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With a few practical skills and knowledge, DIY projects in your home or car can save you money. Financial planning, however, isn't the same as painting a room or replacing a headlight. In fact, DIY financial planning can cost you more than you think compared to the cost of professional help. Read more…

There comes a time that every business leader must ask themselves a question: "Before leaving my business, how do I go about planning for a successor?" With factors such as generational wealth, future goals, and executive strategies all tied up in your leadership role, you need to know how to Read more…

While you might not equate your business exit strategy with a family vacation, it actually helps to think of it like one (metaphorically speaking, of course). You probably wouldn't wait until a couple of weeks before your departure to start planning the trip. You wouldn't hold off until a few days Read more…

With inflation continuing to rise, many investors are concerned about the impact that this may have on their 401(k) plans. These concerns have become even more valid as inflation rates continue to hit decades-high levels, reaching 8.52% in August 2022. Investments and their dividends don’t adjust Read more…

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Children naturally have a generous heart to help a friend or be concerned when someone is hurting. We hope those future young adults will continue to flex their empathy and compassion muscles, perhaps even with tangible stewardship of time and treasure. An added benefit is adding money topics into Read more…

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Working with a wealth management advisor has tremendous benefits due to the holistic approach they take to your financial health. An advisor does much more than manage your investment portfolio; they relieve you of stress and help you achieve your dreams. Throughout life’s changes, your wealth Read more…

Not every relationship is a "fit," and sometimes they just have to end when people aren't on the same page. Sometimes business partnerships and personal relationships have an end date, and the same might also apply to your financial advisor. Read more…

Life is the culmination of stages. Within each stage, unique milestones exist that call for careful planning. Goals, desires, and priorities can shift and evolve. At the most basic level, early on, your focus is on asset accumulation. As you near your retirement, that focus shifts to growing and Read more…

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It can be confusing to hear various financial planning terms and know what best suits your needs. They might sound the same, but investment and wealth management are quite different. Knowing the difference can help you align your financial goals with what is available when choosing an advisor. Read more…

This blog summarizes the information and discussion shared at a recent InspireHer event at Plancorp’s office by Senior Wealth Manager, Jessie Weiss. If you are interested in learning more about the InspireHer mission to inspire financial confidence among women or to sign up receive updates about Read more…

When you’re looking for a professional to help manage your finances, the terms financial advisor and wealth manager might seem interchangeable. But when you take a step back and think deeply about the role you need that professional to play — and the value they offer — you start to see important Read more…

Many successful investors know what a fiduciary is and want to work with an advisor who is legally required to put clients’ interests first. But even people who understand the value of a fiduciary might be surprised to learn that not all fiduciaries are the same. The differentiator? Dual Read more…

This is the third installment in a series on planning for cryptocurrency assets. The purpose of this series is not to debate the merits of cryptocurrency or provide commentary on its outlook. Instead, it’s meant to serve as a resource for those holding cryptocurrency and how to properly factor it Read more…

This is the second installment in a series of posts on how to properly factor your crypto holdings into a financial plan. The purpose of this article is not to debate the investment merits of crypto — there’s enough of that on the internet already — but instead, it will focus on how to incorporate Read more…

While there are plenty of trendy headlines in the world of investing, one of the trendiest topics over the last few years has been cryptocurrency. Whether you’re in tech, finance, politics, or infrastructure, cryptocurrency is a talking point. Read more…

Asset allocation is a relatively simple concept: It involves dividing your investment portfolio among various assets—including stocks, bonds and cash—in an effort to balance risk and reward. Read more…

If you have multiple income streams, there are strategies you can take advantage of to minimize tax expenses. Whether one of your revenue streams is from part-time employment or you're 100% self-employed, there are many factors to consider when you file your annual taxes. Read more…

Company stock options have the potential to be incredibly valuable, but cashing them in is often tied to complex emotions. Am I defying my company? How do I know when it's the right time? Too often we allow our emotions to drive financial decision-making. When we separate our money from our Read more…

In 2022, men still out earn women in comparable roles. While society still has a lot of catching up to do, there are things all women can do to better plan and invest in our futures. Read more…

Entrepreneurship in the United States is certainly on the rise. If you've been thinking about starting your own business, there are several factors to consider but evaluating your financial health should be your first priority (after writing a business plan). Read more…

Families that have worked hard to build wealth want to share that success with their children, grandchildren, and beyond. When it comes to building that kind of generational wealth, a family trust is a great place to start. Family trusts are a key tool for managing wealth carefully over multiple Read more…

On May 18, 2022, Plancorp CEO, Chris Kerckhoff, sat down with Chief Investment Officer, Peter Lazaroff, for a client Q&A regarding recent market trends. We compiled a transcript of that conversation for those who could not attend. Read more…

Say the word “investing” and a lot of people automatically think of buying individual stocks. Even though the stock market isn’t the biggest financial market out there—that would be the bond market—it’s the one that gets the most attention. As a result, people tend to gravitate toward stock Read more…

Announced in 2020, TD Ameritrade Institutional was acquired into Schwab Advisor Services (Schwab), kicking off a multi-year integration process. Much of the integration work will not impact end-users directly, but we have created this page to house the latest information and any actions our clients Read more…

The S&P 500 is flirting with bear market territory (defined as a 20% decline from the high) as investors grapple with several variables including multi-decade high inflation, aggressive monetary policy tightening, and persistent global supply chain issues. Whether we are heading towards an official Read more…

The working world is going through a revolution due to the global pandemic; professional women have had to navigate age-old issues in new ways. Women made up 47% of the workforce before the pandemic rocked our world, yet accounted for 54% of the initial job losses due to coronavirus shutdowns, Read more…

Starting a business can be overwhelming. Part of ensuring that you're poised for success is having a Certified Financial Planner at your side to make sure you've covered every aspect and protected yourself and your business to the fullest extent. Having the right financial advisor by your side Read more…

Many companies offer their employees the option of entering into an employee stock purchase plan (ESPP). There are perks to joining a program like this (hello, free money!), but there are also implications if not done correctly (taxes). At Plancorp, we’re here to set you up for success. This is a Read more…

Equity compensation plans come in multiple forms, including stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), and employee stock purchase plans. Each is designed to give employees a direct stake in the financial success of their companies, and hopefully to provide additional monetary benefits beyond Read more…

One of the most powerful advantages of equity compensation is that equity awards typically offer ways to defer or minimize taxes. But making the most of stock options, restricted stock units and other types of equity compensation requires smart tax planning—otherwise, you could end up with a Read more…

When employees find out they're getting equity compensation from their employer, their first reaction is typically, "Great!" Their second reaction is often, "How does this work?" Both reactions are understandable. In most cases, equity compensation is a net win for employees. It rewards you for a Read more…

As a business owner, you may have spent years growing, cultivating and shaping your company to match your strategic vision. It’s your baby, your lifeblood. While moving on or selling it might not be on your mind currently, but considering an exit strategy and succession plan now will help you to be Read more…

A charitable contribution is the gift of cash or property made to a nonprofit organization. The gift is meant to help an organization accomplish its goals, and the donor receives nothing in return. In most years, taxpayers can deduct cash charitable donations to public charities of up to 60% of Read more…

The rule is simple: If you own assets of any kind, you should make an estate plan. Estate planning isn’t just for the ultra-wealthy or older generations — it’s a crucial component of your complete financial plan. In this blog, we’ll share 10 estate planning tips to prepare you and your family for Read more…

You’ve likely heard it before. Regardless of health, wealth, marital status, or parenthood, everyone should think about estate planning. Most people beginning the process of estate planning – and those who have already created their estate plan - know that wills and trusts are both important Read more…