25 Apr 2026

What Are Stocks, Why Should You Invest in Them, and What Is a Stock Index?

What is a stock? Stocks, also called shares or equity, represent ownership in a publicly traded company. When you buy a stock, you become a partial owner (shareholder) and share in the company’s risks and rewards. Why invest in stocks? The main goal of investing in stocks is to grow your wealth. You can make money through capital gains (selling stock at a higher price than you paid) and dividends… Read More

By
15 Apr 2026

Missouri Unclaimed Property: Are you due some money?

Did you know that if you don’t stay in contact with your financial institution, you can “lose” your money? Where does it go? To the state in which you last lived, as far as the financial institution is aware. That state holds it as Unclaimed Property. They would really like people to come claim it, and ideally, spend it, putting it back into the economy. How do I find out… Read More

By
12 Apr 2026

Retiring Early: One Way to Avoid the 10% Early Withdrawal Penalty Tax

You might have heard that you need to keep your money in your retirement accounts until you are 59½ in order to avoid the 10% early withdrawal penalty tax, but did you know that if your money is in a work retirement plan, like a 401(k), you can take it out earlier and still avoid the penalty? Exception to the rule To quote directly from the IRS website explaining this exception to… Read More

By
5 Apr 2026

Michele Clark in the News: CNBC about Downsizing Housing in Retirement

I was happy to be a resource for Sara O’Brien of CNBC for the article “Older Americans planning to downsize should brace for sticker shock” which highlights the surprises that retirees can face when downsizing.  We had a great discussion about the types of expenses people often forget, the types of housing I see clients gravitate toward, and if the cost of the square footage downsized home is dollar downsized as… Read More

By
1 Apr 2026

Asset Allocation: Rebalancing a Portfolio in an Appreciated Market

You probably already know you need to monitor your investment portfolio and update it periodically. Even if you’ve chosen an asset allocation, market forces may quickly begin to tweak it. For example, if stock prices go up, you may eventually find yourself with a greater percentage of stocks in your portfolio than you want, and therefore a more aggressive portfolio than you originally intended. If the market corrects, your portfolio… Read More

By
31 Mar 2026

Retirement Planning: Spending, Pensions, and Inflation

When planning for retirement, several important factors determine whether your financial plan will work over the long term. Three of the most important areas people need to think about are understanding their spending, knowing how their pension works, and accounting for inflation over time. The following sections explore these topics in more detail. Retirement Planning: When You Haven’t Tracked Your Spending Planning for retirement is not a subject you dwell… Read More

By Tags: ,
30 Mar 2026

Retirement Plan: Expenses to Consider (Including Often Overlooked Costs)

When planning for retirement, most people begin by estimating their regular monthly expenses such as housing, utilities, insurance, food, and transportation. But one of the most common issues I see when helping people plan their retirement income is that certain expenses are either underestimated or completely overlooked. Understanding both core retirement expenses and irregular or overlooked costs can help create a more realistic retirement spending plan. Retirement Plan: 10 Expenses… Read More

By
29 Mar 2026

Peter Cottontail Makes A Lousy Financial Advisor!

Oh, I know he’s beloved by millions. And I can’t wait to bite off those chocolate bunny ears he will bring me on Sunday. But let’s face it, you wouldn’t want to get your financial advice from someone who puts all his eggs in one basket! You have probably heard that old adage, but do you know what it means? Portfolio Diversification Have you ever been in rush hour traffic… Read More

By
27 Mar 2026

Retirement Income: Estimating How Much You Will Need

Use your current income as a starting point You have probably read financial press articles that discuss desired annual retirement income as a percentage of your current income. Depending on the article, that percentage could be anywhere from 60 to 90 percent, or even more. The appeal of this approach lies in its simplicity, and the fact that there’s a fairly common-sense analysis underlying it: Your current income sustains your… Read More

By
26 Mar 2026

Financial Records: What to Keep, Where to Keep, and How Long

Keeping your financial records organized is an important part of managing your personal finances.  Whether it’s a paid personal property tax receipt or a W-2 to correct a conflict with Social Security records, there may be times when you need to locate a financial record or document–and you’ll need to locate it quickly. By taking the time to declutter and organize your financial records, you’ll be able to find what you need when you… Read More

By