Biggest Mistake Investors Make?

Last month I had the pleasure of speaking at the Midwest Private Wealth Forum in Chicago on a range of equity market topics. One of my favorite questions asked was: “What is the biggest mistake you see investors making?” Read more…

Summary: 5 Steps to Financial Wellness

Women's Initiative founder Sara Gelsheimer shares her personal experience with giving. We strive for wellness across all aspects of our life. We take the steps necessary to be well: we eat healthier, we take the stairs – not the elevator, sometimes, and we even take time to focus on ourselves. All Read more…

Who Can Benefit from an ABLE Account?

All families face challenges when funding the various needs of their children. But many families face a completely different challenge—planning for a child with a disability. The importance of saving and planning increases tremendously when faced with such a challenge. Read more…

Lessons Investors Can Learn from Their Fantasy Football Teams

The 2016 National Football League season is finally here. Productivity nose-dives while friendly competition increases between friends as nearly 60 million people across the US and Canada begin their first week of fantasy football. Despite the difference in scale, financial markets and fantasy Read more…

College Freshmen: 3 Things I Wish I Knew

Pick a dorm. Sign up for classes. Buy a laptop. As a recent college graduate, I can remember going through my checklist of everything I needed prior to my college move (on top of all the pieces of advice my parents were attempting to engrain in me). Read more…

Can You Reduce Your Estate Tax Bill in 2016?

Tax professionals have been expecting the IRS to limit valuation discounts for some time—and that day has finally come. Read more…

Emerging Markets: Worth a Closer Look

Credit: Associated Press, Vincent Yu Read more…

3 Financial Truths for Your College-Bound Student

The day your child leaves for college, she also leaves the “Bank of Mom and Dad” safety net. Fortunately, you’ve spent the last 18 years loving, educating and training her to be financially independent and survive on her own … right? Read more…

Democrats vs. Republicans: Who Is Better for the Stock Market?

Credit: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik Have you ever wondered whether the stock market does better when the President of the United States is a Republican or Democrat? Read more…

Budgeting for a Bunch: Tips from a Mom of Four

What comes to mind when you think of the word “kids”? Unconditional love? Constant activity? Center of your life? How about, “really expensive”? Read more…

Who is Your Financial Life Advocate?

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How CEFEX Increases Trust in the Industry

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Post-College Finances: What Recent Grads Need to Know

It’s that time of year. Universities all over the globe are sending their 2016 graduates out into the “real world. Unfortunately, post-grad life comes with some serious financial struggles. With unprecedented amounts of student loan debt, low wage growth and the new era of needing a subscription Read more…

Brexit: A Demonstration of Markets at Work

Every crisis has one thing in common: it eventually ends. Read more…

Unique Approach To Advising

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10 Investing Tips From Successful Women

Women are empowered in so many ways today, but unfortunately, finance is not among the top categories. The concept of gender equality still has a ways to go in the investment world. Read more…

Individual Bonds vs Bond Funds

Many investors lack a strong understanding of bond portfolio basics. As a result, there are some misconceptions about the use of individual bonds versus bond funds. Many individual bondholders believe the implications of interest rate fluctuations don’t impact them because they will receive their Read more…

Why We Started a Women’s Initiative

I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first? Read more…

The Importance of a Fiduciary Standard of Care vs. Suitability

Today the Department of Labor released new rules regarding retirement savings advice. We will post a more detailed analysis in the future, but today I want to explore the different standards in place and provide an initial reaction to the new rules. Read more…

Hedge Funds: What Are They Good For?

Absolutely nothing. That is the answer to the question in the subject line. It is also the value hedge fund investors receive for shelling out exorbitant fees for lackluster performance. The chart below looks at historical performance of hedge funds (yellow bars) relative to diversified stocks Read more…

Vernon Davis Is Going to the Super Bowl, But Should He Go in Your Portfolio?

Some companies offer stocks that allow individual investors to invest in securities tied to the future earnings of professional athletes. However, some financial advisors advise caution, saying that these kinds of risks are not wise for long-term investment strategies and may be better suited for a Read more…

Stock Selloff Stats

Market sentiment remains negative with the S&P 500 down 12.3% to date and 13.92% from the high point set in May 2015. Read more…

Definition of Key Terms

Index Fund An index fund is a mutual fund whose portfolio seeks to replicate the performance of some financial benchmark either by owning a representative sample of the stocks contained in that benchmark or by owning all of them. An index is passively managed which means, unlike actively managed Read more…

China Drags Down Global Markets

Stock markets started the New Year off with a bang, but not a good one, as panic in Chinese markets spread throughout the globe. Read more…

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