One of the persistent issues of the 2016 U.S. Presidential campaign was the wide (and growing) divide between the “haves” and the “have-nots”—variously expressed as a rising sentiment against the “one-percenters,” or as laments against the “hollowing out of the middle class.”

We hear all the time that medical costs are too high in the U.S., and that Medicare is going to go bankrupt in the future.  The President-Elect recently told us in a press conference that drug companies are “getting away with murder.”  So how high are drug prices, and are those prices contributing at all to the high medical costs in the U.S.?

Regardless of your age, the thought of not having to work, but still enjoying a great quality of life is probably quite appealing. Retirement sneaks up on you as each year goes by faster and faster.

December 27, 2013

By Beth Jones, RLP^®, AIF^®, CFT^™

Life is full of changes

What do a lottery winner, lawsuit recipient and a widow have in common? Sudden money ― and sudden, similar emotions. While it may seem their experiences are polar opposites ― one is a “celebratory” experience and another involves deep grief ― both result in shared emotions. Shock, surprise, loss of identity and self-esteem, guilt, confusion, overwhelm, dramatically altered relations with friends and family. Other transitions which can elicit similar emotions are divorce, retirement, sale of a business, loss of money or a loved one. Life transitions are a time of change ― “what was” no longer exists and “what will be” has not yet taken shape. By definition, a transition is a temporary state. One of the keys to a successful transition is to take the time to re-examine your sense of purpose and consider your new choices in light of your highest life goals. Working with a financial planner trained by the Sudden Money® Institute in Financial Transition Planning can provide the needed guidance and structure to handle this time effectively.

September 21, 2013

By Beth Jones, RLP^®, AIF^®, CFT^™

Many people fail to have proper and updated estate planning documents, so a serious illness or death of a family member can create major ramifications at a difficult time. Some think that only wealthy people need estate planning documents  not true. Below is a summary of the documents that can help to ensure that your desires are clear and legal, hence minimizing conflicts and confusion.

I don’t spend a lot of time offering specific market commentary at Financial Planning Fort Collins.  I think there are a lot of places and a lot of personalities that can offer plenty of very fine commentary for you to enjoy, if that's your thing.  But when bigger picture things happen, I will try to put them into context, as much as possible.

Which segues into interest rates, and bonds.  Interest rates have recently made a sharp move higher.  In early May the benchmark 10-year Treasury note was at a yield of 1.66%, near the all-time lows hit in July of 2012.  The difference between this year and last is that in just over a month the yield on that 10-year T-note has snapped up to around 2.20%.  On a relative basis, that's a big move for the bond market - yields moved up by nearly 1/3rd in around 30 days.¹