Latest ACP Blogs

ACP Certified Member Thomas Cook was quoted in Comparison Adviser in an article titled 'What Is a Brokerage Account?', discussing how brokerage accounts work, where brokerage accounts fit into a financial plan, and more: "They are one of the most underrated investment accounts because they offer the most flexibility regarding when and what money investors can use." https://comparisonadviser.com/ investing/what-is-a-brokerage- account/
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ACP Certified Members Thomas Cook and Keith Spencer were quoted in Comparison Adviser in an article titled 'What Is Tax Diversification?', discussing benefits of tax diversification for early retirees, different types of accounts, how diversifying taxes helps you prepare for tax codes changing, and how a financial advisor can help you plan to lower your taxes. They also share common strategies to consider. https://comparisonadviser.com/ investing/what-is-tax- diversification/
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ACP Certified Member Ken Robinson wrote this bylined article for Retirement Daily on TheStreet titled 'Beyond Budgeting: The Psychological Trick to Stop Overspending with Credit Cards', where he talks about how paying your balance daily or weekly can curb spending and free you from debt: "As our economy has become increasingly cashless, it’s naturally become easier to spend more automatically and less intentionally. Is it possible to make ourselves think about spending, like when we used dollar bills?" https://www.thestreet.com/ retirement-daily/your-money/ beyond-budgeting-the- psychological-trick-to-stop- overspending-with-credit-cards
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ACP Certified Member Ken Robinson was quoted in CNN Underscored in an article titled '8 asset class investment ideas for 2024', noting that one of the best investments, especially for someone who is a ways away from retirement, is in yourself: "The best investment for someone who is some time away from retirement could well be to focus on enhancing their ability to earn a living. Increasing your value to your employer is something you have at least some control over.” https://www.cnn.com/cnn- underscored/money/best-assets- to-invest-in
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ACP Certified Member Keith Spencer was quoted in Yahoo! Finance in an article titled '5 Reasons To Consider a Roth IRA Conversion Early in Retirement', discussing tax planning, RMDs, and more: "Generally speaking, the primary reason to do a Roth conversion would be if you suspect your current income tax rate will be lower than your future tax rate." https://finance.yahoo.com/ news/5-reasons-consider-roth- ira-125708375.html
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ACP Certified Member Keith Spencer was quoted in Yahoo! Finance in an article titled '5 Reasons To Consider a Roth IRA Conversion Early in Retirement', discussing tax planning, RMDs, and more: "Generally speaking, the primary reason to do a Roth conversion would be if you suspect your current income tax rate will be lower than your future tax rate." https://finance.yahoo.com/ news/5-reasons-consider-roth- ira-125708375.html
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ACP Certified Member Ken Robinson was quoted in MarketWatch in an article titled 'I’m 71 and own rental homes in California worth millions. But my wife and I recently moved to North Carolina and want a ‘simpler life.’ Who can help us?'. Ken provides tips and options on selling the properties, insights on capital gains taxes, and more. https://www.marketwatch.com/ picks/im-71-and-own-rental- homes-in-california-worth- millions-but-my-wife-and-i- recently-moved-to-north- carolina-and-want-a-simpler- life-who-can-help-us-2ec3ff22
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ACP Certified Member Ken Robinson was quoted in MarketWatch in an article titled 'If you aren’t ‘loud budgeting,’ are you even budgeting right? TikTok has thoughts — but so do money pros'. Ken notes: "The idea of loud budgeting emphasizes the importance of spending with intention, which is the opposite of mindless spending. To me, that’s where the value is." https://www.marketwatch.com/ picks/if-you-arent-loud- budgeting-are-you-even- budgeting-right-tiktok-has- thoughts-but-so-do-money-pros- 074bc6ac
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ACP Certified Member Ken Robinson was quoted in MarketWatch in an article titled 'Are you still paying 1% to your financial adviser?'. Ken notes that while a 1% fee may be common, that many advisors are scaling down. However, he also points out that if the 1% fee gets you a lot of great services, that it can be highly worth it. https://www.marketwatch.com/ picks/are-you-still-paying-1- to-your-financial-adviser- heres-what-might-make-a-lot- more-sense-and-save-you-tens- of-thousands-of-dollars- 01659470645
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ACP Certified Member Keith Spencer was quoted in Comparison Adviser in an article titled 'Should You Sell Your Home in Retirement?', discussing pros and cons of selling your home after retiring. Keith notes how your home can offer excellent protection from the effects of inflation, plus how a favorable mortgage can be much better for your retirement budget than paying expensive rent prices. https://comparisonadviser.com/ news-and-studies/selling-your- home-in-retirement/
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ACP Certified Member Keith Spencer was quoted in Comparison Adviser in an article titled 'Short-Term Investments: What to Know', discussing reasons and benefits of investing in short-term securities, which can provide safety while still allowing the money to be put to work in the meantime. https://comparisonadviser.com/ investing/short-term- investments/
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ACP Certified Member Elizabeth Buffardi was quoted in GOBankingRates in an article titled 'I Just Retired: Here Are the Unexpected Expenses I Wish I’d Prepared For', highlighting child care expenses and financial advisor fees. She also discusses the importance of considering lifestyle expectations when planning for retirement expenses. https://www.gobankingrates. com/retirement/planning/i- just-retired-unexpected- expenses-wish-prepared-for/
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ACP Certified Member Keith Spencer was quoted in ConsumerAffairs in an article titled 'Financial experts suggest where to park your extra cash', discussing where to store extra funds if you're going to need them within a year. https://www.consumeraffairs. com/news/financial-experts- suggest-where-to-park-your- extra-cash-050724.html
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ACP Certified Member Elizabeth Buffardi was quoted in ComparisonAdviser in an article titled 'Required Minimum Distributions: What to Know', discussing the impact on retirement planning, as well as Roth conversions as another strategy to take advantage of. https://comparisonadviser.com/ retirement/required-minimum- distributions/
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ACP Certified Member Ken Robinson was quoted in Financial Advisor Magazine in an article titled 'Tricks And Methods Advisors Use To Create Realistic Retirement Budgets', suggesting that it may be more prudent to look at expenses annually rather than monthly: “No one spends the exact same amount every month. Everyone should take into account the circumstances that make their retirement unique.” https://www.fa-mag.com/news/ retirement-budgeting-77814. html
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ACP Certified Member Ken Robinson was quoted in MarketWatch in an article titled '‘Should I live under a bridge?’ I get $5,600 a month in Social Security retirement income, but my property taxes will soon be $20,000. Who can help?'. Ken weighs in on possible solutions, suggesting a reverse mortgage as a potential solution, and also addresses if they are a good candidate to work with a financial advisor. https://www.marketwatch.com/ amp/picks/should-i-live-under- a-bridge-i-get-5-600-a-month- in-social-security-retirement- income-but-my-property-taxes- will-soon-be-20-000-who-can- help-92dee1d9
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ACP Certified Member John Scherer was featured on The Efficient Advisor Podcast in an episode titled 'How this advisor deepened his relationships and impacted clients', discussing an interesting value-add experience he offered to his clients: the Legacy Letter. The goal of the virtual event was to help his clients create a lasting legacy beyond finances for their children. John gives all the details of his letter-writing event and shares how this tool not only deepened family bonds for his clients, but also redefined the advisor-client relationship. https://open.spotify.com/ episode/6kQvRq0vcGFZUU7jCHq59p
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ACP Certified Member Ken Robinson was quoted in GOBankingRates in an article titled 'When Stock Prices Drop, Where Does Your Money Go?'. Ken says that one way to think about how the stock market works is to imagine a stamp collector: They’re not really trading or holding money anymore, they’re holding an investment that may alter in value. https://www.gobankingrates. com/investing/stocks/when- stock-prices-drop-where-does- your-money-go/
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ACP Certified Member Ken Robinson was quoted in MarketWatch in an article titled 'We are in our mid-50s earning $225,000 a year with $1.9 million in investments and life insurance. But now what?'. Ken assesses this couple's financial situation, provides insight on where to get smart financial advice, and shares how there are significant tax-savings opportunities from having the right kinds of investments in the right kinds of accounts. https://www.marketwatch.com/ amp/picks/we-are-in-our-mid- 50s-earning-225-000-a-year- with-1-9-million-in- investments-annuities-and- life-insurance-but-now-what- 974e7244
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ACP Certified Member Keith Spencer was quoted in a U.S. News & World Report article titled 'Are High-Risk Investments Worth the Stretch?', discussing his firm's approach to working with clients that want to pursue high-risk investments, utilizing fun money or 'play money' as a small percentage of the overall portfolio. https://money.usnews.com/ financial-advisors/articles/ are-high-risk-investments- worth-the-stretch
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