Running a small business in the Kansas City Northland means wearing more hats than most people realize, and personal financial planning often gets pushed to the bottom of the list. Between managing cash flow, employees, and day-to-day operations, it's easy for business owners to put off retirement planning and long-term financial decisions until "things slow [...]
As the conflict between the U.S. and Iran wages on, its impact on oil prices proves continuously relevant to market volatility and the future for inflation. July saw the U.S. reimpose a naval blockade on Iranian ports and resume strikes on Iranian missile and drone sites near the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that carries [...]
The U.S.-Iran ceasefire that helped calm markets in the spring has proven fragile. Hostilities flared again in late June and into July, and while a full return to open conflict has been avoided so far, the on-again, off-again nature of the truce continues to keep markets on edge. Even so, June's economic data brought a [...]
Retirement planning is all about making sure you have enough assets, and that they are handled prudently, so they can provide you with the income you want throughout your retirement. But what about the asset you live in? Factoring your home into your retirement planning has an impact on your lifestyle choices, your available income, [...]
The war with Iran remains highly tumultuous despite April’s indefinite ceasefire extension. The truce has been critically strained by a continuous “dual blockade” in the Persian Gulf and direct military flare-ups, with U.S. retaliatory strikes in early June. With geopolitical developments as a top investing concern for 73% of respondents to a recent Schwab survey, [...]
The ongoing war with Iran appears to have no clear off ramp in sight, and the ceasefire seems to be on tenuous ground. The equity markets, responding in part to a historically strong earnings season, have been hitting new highs, even if only temporarily. The bond markets are more pessimistic. The about-face in expectations for [...]
We’re a little more than a month into the war with Iran, and recent data releases are beginning to tell a story of the impact on the economy. Growth expectations are lower, inflation is higher and consumer sentiment is tanking. The bond and equity markets have been reacting to the headlines, but there is beginning [...]
When you’re choosing a financial advisor, how they get paid matters. It can influence the advice you receive and how confident you feel in the relationship. The terms “fee‑only” and “fee‑based” sound similar, but they describe different ways advisors are compensated. What Fee‑Only Means A fee‑only advisor is paid only by the clients they [...]
If you’re retired or planning for retirement in Missouri, reducing taxes is about being proactive and organized, not chasing loopholes. Tax laws can change, and your situation is unique, so you’ll always want to work with tax and financial professionals—but there are general ideas that can help you think more clearly about taxes in [...]
When you’re planning withdrawals in retirement, you’re really building a strategy to turn your savings into steady income that supports your life. There’s no single “best” strategy for everyone, but you can create an approach that fits your situation and adjusts over time. What a Withdrawal Strategy Really Is A withdrawal strategy is simply [...]
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