Demystifying Probate
To many people the word probate has a negative connotation. Due to the fact that many people only experience the probate process one or two times during their entire lifetime (if that!) it is viewed as confusing, expensive, and undesirable. Many hire an attorney to guide them through the process and if done correctly, one can avoid […]
What Comprises A Sound Estate Plan?
There is no more important aspect to your financial plan than an estate plan. That might seem to be a shocking statement to some and that is likely because of the misconception of what comprises a comprehensive estate plan. While most clients come to us focused on their investment portfolio and cash flow needs, we […]
Retirement Savings
One of the most fundamental jobs of the financial planner is to assist our clients with retirement savings. How much do you need to save? Which account types should you use? Given multiple options, where should you save your money first? The following articles discuss these and other questions relating to retirement savings. Are […]
Evaluation of a Job Offer
Key Takeaways – The following considerations must be made when reviewing an opportunity to take a new job or leave a W2 salary to start a business. When we bring on a new client, one of the first commitments we make to them is to be another intelligent brain at the table, helping to evaluate […]
Resources
We keep informed on the latest trends and market insights so we can offer you the best opportunities, support and expertise – whenever you need it. Topics Select Topic 401k & Benefits Asset Allocation Ballast News Budgeting Business Buying & Selling Business Decision Support Business Planning and Consulting Business Plans Career Counseling Cash Flow Center […]
About
The BAllast FAMILY Your Financial Advocates Since our founding, our vision has remained steadfast: build a team that we would want to advise our own families. Our team of experts proactively anticipates and solves your needs by taking the time to understand your goals, passions, and what truly matters to you and your legacy. MEET […]
Evaluating a Pension Buyout
Key Takeaways: Those entering the workforce today will most likely never feel the security offered by a pension plan like many of their parents and grandparents have. As defined contribution plans, such as 401(k)s, took center stage in the late 1980s, the use of defined benefit plans as employee benefits quickly became a thing of […]
Diworsification – Can You Take Diversification Too Far?
Key Takeaways: Conventional wisdom tells us that investing all our money into any one asset type carries an inordinate amount of risk, but is it possible to spread our investments over too many asset types? The term diworsification was coined by Peter Lynch in his 1989 book, “One Up On Wall Street”. He used the […]
Artificial Intelligence Wrote this Commentary in 5 Minutes
By: Cameron Hamilton, CFP®, MBA Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning will Improve Productivity Tools are Publicly Available for Laypeople without Coding Knowledge Workers and Companies Must Adapt to New Technology Artificial Intelligence wrote this commentary in five minutes. Not the one you’re reading, but rather the one available at the hyperlink. […]
Pre-RMD & Social Security Roth Conversions
Key Takeaways: Retiring before age 70 is the norm in the United States. While longevity continues to increase, the desire to retire later, work part-time in retirement or have a transitional job before retirement does not appeal to the masses. From a financial advisor standpoint, this presents ample financial planning opportunities for retirees before they […]
Retirement Savings
The Ballast Atheneum is a collection of our thoughts on the twelve most important topics in financial planning. Today, the focus is on Insurance. A fundamental job of a financial planner is to assist clients with retirement savings. How much do you need to save? Which account types should you use? Given multiple options, where […]
Asset Allocation Factors: Time and Emotion
When we meet with a new client, one of our tasks is to determine an appropriate asset allocation for the funds they invest. At a very basic level, the question we are trying to answer is “what percentage of the investment portfolio will be comprised of equities (stocks), and what percentage will be fixed-income (bonds)?” […]
