Good Vibrations Brian Wilson and Mike Love (1966) When Brian Wilson, the genius behind the music...
Financial Planning
Stay on top of all the latest trends in personal finance and how they affect your financial plan.
June Market Commentary
Is “Everything gonna be alright”?Everything’s Gonna be Alright- David Lee Murphy and Kenny Chesney (2018) It would be naïve to think that one month of rallying US stocks would mean that markets are back on track and there is nothing to worry about. Remember that to...
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The Financial Planning Jigsaw Puzzle
You sit down with a financial advisor, they ask a few questions and they recommend your investment plan should be 60% stock and 40% bonds. That mix of assets has been recommended for decades and for some it may be the right strategy. Our view of financial planning is...
4 steps to help you create a budget so you can build savings and retire with confidence
Written by Doug White. You need a budget if you... Wonder where all your money went each month. Have goals for savings but you don’t think you have any money to save. Haven’t started putting anything away towards retirement or other long term goals. Have debt that...
History Tells Us the Financial Sun Will Shine Again
Written by Mark Essenfeld, CFP®. When I was quite young, the next-door neighbors were Mr. & Mrs. Hansen. I didn’t know their first names as kids addressed adults Mr. & Mrs. at that time. It seemed to me that Mr. & Mrs. Hansen were really old, probably...
Writing an Impactful Financial Plan Can Increase Your Success by 42%
A good financial plan addresses a number of financial aspects: goals, savings, investments, taxes, insurance, and estate plans. Your financial plan will be a snapshot in time that predicts your retirement savings and income based on your current behaviors. At the end...
The Coronavirus Shopping Frenzy Is Proof That Emergency Savings Are a Must
A healthy emergency fund is an important barometer of good financial health. Having three to six months of monthly expenses saved increases the likelihood that you and your family will be able to handle an unforeseen expense, medical emergency, or change in employment...
Saving for the Unexpected
7 out of 10 Americans say financial stress is their most common cause of stress. TCG is here to help you prepare and avoid using credit cards or short term loans. Here are 3 steps to prepare you for a better financial future: Start with a budget. Document how much you...
Practice Portfolio Distancing
This is clearly an eerie and unsettling time. We face not just a health crisis, but, as economic activity has slowed, if not stopped altogether, the very real prospect of a recession is here. During times of uncertainty and instability, it's natural for investors to...
Bonds in the Bear Market
The Bear is here! Unfortunately, the reality is we’re all scared of Bears (unless you’re from Chicago—then you may be a fan). The longest bull market on record is over and now comes the opportunity to look towards the next—no matter how long or short the current bear...
Advisors Weigh In: How to Increase Participant Contribution Rates
Source: Financial Advisor IQ What’s the most effective tool you’ve used to help increase contribution rates? Dennis Bielik works at TCG Advisors, a firm based in Austin, Texas that has been in business for 20 years and manages $3.5 billion. His response is below:...
Stop failing your financial plan
Written by: Dennis Bielik, CFA®, FRM“A goal without a plan is just a wish” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery. As a Financial Planner, I like to spend a couple weekends throughout the year to look back on the year so far and soak it in. Each time I do this, I find...