Financial planning blog

Timely and free financial planning advice

A financial plan is the cornerstone of any business. It’s your road map for success, guiding you to long-term security and growth by pinpointing where you are now and where you want to go over the next five years. It also helps you identify potential problems along the way and find solutions to those challenges....

Federal Reserve policies and interest rate analysis

January 11, 2022

The Federal Reserve and Interest Rate Decisions

Tapering: What It Is and Why It Makes Markets Shudder I hope this link to a four-minute video works for you, whether or not you subscribe to the Wall Street Journal. It is as good of an explanation of the Federal Reserve’s recent behavior as I have seen. Both fair and fairly easy to understand,...

January 4, 2022

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from A&I! Optimism for the year ahead! “2021 was marginally better than 2020…at least it was different. A variant, so to speak. And like any year, it had both highs and lows.” –Dave Berry First, I want to wish you all a happy new year, and acknowledge that we are living in...

old couple planning for retirement investment

December 28, 2021

Investing in Equities for Retirement Income

Investing in Equities for Retirement Income By: Karl Frank George and Sherry never had to ask, “what’s next?” They had always planned everything. But life threw a wrench into their plans when George was let go during the recent economic downturn. George was ready to retire, at least emotionally. The kids were raised, the bills...

Couple discussing finances with a professional advisor.

December 9, 2021

What’s the Difference Between Risk Capacity and Risk Tolerance?

Risk capacity and risk tolerance are two important concepts that investors should understand. Though they are related, they are not the same thing. Risk Capacity Ability to take on investment risk is a function of objective measures (the client’s financial profile) such as the investment goals, the time horizon for each goal, the need for...

November 29, 2021

5 Best 401K Alternatives: Your 401(k) Isn’t the Only Way to Save For Retirement

Whether you’re just getting started saving for retirement or have decades of investing under your belt, it’s a good idea to know what other investment options are available. While your 401(k) plan may offer dozens of mutual funds from which to choose, the truth is that most Americans have little choice but to settle on...

November 24, 2021

Market is at All-Time Highs! How Do I Invest for Retirement Income Now?

Market is at all-time highs, should I wait to invest or invest now? We have never had the markets reach as high as they have recently. When we talk with clients, they often tell us “it is due for a correction.” I just know it. Well, maybe. What we do know is there are no...

November 16, 2021

Accessibility on Our Website

Making Our Website Accessible None of us are getting younger. In fact, I have never been older than I am at this exact moment in time. And I often joke that I am not losing my hearing, or my vision, but I do think websites are sometimes hard to read. So, we just rolled out...

Investment diversification concept with blocks in cart – A&I Wealth Management

November 10, 2021

Diversification, Taxes and Different Types of Retirement Accounts

Frequently Asked Questions about Retirement Planning Some of the questions that we receive from various folks are fairly common. You may want to visit our web site and see if any of them peak your interests. Here are a few of them: Diversification Read our recent FAQ: Diversification in Investing: Fundamentals, Importance & Why You...