By Glenn J. Downing, MBA, CFP®
Should I Pay my Mortgage Off Early? This is actually a FAQ – a frequently asked question, so I thought I’d spend a little time on it here. Some other mortgage-related topics we’ve addressed are these:
By Glenn J. Downing, MBA, CFP®
529 College Savings accounts just got better!
A 529 college savings account is one in which money is invested for a beneficiary’s future college expenses. The account grows without taxation, and funds are eventually distributed with no federal taxation for the be...
by Glenn J. Downing, MBA, CFP®
The Secure Act of 2019 changed the rules for non-spouse beneficiaries of inherited IRAs. The rules now are simply that the beneficiary of such an IRA has 10 years to distribute it in its entirety. Required minimum distributions are necessary during this time.
This...
by Jonathan G. Cameron, CFP®
Here is something we hear on occasion at CameronDowning: “I’m not sure an IRA is for me. I hear it may be too risky.” The problem with this statement is that an IRA, or Individual Retirement Account, is not an investment. So what is an IRA?
An IRA is Technically an Acc...
by Jonathan G. Cameron, CFP®
Your emergency fund is foundational to any financial planning. Here I discuss what it is (and what it is not), why you need to have one, and how much should be in it.
At the Margin
An economics professor once said that if you fall asleep in class and he calls on you...
Glenn J. Downing, MBA, CFP®
What kinds of insurance do you offer?
We broker life insurance, disability income insurance, and long-term care insurance. In obtaining Insurance coverage for our clients, We shop the market for the most suitable product at the best price.
Can I get auto or homeowners ...
by Glenn J. Downing, MBA, CFP®
From time to time I’m asked, Glenn: there are plenty of financial guys out there. They’ll do financial planning for free. So why should I pay you guys?
Good question, and not unexpected in these days of free resources online. To answer it, let me give you a little b...
by Glenn J. Downing, MBA, CFP®
Why do financial planning?
Short answer: because no one can hit a moving target. The financial plan informs all financial decisions: how to invest, what to save and where, and what insurance should I purchase or drop.
What should I expect when I come in to see you?
...
by Jonathan G. Cameron, CFP®
Getting financially organized before retirement can be a daunting task. There are many unknowns and it can be hard to know where to begin. For that same reason people often wait too long to address retirement needs and, unfortunately, don’t achieve the financial freedom...
by Glenn J. Downing, MBA, CFP®
Do you have a Flexible Spending Account available to you through work? These can offer tremendous tax savings. As you do your research, note that FSAs are of two sorts: The Healthcare FSA and the Dependent Care FSA.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
A flexible ...
by Jonathan G. Cameron, CFP®
All financial planning begins with cash flow planning – your budget, in other words. Sometimes people recoil from that word - budget. To them the word is fraught with negative connotation: I can't spend! Not in my budget! I'll have to deny myself! Life will become...
by Glenn J. Downing, MBA, CFP®
In this post I’d like to give a little history and background on the advice industry. It may not grab you right off as being the most compelling reading, but please stick with it. I have some valuable points to develop. In Part II I go into some of the changes in ou...
