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 […]
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 […]
Why Are Kids So Expensive These Days?
We’re often invited to speak to student groups about financial planning and I like to end with a few pieces of advice that apply to almost everyone, including a list of the biggest financial mistakes someone can make. Number one on that list is having children, which always solicits a few chuckles when we speak […]
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 […]
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 […]
Student Debt Options for Graduates
Although a minority of our clients have student debt, those that do not almost always have children or grandchildren planning on attending college. Costs of college attendance have inflated so fast that we discuss it with parents of newborns. We’re seeing a steady increase of borrowers with six figure debt levels, making student debt repayment […]
The Benefits of a Simplified Estate Plan
Thus far in the Estate Planning section of the Ballast Atheneum, we have discussed an introduction to estate planning, probate, trust planning, and planning for a legacy – all of these topics can be expanded upon significantly. However, this week we thought it would be important to discuss simplifying an estate plan. Most estate planners, […]
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 […]
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 […]
Review Your Benefits as You Progress Through Life
Key Takeaways: For many in the workforce, their employers provide them with benefits up and above their salary. Life and disability insurance are very common examples (Note: health insurance is also a very common example but will be addressed in a later article). Many times, these benefits show up as a simple line item on […]
The Investor Taxation Lifecycle
We are not CPAs nor are we tax preparers, but a great deal of our time is spent working with clients and their professionals honing a financial plan that is tax efficient. We advise our clients to hire a CPA with whom we can work together to manage their financial plans. The financial plan and […]
Corporate Strategy: Trick or Treat?
Corporate strategies can tell opposing stories about a firm’s future Key Takeaways: Earnings season has seen growth companies downgraded amid rate hikes CEO’s actions must be weighed by investors at a firm-specific level Layoffs, buybacks, CapEx, debt, & dividends each contribute to firm outcomes We are in the middle of third-quarter earnings […]
