This past weekend, we lost my uncle, Jack. He was a lot more than an uncle to me. Uncle Jack exemplified Go Out And Live. He lived life on his own terms and did it his way. Another lesson in his passing is that people will always remember how you made them feel.    Questions? Email me: Mike@ngpfp.com   

Fifteen Minute Financial Advisor

Uncle Jack

Enrolling in your health care plan can be easy, if you're keeping everything the same. But it can be incredibly difficult if you're going it alone, or even choosing from a list of options that is vastly different than what you're used to. Also a reminder: Medicare open enrollment begins Friday October 15th, 2021 and runs through Tuesday December 7th, 2021.  Obamacare open enrollment begins Monday November 1st, and runs through Wednesday, December 15th.    Questions? Email me: Mike@ngpfp.com

I Chose...Poorly

Accounting firm PwC conducts a study of 1,600 employees across the United States each year, to gauge the financial wellness of the American workforce. As you might imagine, financial stress has grown for many during the pandemic. This week, we look at the data and offer a few potential solutions to ease the stress on our fellow workers.    Questions? Email me: Mike@ngpfp.com  

Employee Financial Wellness: Pandemic Edition

If you're not sure of ALL the differences between these two tax-classifications for retirement savings, you're in good company. Which one makes the most sense for you? Just because one is the right choice one year doesn't mean it will be the right choice the next year.    Questions? Email me: Mike@ngpfp.com   

Roth vs. Traditional

It's a competitive market to buy a home right now. I'm joined this week by my friend and mortgage expert, Greg Anderson, to talk about his 10 commandments for getting a home loan. Some of the "commandments" are no-brainer's, like don't take on new debt while you're applying for a mortgage, but some are head-scratchers.    Questions? Email me: Mike@ngpfp.com   

10 Commandments of Getting a Home Loan

I'm hoping this will be the start of a "feature" every so often. Sort of like the Financial FAQ conversations. What's pisses me off is when any "advisor" really, but especially a FIDUCIARY advisor doesn't follow through on their duties to those they serve. It hurts people and gives the industry a bad reputation. It's time for that behavior to die.   Questions? Email me: Mike@ngpfp.com

That Pisses Me Off!

There's a lot to think about when it comes to employee benefits. This week we cover the basics, Health Insurance, Retirement, and Life Insurance. There's a lot more to it, but hopefully this will get the wheels turning for you.    Questions? Email me: Mike@ngpfp.com 

Employee Benefits: The Basics

No matter where you find yourself in life, it's never too late to begin your investing journey. Whether you can start with $10 or $10 million, getting started can often be the hardest part. Here's the secret: It doesn't have to be that hard.    Questions? Email me: Mike@ngpfp.com   

How Do I Start Investing?

Your personal financial life doesn't have to be complex. I think a simple approach to personal finances may be better than a complex approach. Using nudges, automation, and simplifying your finances, you really can put yourself in control of money.    Questions? Email me: Mike@ngpfp.com 

Beauty in Simplicity

We all spend our resources. Sometimes we spend money, sometimes we spend time. And sometimes we can buy time with money. And often we trade time for money. The question is: Are you making deliberate decisions about how you spend your resources? This week, we talk about a thought exercise to help discover our priorities in practice versus priorities in theory.   Questions? Email me: Mike@ngpfp.com 

Maintenance Spending and Buying Time

There are so many opinions on personal finance and investing strategies. I have many opinions, too. The one's that usually matter the most are the ones that YOU decide are right FOR YOU. It's all about being able to Do You, or own your strategy. It's easier to stick to that way.   Questions? Email me: Mike@ngpfp.com   

Do You

While you're watching the 2020 Summer Olympic Games (or not) in 2021, try to think about the time and sacrifice each of the athletes put into reaching their goals. You can do it to in your own Investing Olympics! Here's my favorite part: Most of the work is simple being patient. Patience pays.    Questions? Email me: Mike@ngpfp.com

Investing Olympics

Washington State, in January 2022, will become the first to collect a payroll tax to help offset the cost of long term care needs for eligible residents of the state. How long will it be until other states adopt something similar?      Questions? Email me: Mike@ngpfp.com   

Long Term Care Tax...Coming Your Way Soon?

Investment planning is the final step in The 6 Steps to Starting Your Personal Financial Planning. Why? Because I think it's the top of the hierarchy of financial needs. With cash flow planning as the foundation and the rest of our steps leading to your investment plan, you're now armed with the tools to build your personal financial planning process and then Go Out And Live!   Questions? Email me: Mike@ngpfp.com 

Step 6: Investment Planning

It's hard to make this a "fun" topic, but I really believe that estate planning is for almost everyone. It's not just for really rich people with millions and millions of dollars. It doesn't have to cost a lot, and it doesn't actually take THAT much work or money to get yourself set up properly.    Questions? Email me: Mike@ngpfp.com

Step 5: Estate Planning

The Fifteen Minute Financial Advisor is a place where you can find answers to your personal finance questions with descriptions of the topic or question, why it's an important consideration and action steps you can take to address your concerns. Have a topic you want covered? Email: mpolicar@hightoweradvisors.com

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Fifteen Minute Financial Advisor

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