Good Financial Reads: The Best ROI, Balancing Happiness with Responsibility, 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:

Why Asking for a Raise May Have the Best Long-Term ROI

by Aaron Hatch, Woven Capital

Those of us who are building wealth do our best to accumulate assets, and then grow our assets as quickly as possible. But when you think of your largest asset, what comes to mind? Do you think of your home, your car, or the balance of your 401(k)?

If you’re at the beginning of your career, your biggest asset is you — and your ability to earn an income. If you earn $80,000 a year, and you plan to work for 35 more years, your future salary is valued at close to $1.8 million dollars to you today. And that’s if your salary only keeps pace with inflation. With a promotion and a raise, the number rises.

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Can I Afford a Financial Advisor?

by Scott Frank, Stone Steps Financial

A recent survey from Northwestern Mutual found that only 40% of Americans have set financial goals and only 17% have sought the advice of a financial advisor.

Another recent survey by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling found that 73% of Americans felt they could benefit from professional financial advice.

So what gives? Why do so many Americans feel they can benefit from working with a financial advisor but yet so few actually have one?

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5 Essential Items for Your Estate Plan

by Katie Brewer, Your Richest Life

Stop and think about it for a moment: what would happen to your assets if you were to pass away? What would happen to your loved ones?

An estate plan spells out exactly what will happen to your assets and your dependents upon your death or disability. It doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive, so start with these five things to get an estate plan in place right away.

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Balancing Happiness with Responsibility

by Matt Becker, Mom and Dad Money

Happiness is a fantastic goal, and I really DO believe that it should be the end goal of all your financial decisions.

But when you’re starting a family there are also some very real financial responsibilities you need to handle. Many of these new responsibilities won’t be much fun, and it may even feel like they’re detracting from your happiness, at least in the short term.

So how do you balance the need to handle those financial responsibilities with the goal of working towards a happier life?

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