About Us

Financial Planning is Essential Because… 

[place each of the following Yellow Bold items in a box, and make it intuitive that clicking any box causes it to expand, revealing the additional text that is shown below each item. Add art as you wish] 

…We’re Living Longer Than Ever 
During the Revolution, life expectancy for the colonists was 25. In 1900, it was 47. Today, it’s 85, and if you’re alive in 2030, you can expect to live beyond age 100. 

Will your money last as long as you do? 

…Your Parents (or In-Laws) are Living Longer Than Ever, Too 
63 million Americans, or about 1 in 4 adults, are family caregivers. Their average age is 51 and they provide a median 4 hours of care each day. A third of caregivers have children under 18 at home, and the majority have jobs (with half of them reporting adverse job impacts, such as taking leave or turning down promotions). The average caregiver spends $7,200 per year on caregiving expenses, with half reporting a negative impact on their own finances. 

 All this explains why 64% of caregivers report emotional stress and have higher rates of depression than non-caregivers.  

Have you considered whether you might become a caregiver, and how you’ll manage that obligation without harming your personal finances or interfering with your goals? 

…College is More Expensive than Ever 
Six in 10 high school seniors go to college, but a quarter of college freshmen drop out and only 62% graduate after six years. And 10 years later, only half of college graduates are in jobs that require a degree. Worst of all, 20 years after graduating, 42% of student loan borrowers are still paying off their debt.  

College can still be still the right choice for teens – but only if the journey is navigated correctly. Do it right and a future filled with prosperity and happiness awaits; done wrong, though, college can ruin a teen’s life.  

Are you helping your teen properly decide whether college is the right choice – and if so, how to minimize the cost and emerge with a degree that leads to a happy life?  

…Automobiles Cost More than Ever 
The average vehicle now costs more than $51,000, and the average buyer finances nearly $42,000 of the purchase, with a typical 72-month loan – creating the high likelihood that amount owed in the future will exceed the value of the car.  

Is your vehicle purchase one that you’ll be happy with long into the future? 

…Home Affordability for First-Time Buyers is Lower than Ever 
In 1991, the average first-time home buyer was 28 years old. Today, the average first-time home buyer is 38 – and their monthly payments absorb about 40% of their incomes – considerably more than the 25% level that financial advisors recommend. This is why, for households earning $50,000, only 1 in 12 houses for sale are affordable.  

Are you engaging in the strategies that can help you buy a home without leaving you “house rich/cash poor?” 

…Jobs are Less Stable Than Ever 
In 1900, the average company lasted 65 years. In 2020, the lifespan was 15 years. That means workers are forced to seek new jobs even when they don’t want to. This helps explain why the average worker has had 7 jobs by age 35. 

AI is another job threat; the technology might replace 300 million workers in the U.S. and Europe, according to Goldman Sachs. By 2030, half of entry-level jobs could disappear, resulting in unemployment rates as high as 20%.   

Is your job – and income – safe? 

…Inflation is Eroding the Value of Your Money 
From 1970 to 2025, the dollar lost 88% of its value due to inflation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It lost 47% from 2000–2025. 

Are your savings and investments earning returns high enough to offset the impact of inflation? 

…Taxes Have Never Been Higher – and Continue to Rise 
The federal income tax was introduced in 1913. At the time, the average American earned $600 per year, according to the Census Bureau. The initial income tax imposed in 1913 was a mere 1% – and it was assessed only on incomes that were more than $20,000. In 2026, the top income tax rate was 37% (plus 3.8% for the Net Investment Income Tax, for a total of 40.8%).  In addition, Americans pay state income taxes, sales taxes, capital gains taxes, property taxes, estate taxes and license fees. And let’s not forget payroll taxes, which have nearly doubled since 1970. Today, the average American pays more in payroll taxes than income taxes.   

Remember, it’s not what you earn that matters – it’s what you keep after taxes. Are you taking full advantage of the many ways you can lower your taxes?  

…We Have More Access to Credit Than Ever – and More Debt as a Result  
Americans have $1.8 trillion in student debt, an average $41,530 per student borrower, plus  

$1.7 trillion in auto loans, $12 trillion in credit card debt and $12.6 trillion in mortgage debt. 

Is your debt spiraling you into poverty, or are you properly managing your debts so they actually improve your future financial security?  

…Social Security, Pension Plans and Annuities Aren’t as Reliable as They Were 
Social Security benefits for all retirees will be reduced 24% in 2032 unless Congress acts before then, and pension plans and annuities haven’t actuarily adjusted for today’s longer-than-ever life expectancies, threatening their ability to fulfill promises of lifetime income for retirees. 

Are you depending on these programs for income in retirement? 

…You Face Increased Risk of Loss from Scams and Fraud 
41% of U.S. adults say they’ve lost money to fraud. The FBI says victims reported losses of $17 billion in 2024 – an average of nearly $20,000 per victim. Although criminals target all age groups, and those with the most money – typically those over age 60 – suffer the biggest loses. Imposter scams, investment scams, job opportunity scams, phishing and spoofing, extortion and personal data breaches are the most common tactics of crooks. 

Do you know how to protect yourself and your family from internet and cybersecurity threats?  

 …We Can’t Assume Family Will Support Us 
In 1850, the average U.S. household had 6 members. Today’s has 2.5. While people once died in the towns where they were born, the average U.S. citizen now moves 11 times during their lifetime. And more women 75+ live alone than with relatives. 

Will you have sufficient financial resources to provide for your own support in retirement, without being dependent on others?  

…We Can’t Be Sure Our Spouse Will Care for Us 
46% of marriages end in divorce, and the average wife becomes a widow at age 59. 

Have you taken steps to make sure you are self-reliant in retirement?