Blog Archives - Page 3 of 7 - Redwood Grove Wealth Management

Paying for College without Bankrupting the Retirement Plan

May 1, 2017

This time of year, parents of high school seniors may find themselves experiencing dual emotions related to their kids – pride over the top-tier colleges their child has been accepted to and shock over how much it’s going to cost. Another emotion might quickly set in for those who haven’t saved enough for college – panic over how in the world they are going to pay for their child’s dream college. With the average annual all-in cost of a private university now approximately $50,000 and some elite schools in the $70,000 range, many people can’t easily pay for college out of cash flow. What’s the panicked parent to do?

It’s Time to Get Serious About Financial Literacy

April 1, 2017

April is financial literacy month. Financial literacy is an understanding of money – how to make it,
how to manage it, how to invest it, and how to give back. Understanding money and how it works has
never been more important. The collective debt burden of United States citizens is $11.5 trillion dollars. This is 75% of US GDP. Only the United States and European Union have a consumer debt-to-GDP ratio this high. College loan debt is on the rise and now totals over $1 billion dollars. 38% of adults don’t think they’ll have enough to retire. Since 1 in 3 people have no retirement savings, they’re probably right.

Taking the Tax Bite Out of Raising Kids

March 1, 2017

Raising kids is expensive. By my estimate, it can cost close to $500K to raise a child, including college, in expensive parts of the country like the Bay Area. So, it’s helpful to know that there are certain tax advantages to having kids. A few of the more common ones are outlined below.

New Year’s Resolutions: Why Bother?

February 1, 2017

If you are like the 44% of Americans who made New Year’s resolutions in January, you might by now also be feeling like the 92% of people who fail to keep their resolutions. If so, you might be wondering what is the best way to stay on track? What can I do if I fall off the wagon? Or why bother setting them at all?

Gratitude Is Good For Your Health

December 1, 2016

After a particularly divisive and negative election season, many might be craving a bit more positive energy and healing. The hectic pace and excessive consumption of the holidays can also cause stress. For these reasons, now is a particularly good time to focus on gratitude and generosity to others.

Do Elections Impact Markets

November 1, 2016

As the US presidential election cycle enters its final days leading up to the election on November 8th, it’s hard to avoid all the “experts” opining on the impact of the elections on the investment markets. Some may wonder if they should somehow change their portfolio in light of election results.

The Best Student Loan

October 1, 2016

Given the ever-increasing cost of college and that 72% of undergraduates take out student loans to help pay for college, it’s worth understanding the student loan choices.

Can We Afford a Vacation Home in Tahoe?

September 1, 2016

Every summer when I spend a week or two in Tahoe for vacation with my family, I fantasize about owning a cabin there. This summer, I decided to analyze what it would actually take to make this dream a reality.

Teach Your Kids to Be Savvy Back-to-School Shoppers

August 2, 2016

I wrote earlier this summer about using the classic lemonade stand to teach your kids about money. Back-to-school shopping is another great opportunity to continue the financial education.

What Lemonade Stands Can Teach Your Kids about Money

June 15, 2016

Now that most kids are out of school, parents might start hearing the dreaded “I’m bored” if their kids aren’t in camps all summer. The next time you hear that phrase, instead of just telling them to go outside and play, encourage them to start a lemonade stand and use the opportunity to teach them some useful personal finance and entrepreneurship skills.

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