Blog

Disasters and emergencies happen often with little or no warning – whether it is a fire in your house or a massive hurricane, the unexpected can take a toll on your financial planning. Being financially prepared helps disaster survivors to bounce back much more quickly from a disaster, yet research...

December 18, 2018

As a personal financial counselor, I am often asked to give an overview of the services I provide to Soldiers and Airmen in my area. Although I am grateful for the opportunity, I often find it difficult to persuade service members that they can benefit from financial counseling. Most of...

October 15, 2018

Financial education programs may increase financial knowledge and improve financial behaviors, but a study at Creighton University found that financial education can also improve health.  The study found significant improvements in health related quality of life that were sustained two years after participation in the education program. Single, low-income women...

August 29, 2018

When it comes to presenters who read their slides, audiences have reached their limit. The relentless dependence on bullet points and text-dense slides do more to bore than to entertain or inspire. In my last blog post, Presenter to Bullet Point: “You’re Fired!, I concluded with a promise to provide you...

August 15, 2018

We are proud to recognize Biola University as our newest AFCPE® Approved Education Program! AFCPE: What inspired you to work in the field of financial planning and education? Shane: The stock market captured my attention at a young age, and I just had to learn more. As I read and attended seminars,...

July 06, 2018

Audiences Come Alive! Do your eyes glaze over at the thought of sitting through another drab PowerPoint presentation? Is your own audience petrified by what dullness might be lurking behind your title slide? When I ask audiences if they would prefer a slideshow or an informal discussion, hands down, they welcome...

July 03, 2018

Pamela Capalad, a Certified Financial Planner™ and Accredited Financial Counselor®, is a fee-only financial planner whose business is called Brunch & Budget. Why brunch, you might ask? Pam says that, “brunch gives us the space to have real, open, and vulnerable conversations. It's about getting to the heart of why we're...

May 18, 2018

Did you know that: 17% of Ohioans reported that over the past year, their household spent more than their income* 27% of Ohioans reported having medical bills past due* Nearly 60% of Ohioans do not have an emergency fund to cover three months, which means that individuals who are not...

October 25, 2017

Personal financial can be a touchy issue for many individuals. Consider this scenario: A client makes an appointment for a financial-planning consultation. As an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®), you ensure the client that you do not endorse, sell or promote any financial product line. Yet, even with this disclaimer, your...

October 17, 2017

There is a big change coming for the men and women serving in our armed forces, and it has the potential tosignificantly impact how they save and plan for retirement. This change is known as the Blended Retirement System or BRS. Beginning in January 2018, eligible service members, currently serving in any branch...

July 11, 2017

Does a penny really amount to much in today’s American society? While stationed overseas, my family learned to live without pennies because they were not accepted at the facilities on base. They would round everything to the nearest $.05. Combining that with digital and electronic methods of keeping track of...

January 18, 2017

When you teach financial concepts, how do you help your clients or audience understand the concept? While it’s simple to teach that 2 + 2 = 4, it can be harder to help people comprehend the time value of money, opportunity cost, or longevity as it relates to retirement planning....

December 19, 2016