Pat Alfano and Dave Anderson

A Retirement Plan Sponsor is Like the Pilot In Command of An Aircraft

The responsibility of being a retirement plan sponsor is like the responsibility of flying a group of passengers from one location to another. Are you and your team operating like a “pilot in command?”
Steve Booren

Improving Investor Behavior – Longevity and the Fear of Running Out

When do you plan to die? Weird question, right? It’s one that financial advisors have to ask their clients. The typical approach to retirement planning involves spending down the portfolio, a lifetime of savings for a client, at a rate that…
Dave Anderson

The 8th Wonder of the World – Compounding Interest

I would like to take a look at the concepts of compounding and inflation. The principles of the two are identical. One works for you in a positive growing way, the other in a silent negative manner.
Nelisha Firestone

My Dad’s Story

When my Dad met my Mom, he told her that he would be a millionaire one day. From collecting hub caps on the side of the road to running a seven-figure business, this is the story of his rise and fall.
Dave Anderson

Patience Isn’t a Virtue, It’s a Necessity

With the increased fluctuations and heightened volatility we have experienced in the markets in the past several months, I would like to share my thoughts and perspective. I feel the most important point I would like to state is: short-term volatility is normal. We will look at some statistics shortly, but first I desire to express that volatility is to be expected. We do not let volatility sway our opinion of the investments we own.
Steve Booren

Improving Investor Behavior – Myths & Language

Many people believe the stock market is risky. It’s often described as a casino, using words like crash, falling, and my favorite Wall Street word: “correction” meaning falling 10 percent or more from a previous high price. My definition…
Steve Booren

Invest in Businesses Rather than Renting Stocks

Most business owners can feel the pulse of their business. If you own a coffee shop for instance, you can go to the location, see and interact with your employees, touch your inventory, and keep your customers happily caffeinated. You can smell the aroma of your business. You can feel it. What if you had that same feeling as a shareholder of a public company?
Steve Booren

Improving Investor Behavior – Make Steady Savings Your Strategy

There’s $15 on the line, and your buddy is stepping up to a 10 footer for a birdie on the 18th hole. It’s a slippery putt, but not slippery enough. As he takes his shot, human nature kicks in. “Miss it, miss it,” we say to ourselves.…
Steve Booren

Renegotiating with our Business Partner, Donald Trump

Imagine you have a business relationship with a partner. You work and run the business, and take home 65 percent of the profits for your efforts and your partner received 35%. Last December your partner recognized your hard work and rewarded you with an additional 14 percent of the business, reducing their take to 21 percent.
From Clutter to Clarity Workshop
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From Clutter to Clarity: What to Toss and What to Keep

By Michelle Santaferro, organizing expert and owner of Organomics Like many during this time of year, you may have found certain documentation painful to retrieve and scattered in several locations.  But there’s good news: you can create…
Steve Booren

Improving Investor Behavior – Act Like an Owner

Most business owners can feel the pulse of their business. If you own a coffee shop for instance, you can go to the location, see and interact with your employees, touch your inventory, and keep your customers happily caffeinated. You can smell the aroma of your business. You can feel it. What if you had that same feeling as a shareholder of a public company? What if you thought like an owner?
Stacks of disorganized papers

Workshop: From Clutter to Clarity

Are you drowning in data? How can you conquer the clutter? Join Michelle Santaferraro from Organomics for a workshop on organizing the chaos, simplifying the storage, and streamlining your system for dealing with paper.
Steve Booren in front of a dry erase board
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The Difference Between Financial and Investment Advice

With the advent of technology, real financial advice will be a huge differentiator in the financial services industry. Anyone can create a portfolio, asset allocation or investment strategy. We are even told robots can do this with this concept called “Robo-Advisor”. What most people actually need is advice about how their investments fit into their overall financial plan, and more importantly their life. Believe me – robots cannot do this, nor do investment products do this. It takes an experienced, skilled, listening Advisor. Both investment management and financial advice are necessary components for long-term success, but it’s important to understand the differences. So let's compare and contrast the two.
The $58,000 latte habit

The $58,000 Latte Habit

Creating a habit of saving is hard, really hard. It requires discipline and few people enjoy discipline. But your daily disciplines (or lack thereof) can have a profound impact on your future. Consider the daily latte. The average medium latte at Starbucks costs $3.65 assuming you don’t “doctor” it up with extra flavors, different milks, etc. That cost is pre-tax. We know that $3.65 can add up, but what does it add up to? Let’s look at some simple math behind a lattehabit. The chart below illustrates the future value of that cup of coffee, depending on your consumption.
Steve Booren
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Meet Bob, The World’s Worst Market Timer

Did you invest some money on Jan. 26th? Do you ever feel “the curse” of investing at exactly the wrong point? Like your investing is too late, at the wrong time, or maybe that you’re just unlucky? Well meet Bob – the World’s Worst Market Timer.