Resources | Financial Planning Insights & Tools - Ballast

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401k & Benefits

Finding the Best Order for Funding Retirement

With a task as important as funding your retirement, determining which accounts to fund and in what order should not be taken...

Positive Signs of a Growing Economy

Key Takeaways: Publicly traded companies will be releasing earnings reports over the next several weeks. Economists believe...

Monte Carlo

Determining a Retirement Savings Rate

As we meet with new families, we continually hear the same two questions: 1) are we making good decisions with the money we earn...

Tax Management

Upcoming Child Tax Credit Checks: Not Free Money

Max Child Tax Credit now $3,600/child under 6; $3,000 ages 6-17 Even high-income families will receive 50% advances on these credits Advance...

Charitable Giving

Giving Strategy for Charity Gala Season

Fewer than 15% of taxpayers itemize deductions since 2018 tax reform. Timing the donations you already plan to make can maximize...

Economic Analysis

Interest Rates & Inflation

Over the past decade, the Federal Reserve has been pushing for modestly higher interest rates and inflation. To anyone following...

Financial Planning

The Grey Area of Paying Off a Mortgage Early

A key question that soon-to-be retirees often face is whether or not to eliminate debt before retirement. Generally, we would...

Budgeting

Inflation Concerns: Are Higher Prices Here to Stay?

Higher prices are here – I learned this last month when booking a rental car for our summer vacation, a 6-day rental for...

Retirement

Insight Into Fixed Income + Timing of Social Security

When entering retirement, the question of how to structure income can be the most influential factor in determining a family’s...

Weekly Update

Toilet Paper... and Pork?

A little over a year ago, in March 2020, life as we then knew it was drastically changed. Many of those who were fortunate enough...

Cash Flow

How Will A Bear Market Affect Your Plan?

In this week’s edition of the Ballast Atheneum, I am going to explore a subject no one wants to see but we all must prepare for;...

Financial Planning

The Housing Market is on Fire!

Key Takeaways: Housing inventory has declined by 52% from last year and is 15.6% more expensive. Millennials are finally participating...

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ATHENEUM

We created a resource to help you succeed in your personal financial journey.

The Ballast Atheneum is a collection of our thoughts on the twelve most important topics in financial planning.