End of Year Planning with Cameron and Frank

We’ve entered the 4th quarter! To make the most of your end-of-year, Cameron Hamilton (Director of Financial Planning) and Frank Yozwiak (Director of Estate Planning and Tax) share a few financial best practices and strategies to consider. Topics discussed include: + Cash review and income planning + Roth conversions and tax harvesting + Retirement contributions […]

Medical Professionals

COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES “…They assist with advice and solutions that meet our unique situation…” This testimonial is from a client of Ballast, Inc. Clients are not compensated for sharing their opinions and experiences with our firm.  Any compensation creates a conflict of interest and any client’s comments may not be representative of any other person’s experience […]

Entrepreneurs & Business Owners

COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES “…The professionals at Ballast, with their expertise and knowledge, were able to prepare our businesses for a safe and secure transition…” This testimonial is from a client of Ballast, Inc. Clients are not compensated for sharing their opinions and experiences with our firm.  Any compensation creates a conflict of interest and any client’s […]

Non-Profits & Charitable Organizations

COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES “…our needs are met as individuals and not by a “one size fit all” approach…” Ballast advisors have a devotion to giving back to the community. As such, we have vast experience with the non-profit and charitable communities. We are equipped with knowledge to help advise organizations like yours across multiple facets from […]

Families & Individuals

COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES Families & Individuals “…As a long-term client, we would enthusiastically recommend Ballast to any family looking to have a tailored long-term partnership…” This testimonial is from a client of Ballast, Inc. Clients are not compensated for sharing their opinions and experiences with our firm.  Any compensation creates a conflict of interest and any […]

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Wealth Management FINANCIAL PLANNING Portfolio / Investment Management Financial Planning Budgeting Cash Flow Debt Management Education Saving Estate Planning Monte Carlo Retirement Social Security Tax Planning Portfolio / Investment Management Asset Allocation Security Selection Tax Management Fiduciary Consulting Private Client Consulting Strategic Financial Leadership Private Client Consulting Career Counseling Center of Influence Charitable Giving Long […]

Ballast Website Disclosure

Ballast Website Disclosure Ballast, Inc. is a registered investment adviser with the SEC. Registration with the SEC does not indicate that the adviser has achieved a particular level of skill or ability, nor is it an endorsement by the SEC. All investment strategies have the potential for profit and loss. Ballast, Inc. is not engaged in the […]

Putting a Value on Your Social Security Benefits

Key Takeaways: As a child, getting to check the mailbox each day was likely an experience filled with joy. You were likely hopeful that just one piece of mail would have your name on it.  Fast forward a few years, and that excitement has been replaced by reluctance.  We all know what lies waiting.  With […]

Educating Heirs on Student Debt

One of my favorite television shows is Shark Tank, which shows aspiring entrepreneurs pitching their business plans to seasoned investors, the “sharks,” in hopes of an investment.  The sharks use their own money to invest, so they ask tough questions to help evaluate the business’s potential.  Have they demonstrated sales?  How much does it cost […]

College Savings Vehicles

So often in life and in financial planning, perfect can be the enemy of good.  This is certainly the case when it comes to saving for college.  There are many ways to go about it, but the most important choice is the choice to begin saving.  Nonetheless, we often meet parents of five- and ten-year-old […]

The Complicated Calculations of College Costs

Parents of college-bound students are dealing with a chicken-or-egg dilemma.  When it comes to student aid calculations, it just about requires a Ph.D. to understand how to fund a Ph.D.  Different schools use different methods to evaluate different families, and when they get the results, they interpret them differently!  Let’s wade into the wishy-washy world […]

Getting Creative with College Funding

In our previous discussions about college planning, we’ve discussed where and how much to save while acknowledging that these questions require several assumptions.  Is it sensible to make saving for college a major financial goal when there’s no guarantee the child will attend?  That’s a tough question for families and for this reason, we favor educating […]