What is Socially Responsible Investing? And Some Practical Considerations
In today’s socially conscious culture, everyone wants to demonstrate their values. We see it most on social media: people’s posts reflect their values all the time whether with political memes or fundraising efforts or even cat videos. What is socially responsible investing? The financial planning process is no different. Clients often have values they want […]
What is an ETF and Why You Should Be Investing in Them
I’m going to let you in on a little secret: there’s a cheaper, easier way to get some skin in the stock market game. You just need to remember the letters ETF, otherwise known as an Exchange Traded Fund. So, what is an ETF anyway? Here’s how it works: essentially, an ETF is an investment […]
Stock Market Correction: A Guide to Staying Sane
A stock market correction is never fun. Who wants to lose money on paper? Definitely not me. By nature, stock market corrections are unpredictable. They happen quickly and before you can react. They make you crazy with questions: If the stock market falls 5%, will it fall another 10%? 15%? 20%? Will it ever move […]
Creating A Long Term Investment Plan: Tune Out The Noise!
Before we talk about your long term investment plan, let me tell you a quick story. In my past career, I picked stocks in front of Bloomberg screens with flashing green and red prices. I saw the devastating depths of the 2008 Financial Meltdown, and the stock market that came roaring back afterward. I came […]
Is Financial Planning Just for the Rich? [Video]
Is Financial Planning Just for the Rich? (Transcript) Hi, I’m Jim Marrocco from Thinking Big Financial. Recently, a friend asked me if I worked with regular people. By this she meant, do I work with people that are not super wealthy? And it reminded me of this huge myth that exists: that a financial advisor […]
Making Compound Interest Work for You
Ever hear the motto — “make your money work for you”? What does that really mean? Talking heads and personal finance books all may advise you of different strategies for making your money work — investing in stocks, bonds or buying real estate. But underlying all of these arguments is a simple concept: compound interest. […]
Investment Fees Matter!
There is a lot of talk about investment fees today. But why do they matter and why should you care so much? Who cares if you pay an extra $100 of fees today, right? Wrong! What may seem like tiny sums can add up to huge piles of money over your lifetime. It may mean […]
The Ultimate Saving Vehicle: Your Home
We explored why buying a home may make sense for you, but now its time to put pencil to paper. And its really important to have the right set of expectations when you buy a home. Let’s set aside all the emotional reasons for a moment — we need a place to live and grow or want a place […]