Good Financial Reads: March Madness and Diversification, Give Your Finances a Proper Spring Cleaning, and More

Following along with the blogs of financial advisors is a great way to access valuable, educational information about finance — and it doesn’t cost you a thing! Our financial planners love to share their knowledge and help everyone regardless of age or assets.

Catch up on some of the latest posts with this week's roundup:

March Madness and Diversification

by Kelly Luethje, Willow Planning Group

We are nearing the end of the first quarter of 2016, which means March Madness!

How are your brackets holding up this tournament season? I would like to say that I’m an informed player this year, but my brackets tell another story. As much as I’d like to, I’m not watching ESPN or talking about the latest upset at the water cooler or in the break room; I am trying a new approach this year by participating in multiple group brackets, and instead of making the same picks in each one, I decided to diversify! (Yes, I am tying March Madness to financial planning…) As a result almost every game has a positive outcome for me.

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How To Give Your Finances a Proper Spring Cleaning

by Cady North, North Financial Advisors

Now that the seasons are changing and we have more sunlight in the evening, most of us get extra energy to tackle things we’ve been putting off for too long. In addition to the cleaning, hauling and organizing you may be doing at home, now is a great time to take a look at your total financial picture. Here are a few smart spring cleaning ideas for your financial life:

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“True” Financial Freedom

by Emilie Goldman, Tamarind Financial

It is important to keep in mind that cultural messages can have a profound influence on your financial attitudes and behaviors. Intellectually you can disagree, but sub-consciously those money myths can have a profound influence on the level of financial success and life satisfaction that you experience. For example, there is a lot of truth to the old adage, “Money can’t buy happiness.” But in reality, what money can “buy” is options—more personal choice and control as you design the life you want to live—now and in the future.

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What are your Portfolio Performance Expectations?

by Michael Miller, Miller Premier Investment Planning

In the story of Alice in Wonderland, Alice arrives at a fork in the road and wonders aloud which road to take. A smiling Cheshire Cat appears and asks her what her destination is, to which she replies, “I don’t know.” The toothy cat then proffers the only possible response, “Well, then it doesn’t matter.”

While it’s not the type of exchange that might actually occur in our lives, it should, especially as we consider our financial future. For many people, who have yet to clearly define their financial destination, it probably doesn’t matter to them which path they choose, if they choose a path at all.

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