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Trivia Friday!

Trivia Friday!

What percentage of middle income Boomer retirees say that their Social Security check makes up more than 50% of their monthly income? Is it...

A - 23%
B - 41%
C - 65%
D - 72%



Comment with your answer below!

Personal Finance Playbook - Estate Planning for Regular People

Here it is! The first episode of the Personal Finance Playbook. Joining me on this episode is Suzanne Frechette to discuss estate planning for regular people.

Many thanks to her and the crew at WestfordCAT for making this possible!

I was SO nervous...and what's with the hands!?!?



Want to get some tips of getting your finances set for 2017?

There's lots of articles out there on year end financial tips, or how to start 2017 on the right financial foot. Well, instead of searching the internet high and low, there is a curated magazine with some of what I think are the best personal finance articles.

Topics covered include retirement, college planning/savings, debt management, taxes and many others.

Take a look my From the Clipboard - my curated Flipboard magaine.



They mean well...



As families and friends get together to celebrate the holidays, sometimes the conversations turn to money. While I'm certain they have the best of intentions, sometimes the advice doesn't work out that way.



Trivia Friday!


Trivia Friday!

According to a survey of retired middle income Baby Boomers, which "factor" did they feel had the most impact on longevity (i.e. how long someone lives)? Is it?

A - Genetics
B - Eating right
C - Exercising
D - Smoking

Comment with your answer below! Which do you feel is the most important?

Happy Holidays!

The first of many episodes!

I'm proud to announce that I'll be taping my new show today - Personal Finance Playbook with special guest Attorney Suzanne Frechette to discuss estate planning for regular people. We'll be on Westford Community Access TV.

 Once it's scheduled, I'll share the air times and link to watch online!

How many "markets" are you in?

I found this article about tips an adviser shares with his ultra wealthy clients. Each week I'll post about a tip and how it applies to regular people.


8. It's not only about the financial markets.

Wealthy people have their money work in multiple ways - investments, real estate, and businesses with a small percentage of net worth in their home. For regular people, the opposite is true - most of their retirement savings in 401ks and the bulk of their net worth in their homes.

What this means is that when one "market" goes down, the rich have many others that may go up - the ultimate definition of diversification. For many regular people, their finances are tied up in 2 markets - typically stocks and residential real estate.



Regular people can expand their financial world by invest in other assets ranging from investment RE to cash value life insurance to build wealth and not simply rely on the financial markets.

Donate your time or money


Often, helping others ends up helping yourself. Donating time or money can lead to many rewards personally.

Please help a worthy non-profit in your community.



Trivia Friday!

Trivia Friday!

 According to middle income pre-retirees and retirees, at what age did they consider someone "old"? Is it...

 A - 70
B - 78
C - 85
D - 95

 Comment with your answer below! Good luck!


If you're expecting to work in retirement, take a look at this chart. Of retirees who work, most work PT - could either be by choice or by necessity.

Note - this chart does not include retirees who don't work for whatever reason.

What is you
r plan for work after retirement?

Don't leave $ on the table!

College financial aid planning tip:

Federal Student Aid has $150 billion to help you pay for college. The only way to qualify is to fill out the FAFSA. Don't leave $ on the table: fafsa.gov

By the way, there are many scholarships from the colleges themselves that require the FAFSA as a condition of being considered - even though these scholarships are MERIT based - based on grades and test scores.



If you don't fill out the FAFSA, what you are telling the school is that YOU DON'T NEED THE MONEY and won't be considered. It's not different than if you had to write an essay for a scholarship and choose not to.

Some year end tips on Friends of Kevin radio

As you get together with family and friends during the holidays, don't forget some these tips! Good time for a check up!

Listen to my latest episode on Friends of Kevin radio. We discuss some tips on estate planning for regular people.



Ways to give back


There are many ways to support charities and give back. You can easily donate money, but here are other ways to help out. This is for Boston area organizations, but there are worthy organizations in many areas.



Trivia Friday!

Trivia Friday!

According to a recent survey asking 500 middle income retirees, aged 65, what age did most people anticipate living to? Is it?

A - 74
B - 79
C - 86
D - 94



Comment below with your answer!

Waiting longer means fewer options available

When do you want to start?

When working with different clients, all have their reasons for starting early or late. What I do know is that the later one starts, the fewer options there are. This is true for retirement planning as well as college planning.




Financial aid..the process

College financial aid tip from the US Department of Education


Confused about the financial aid process? Let us walk you through it step by step:

Where are you going?

I found this article about tips an adviser shares with his ultra wealthy clients. Each week I'll post about a tip and how it applies to regular people.


7. Create a financial plan

As the saying goes, "if you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there". But where is there?

This is pretty obvious - having a plan and knowing where you want to get to is important. And then you know if you're on you're way to achieving your goal such as saving for a comfortable retirement or paying for college.

So where are you going? Are you getting closer?

A parking lot is not a home


While we sit in our warm homes, please remember those who don't have that. In this article, these people are in Southern California - which is pretty nice regardless. But there are people who are in this situation here - and it's lot colder than SoCal.



Trivia Friday

Trivia Friday!

The tax code and rulings total over 70,000 pages - which means it is rather complex. What percentage of tax payers file their own taxes - meaning without professional help (aside from using tax software)?

Is it?

A - 30%
B - 54%
C - 72%
D - 92%



Comment below with your answer!

Planned versus Actual


Planned versus Actual

 I'm sure all of these people had good intentions of working a long time, saving up, etc. but life probably didn't work out that way. Doesn't mean it was bad, but things happen. Life happens.

 By taking early, the downside is people cost themselves a lot of money.

 What age did you plan on taking Social Security?

Don't believe these financial aid myths!


College Financial Aid Planning

I hear these "myths" all of the time!



There's NO income cut-off for federal student aid: http://bit.ly/1fnNwsv Everyone should fill out the FAFSA: fafsa.gov

Use other people's money!

I found this article about tips an adviser shares with his ultra wealthy clients. Each week I'll post about a tip and how it applies to regular people.


6. Debt is not a bad word

So many people focus solely on getting out of debt - no matter what kind it is. But the wealthy - and real estate investors - understand it differently. It's like buying a product for $10, turning around and selling that product for $15 and pocketing the $5 profit.

In this case, the "product" is money - other people's money specifically. Borrow someone else's money, pay some interest but use that money to earn more money.

It's one way how people become wealthy, and more importantly, stay wealthy.



It's something that even normal people can do - start small and have money earn money!

If you're in career transition...

If you're in career transition, stop by the Friends of Kevin Job Fair.

Tomorrow, 9am - 12N
Dracut Public Library



Retail therapy isn't that effective


How many people do you know went shopping on Black Friday? Or is online today for Cyber Monday?

It's called Retail Therapy, but it does wear off quickly and doesn't really help in the long run.



Trivia Friday!

Trivia Friday!

According to the Federal Reserve Board Survey of Consumer Finances 2013, when it comes to borrowing / shopping for loans, what source of information do most American families rely upon the most? Is it?

A - Advertising / Media
B - Internet
C - Family / Relatives
D - Bankers / brokers
E - Other professionals (lawyers, financial advisers, etc.)



Comment with your answer below!

Happy Thanksgiving!

To you and your loved ones!


This is not the type of desert you want to be in


Though this article is about South Florida, these deserts are here as well. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, if you know of anyone who is in this situation, please help if you can.



Help the children with financial education and advice

I found this article about tips an adviser shares with his ultra wealthy clients. Each week I'll post about a tip and how it applies to regular people.


5. Prepare your children for the future.

Here's something that you can do the same as the wealthy. The wealthy can help their kids get training or a job at a large company, but often the truly wealthy help their children become educated to handle the wealth.



You too can do this - help you children understand and learn about money. Or get them professional advice to start them with a good financial foundation - not just help them get a good job. After all, many people with good jobs still have money troubles.


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