Blog

How Domestic Violence Against Women During Covid has Changed

How Domestic Violence Against Women During Covid has Changed  While Covid is on the decrease around the country and we are seeing fewer cases, there has been a phenomenon working behind the scenes that has come to light. ...

The Real Value of Working with a Female Financial Advisor

If you’ve read my bio, you will notice that I have been a female Financial Planner for several decades, when the industry was dominated by men. Life was different then. Many women were stay-at-home mom’s and men earned the...

Ways to Shrink the Gender Pay Gap and Increase Women’s Salaries

No one is more aware of the Gender Pay Gap than I am, being a female business owner in a male-dominated industry for decades now. I am well aware of what women bring to the table in terms of income and work in the home. Think about it:...

4 Simple Tips for Women Navigating Divorce

At some point, you looked into the loving eyes of your partner and said those two simple words that bound you together. That sweet moment promised endless summers walking hand in hand and cold winter nights curled up together watching...

4 Ways Women Can Prepare for an Inheritance

Women and Success - How to Define the Benchmarks of Your Life

As a woman, how do you define success? Is it through your career, through your marriage, through your children? Or is it rebuilding your life after losing a spouse or going through a divorce? What are the benchmarks that communicate to...

Women and Widowhood - Exploring a New Normal

Throughout my career, I have had many women clients who have experienced widowhood. While loss of a spouse is part of life, losing your significant other can be one of the most painful episodes women will ever experience in their lives...

Making a Career Change for Women at 50 Years of Age

As we finally crest the hill of younger days into later adult life, we are faced with unique changes. Many of our friends are entering their retirement years, filling their days with grandchildren, and finishing out careers that have...

Why are Most Caregivers Women and How Does This Impact Women's Lives?

Did you know an estimated 66% of caregivers are female? The average caregiver in the United States is a woman around 49-52 years of age who works outside the home and provides 20 hours per week of unpaid care to older family members...

3 smart strategies to pay for college: Live off campus and enroll in junior college

3 smart strategies to pay for college: Live off campus, live at home, and enroll in junior college Paying for a university education these days can deplete the saving account faster than several decades ago. It can be a real burden for...

How to pay for College: Apply for Private Scholarships & Grants

Working with our Financial Coaching Clients, we know how concerned they are about finding ways for themselves or their children to get a good education without going into debt. That’s why we created this series about Education...

The best paying part-time jobs for college students - 30 Best Jobs, while going to College!

Who wants to graduate from college with a huge amount of debt? Who wants to be stuck with a 10-20 year loan repayment schedule that could affect your ability to buy a house or a car? Why have debt if it can be avoided? Through coaching...

Pay for College using 6 grants, good grades, scholarships, low income grants, and more.

College costs have skyrocketed in the last few decades, making it difficult for many students to go on to college after high school and earn a degree that will help them secure a better financial future. Through our Financial Coaching...

How do you know if your financial advisor is a fiduciary?

What is a Fiduciary? I don’t know about you I am very excited about getting back to normal. I got my Vaccine and my first Pfizer shoot I was so relieved I felt like a ton of bricks had been lifted off my shoulders. Then two...

What is the purpose of a savings account? It’s for an emergency and to keep you out of being broke!

In other words, an emergency account or savings account is money for the “Just in case” situations we all run into at one time or another. We often cover this topic in Financial Coaching with our clients. Income not spent...

What effect can debt have on your future: What is a debt example?

What effect can debt have on your future: What is a debt example? Debt is defined as owing money, owed money that is past due or the feeling as if you owe someone something. An example of debt is what you owe on your mortgage and car...

7 Steps in the Budgeting Process: Where did your money go and how do you plug the holes?

7 Steps in the Budgeting Process: Where did your money go and how do you plug the holes? Do you buy whatever you want whenever you want it? Is your checking account drained to zero by the end of the month? Have you ever had a budget?...

The Differences between a Financial Coach, Investment Advisor, and Certified Financial Planner

The Differences between a Financial Coach, Investment Advisor, and Certified Financial Planner Are you looking for a financial coach? Not sure if you really need a financial advisor rather than a coach? What about your investments?...

Money Mindset: What are your fears about money?

Money Mindset: What are your fears about money? What were you taught as a child about Money? Were you raised in a house that believes money is bad? What are your fears about money? Growing up I remember that my family had ideas that...

Proceeds from sale of property, business, or equipment

Proceeds from sale of property, business, or equipment Are you thinking of selling property? Want to sell your business? Thinking about equipment to buy or sell? Selling a property, business or equipment requires planning and thinking....

Employee stock options explained: understanding stock options  and employee benefits

(ESOs) Employee stock options explained: understanding stock options and employee benefits Imagine that you worked for Google, Apple, or Yahoo back in the day when nobody realized how successful and powerful these companies would...

What to do with the money from a Legal Settlement and is it taxable?

What to do with the money from a Legal Settlement and is it taxable? You just received word that you are the recipient of a legal settlement Your attorney is happy to notify you that you have a legal settlement check waiting for you...

Instant Wealth - Managing what to do when you receive a large monetary gift

The word gift was first used in the 12th century (1101-1200) with words like She, Heron, countess, crown, birth etc. What is a gift? It is something given without compensation. (Merriam Websters dictionary) Instant wealth with a gift...

What is an inheritance and how do you make good decisions about it?

An inheritance is considered an instant wealth event because it usually happens through the disposition of a will and it may happen after the passing of a loved one. The emotions of inheriting Inheritance has many phases of emotions:...

Should you take a Pension Lump Sum or an Annuity Lifetime Retirement Benefit?

Should you take a Pension Lump Sum or an Annuity Lifetime Retirement Benefit? What is a Pension? A pension is a financial benefit that helps you create income when you retire. It is company funded only. Every year the company...

What a Year: 2020 - Covid-19, Protests, PPP loans, the Economy, and More

The year 2020 has become a year that will have one of the largest impacts on our lives and lifestyle, with unprecedented events in history. Covid-19 has changed our lives forever and will continue to force us to make additional...

Ameritrade Schwab Final

Lillian Meyers, CFP, Meyers Financial Services Sonoma California - Our Asset Custodian TD Ameritrade to be acquired by Charles Schwab We have some exciting news! As you may have recently heard, Charles Schwab and TD Ameritrade have...

Divorce Settlement - Key Considerations and Next Steps

Divorce Settlement - Key Considerations and Next Steps Divorce can be one of the most emotional events a person will ever go through, yet there is much to know about how to negotiate before divorce, or how to go forward with your life...

Insurance Settlement

Instant wealth Insurance settlement When you receive money from an insurance settlement it is not a happy or joyous occasion. It is money that you have recovered because of a loss. Moving forward with your life may not be so simple....

Winning the Lottery - what to do next?

Welcome to my series on Wealth Events and Instant Wealth. I’ll be taking you through a series of blog posts about the types of wealth events and what you can do when they occur. Winning the Lottery Wow! You won the Lottery! You...

How to Prepare for Retirement: Who’s involved - what happens - where to get help - retirement issues

Thank you for visiting my final blog post about Retirement! As you may have noticed, I have written four blog posts about retirement to help you think through one of the most important decisions in your life’s journey. A dream...

Instant Wealth and Wealth Events - What do you do with the money?

• You receive a phone call that your Great Aunt Edna has passed and that she was childless and has left you her entire retirement portfolio. What do you do?• You just left a meeting with your divorce attorney and with a check...

What issues will you consider when retirement takes place?

Looking at expenses As you go through this process it is work but it can be exciting and so much fun. Working with a CFP Professional to attain an opinion of your portfolio can be helpful full of new information and food for thought....

Where Can I get help when deciding upon a financial advisor at retirement?

Where Can I get help when deciding upon a financial advisor at retirement? Google, of course, has information available that is massive and is like” finding a needle in a haystack.” But you may be asking yourself,...

What happens to set in motion the planning for retirement?

Making the decision to retire is sometimes a planned event and other times, it just happens to us without planning. This post is about setting in motion planning for retirement and the questions we may have when that happens. Is this...

Retirement or Retired? Who needs to be involved in the process?

When thinking about retiring, who are the key people involved? Is it only me? Or should others’ be consulted? Who is involved? The answer is: The whole family Is this the conversation you are having with yourself? I am thinking...

Financial Windfalls - the Fantasy and the Epic Fails

You have just received a windfall, and you do not know what to do. Or maybe you have a list of things you want to do and are ready to spend that money starting tomorrow. Hold on, not quite yet. First, let’s define instant wealth....

10 Steps to Starting a Business -

Like when you take a trip or buy a car, you need a plan. Starting a business is no different. Making important key financial decisions, looking at the legal and tax aspects of what you want to do, and managing your next steps are...

How Your Life Style Today Affects Your Future

Your lifestyle today will determine your retirement style tomorrow. Your current spending habits are crucial to your long-term success and to whether or not you reach your goals. Is the life (style) you are living right now aligned...

How to be a Millionaire

Money is tied to your dreams and goals. But how to make it all work out in the end? Well, once you have your goals, you make a plan. The plan is all about small steps and incremental, achievable goals. Your dream, for example, could be...

When you dream, dream  big - then do your research

In 1967, my husband and I were at a crossroad. We were considering many options, even a move from the US to Australia. Jerry brought home pamphlets all about the country and what they were offering. Australia is not only beautiful, but...

Paying for College: The Difference Between the Two Kinds of 529 Plans

Let me start off by saying, we all know that one of the most important parts of being a parent is making sure that your child is well provided for. A large part of providing for your child is making sure that they get a good education....

Financial Security: Phishing

Imagine this scenario. You get an email that appears to be from your bank. You open it and read a message riddled with misspelled words that direct you to “click the link below.” You click on the link, and are taken to a...

The Story Behind the Song: America the Beautiful

During the summer of 1893, a teacher named Katherine Lee Bates encountered a sight she would never forget. As she told it: “One day some of the other teachers and I decided to go on a trip to 14,000-foot Pikes Peak. We hired a...

Brexit Q&A

By now, you’ve probably heard a lot about Brexit. It might seem like a strictly British affair, but it actually has profound economic implications for us here in North America. As a financial advisor, it’s my responsibility...

The Boys of Iwo Jima

During this Memorial Day holiday, may we remember all those who have died in defense of the freedoms that we enjoy every day. The following story took place in the fall of 2000, and I thought I’d share it with you in honor of...

Top 10 Ways to Prepare for Retirement

Financial security in retirement doesn’t just happen. … It takes planning, commitment, and yes, money. 1. Start Saving, Keep Saving, and Stick to Your Goals If you are already saving, whether for retirement or another goal...

Financial Security: Identity Theft

In the past, I’ve occasionally sent letters on ways to protect your finances from crooks and criminals. Many people have told me how much they appreciate these letters, so I thought it might be a good idea to delve even deeper...

It's Not What You Make, It's What You Keep

In professional sports it’s becoming more and more common for athletes to broker trades to teams that are located in tax advantaged states. For example Tony Romo’s contract with the Dallas Cowboys makes him the fifth...

December Newsletter

This turned out to be a pretty decent year for me and, I hope, for you also, and I wanted to share this story that was related to me by an acquaintance. This was what he said: One December night a man came home late to find a small...

January Newsletter

I was thinking about goals and New Year’s resolutions when I came upon the story of John Goddard—an adventurer, lecturer, and perhaps “the world’s greatest goal achiever.” If you’ve ever read the...

November Newsletter

Time for Thanks It seems that every year the holiday season starts earlier and earlier, leaving us with little time to really enjoy Thanksgiving and reflect on what we’re grateful for. So here’s my list! My Family Freedom...

October Newsletter

As the days get shorter and the nights longer, most people start turning their attention to upcoming holiday plans and Christmas shopping. But there’s something else on the rise during this time of year: charitable giving....

September Newsletter

Tomorrow is Never Promised You work hard for what you have and don't you want to make sure your family will be ok if something happened to you? We insure our homes, our cars, even our big screen televisions, but what about the people...

August Newsletter

Happy Labor Day! As you know, the history of Labor Day is filled with the stories and sacrifices of hundreds of thousands of laborers throughout our country’s history. I always considered the holiday to be a chance to reflect on...

July Newsletter

Summer is one of my favorite times of the year… inspiring. Hope you are enjoying the longer days. Recently, I read a beautiful story about a cab driver who, displaying just a little patience, ended up having one of the most...