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Monday, October 19, 2020

On October 13, 2020, the Social Security Administration (SSA) officially announced that Social Security recipients will receive a 1.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2021. This adjustment will begin with benefits payable...

Friday, October 16, 2020

Pandemics and protests. Wildfires, market crashes, and a recession. If someone ever tries to tell the story of 2020 on film, it will take more movies than Star Wars. At one point, we even had to worry about murder hornets. Murder...

Monday, October 12, 2020

When training to become a financial professional, much of our course work centers on the six critical areas of creating a financial strategy. Some recognize October as Financial Planning Month, so it's an excellent opportunity to...

Monday, October 5, 2020

What financial, business, or life priorities do you need to address for the coming year? Now is an excellent time to think about the investing, saving, or budgeting methods you could employ toward specific objectives, from building...

Friday, October 2, 2020

One of the biggest mistakes people can make when planning for retirement is failing to maximize their Social Security benefits. Why is this a mistake? After all, you may have heard that Social Security is broken, or that it...

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Monday, September 28, 2020

Budgeting towards needs and goals. One of the objectives of creating a household budget is that, as time moves on and the various household members advance in their careers, they are likely to make more money. Knowing where that money...

Monday, September 21, 2020

Some people in recent weeks may have been feeling that “the stock market seems to be doing so well but I’m not participating.”A look behind the headlines helps tell the story.A CNBC study found that between the stock...

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

We have holidays for Mom and Dad, which makes perfect sense. We also have holidays celebrating political figures (Presidents' Day), a 500-year-old naval explorer (Columbus Day), and a weather-predicting rodent (Groundhog's Day). All...

Monday, September 14, 2020

Investment firms have a new client service requirement. They must now ask you if you would like to provide the name and information of a trusted contact.1You do not have to supply this information, but it is encouraged. The request is...

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

Speed bump, stop sign, or red light? That’s the question investors are asking. Let me explain. After cruising for the past five months, the markets screeched to a halt on September 3rd. The Dow dropped over 800 points, and the...

Monday, September 7, 2020

Roth IRAs have attracted retirement savers since their introduction in 1998. They offer the potential for tax-free retirement income, provided Internal Revenue Service rules are followed.Do Roth IRAs seem even more attractive these...

Friday, September 4, 2020

Monday, August 31, 2020

Everyone loves a winner. If an investment is successful, most people naturally want to stick with it. But is that the best approach? It may sound counterintuitive, but it may be possible to have too much of a good thing. Over time, the...

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Labor Day is coming up! Normally, we’re used to celebrating it with parades, barbecues, and sometimes, fireworks. Unfortunately, for this Labor Day, we will have to go without the traditional celebrations. But I think I can speak...

Monday, August 24, 2020

Mark this date on your calendar: October 1. That is the day when current and future traditional college students can start submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2021-22 school year. For many students,...

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Under normal circumstances, retirees over the age of 72 are required to withdraw a minimum amount from their IRA, 401(k), or 403(b) account every year. These withdrawals are called required minimum distributions, or RMDs. But we...

Monday, August 17, 2020

Want to give your child or grandchild a great financial start? A Roth IRA might be a choice to consider. There are many reasons why starting a Roth IRA for a teenager may be a sound financial strategy. Read on to learn more about how...

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

My thoughts on investing amid the current market situation Every year around this time, parents, grandparents, and guardians prepare for Back to School season. This year is no different – except how they prepare may be very...

Thursday, August 6, 2020

The month of July ended with the S&P 500 closing above where we ended 2019, finally. While the NASDAQ is positive for the year, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended July still negative for the year (-7.8% YTD). For the most part, the...

Friday, July 31, 2020

Everyone knows that the coronavirus has changed how we live, work, and play. As a result, people are spending more money and time on the internet than ever before. In fact, some experts estimate that Americans are spending 30% more...

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Three stories about how doing a little extra can make all the difference, even during the pandemic. As you know, the coronavirus has made certain aspects of life more difficult. Work, education, and leisure have all been transformed...

Friday, July 10, 2020

Coronavirus Economic Update Dear Reader, What will the economic recovery look like? It's the million-dollar question. Will it be V-shaped, with the economy bouncing back as swiftly as it fell? Or will it be more like the Nike swoosh-a...

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

The other day I heard a familiar saying on the radio…Those lazy, hazy days of summer. Lazy? I don’t know about your family but our household gets even busier during the summer. In fact, it can be quite hectic. The months...

Thursday, May 21, 2020

In honor of Memorial Day, I’d like to tell you a story about a man named Ben Salomon. Ben Salomon was a dentist. He went to school, got his degree, and started his own dental practice at the tender age of 23. The most trying...

Monday, May 11, 2020

She has the toughest job of them all. She runs the household, manages the family budget, makes sure everyone is where they need to be and carries the lion share of rearing the children…all before 9 AM. She is Mom. The most...

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Do you get the uneasy feeling that things in our economy are not so great? The stock market has been acting more like a roller coaster at Six Flags rather than a place to put your savings. Economic reports have not been positive and...

Friday, March 6, 2020

You can plan to meet the costs through a variety of methods. How can you cover your child’s future college costs? Saving early (and often) may be the key for most families. Here are some college savings vehicles to consider. 529...

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Consider making tax moves earlier rather than later. If you own a business, earn significant investment income, are recently married or divorced, or have a Flexible Savings Account (FSA), you may want to work on your income tax...

Friday, February 7, 2020

Valentine’s Day reminds us of all the people we love, and family and friends are always at the top of our lists. Protecting our aging parents and friends is an important way we show love to the elderly people in our lives....

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Important Provisions of the SECURE Act You won’t be surprised to learn that the SECURE Act is over 20,000 words long. While there isn’t room to cover every provision of the law here, what follows is a brief overview of the...

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Most of our days are spent working hard just to get to the weekend for a little break before the cycle starts again on Monday. Sometimes it’s hard to lift our heads up long enough to make plans for our next vacation, much less...

Thursday, November 14, 2019

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 (NIV) These are some of the most well-known words that Jesus ever uttered regarding money. Your money and your heart are travel companions. What you value (where...

Friday, November 1, 2019

Did you know that 79% of parents still help their adult children financially? (1) You may read that statistic and think, “Yeah, I’m one of them!” It’s natural to want to help your children, especially since the...

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Our role as financial professionals goes beyond providing financial education and creating financial strategies. An integral part of our job lies in our commitment and responsibility to our clients, which involves the experience our...

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Of all the financial products to have in our arsenal, I think most of us would agree that life insurance is definitely one of the most important. However, in a survey conducted in 2017, more than 4 in 10 people didn’t own a life...

Friday, July 12, 2019

When life gets hectic and there’s never enough time in the day to get through your task list, do you know what suffers? Your future. When we give all of our attention to the urgent instead of the important, we lose that long-term...

Monday, June 3, 2019

We have no lack of options these days. Whether it’s choosing a restaurant or finding a doctor, there are so many choices that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and doubt your decision. When it comes to choosing a financial...

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

If it came down to it, many of us would probably choose to minimize the amount of risk in our life. We don’t want our kids to get hurt, be in a car accident, or deal with house repairs gone wrong. But life is full of risk, and if...

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Chances are, like many of us, you probably don’t analyze each deduction on your paycheck every payday. You already know the basics that come out, such as taxes, your healthcare premium, and, of course, Social Security. And while...

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

I believe that we are called to be stewards of our money and be generous to those around us. If you, like me, have a desire to give back, then I have great news for you. You may be able to save money on taxes with your charitable...

Monday, January 7, 2019

For those of you who are expecting to retire in 10 years or less, you may be bouncing around one of two ideas in your head: bulking up your mortgage payments so you can completely own your home sooner OR putting your money toward...

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

This year is quickly coming to a close, and if you’re like most Americans, you spend the month of December neck-deep in Christmas parties, shopping for gifts, and planning for travel. You might think that managing your finances...

Thursday, November 8, 2018

If you want something done right, do it yourself. A saying we find rings true in many areas of life, and most definitely rings true with long-term financial planning. If you rely on your loved ones or on federal programs like Medicaid...

Friday, October 12, 2018

If you’re like most parents, the minute you hold your new child in your arms, you start thinking about all the things you’re going to do with them and the lessons you will teach them along the way. Most parents want to see...

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

While it’s exciting to think ahead to retirement after decades of hard work, the countless financial decisions you need to make may seem daunting. And with healthcare being one of the top five expenses in retirement, (1) your...

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Baylor Scott & White Health is the largest not-for-profit healthcare system in Texas encompassing 48 hospitals and employing over 47,000 people. They provide excellent benefits including retirement, healthcare, life insurance, and much...

Friday, July 27, 2018

Baylor University employees receive a variety of benefits including retirement, healthcare, and life insurance to name a few. The benefits package is competitive and lucrative for employees. Here at ClearVista Financial, we help Baylor...

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Whether you’re planning on retiring soon or not, turning 59½ is a milestone to be celebrated. First off, it’s great that you’re healthy and can enjoy the fruits of your labor. Secondly, it marks a time where...

Friday, April 27, 2018

No matter how closely you follow the market updates or how often you check in on your retirement accounts, you probably know that 2017 was a banner year for stocks. In fact, both the Dow Jones and the S&P 500 celebrated the launch of...

Monday, April 16, 2018

Think back to your last major decision, whether it was a career move, a relocation, a medical treatment, or something else entirely. Did you make a quick choice without exploring your options, or did you conduct research and gather as...

Monday, April 9, 2018

It’s disheartening that with so much financial education out there, people are still making mistakes with their finances. We need to acknowledge that perhaps we need some help to take our finances to the next level. Before doing...

Friday, February 2, 2018

Have you ever found it difficult to separate emotions from financial or investment decisions? If your answer is “yes,” you’re not alone. Many of us have particular money habits instilled in us from a young age, be it...

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Have you ever had buyer’s remorse after making a big purchase? Have you ever let fear of failure keep you from investing, or even creating a budget? If you have, you know firsthand how much of a role emotions play in our...

Saturday, December 23, 2017

On Wednesday, December 20, 2017, Congress passed the final version of their new tax bill, which is set to be signed into law by President Trump. Since the campaign trail, President Trump has spoken of sweeping tax reform and this bill...

Sunday, December 10, 2017

Can you believe 2017 is almost over? I think it’s safe that say that most of us can’t. There’s a good chance many of us set out to accomplish some financial goals this year and, for whatever reason, many not have...

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

With over 200,000 financial advisors across the country, how do you know which one will be the right fit for your situation and personality? (1) The financial advisor you choose to handle your family’s wealth will have a...

Thursday, October 19, 2017

In the news recently, the word “fiduciary” has been thrown around a lot in regards to financial advisors and their duties. The concept can seem confusing to people, as many assume that all advisors, whether they’re...

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Many of the clients I work with may resemble you: a hard-working family who has saved over the years to pursue a comfortable retirement. While they’re budget-conscious, they aren’t familiar with the ins and outs of...

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Social Security can be complicated to navigate at times, but since it’s so vital to your retirement income plan, it’s important to make wise decisions and create strategies to optimize your benefits. If you’re...

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Whether you’re an investment novice or a daily Market Watch reader, we all know the markets have been especially volatile and confusing these last few years. As a result, even the most patient of investors may start to question...

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

As we get older, it seems as though we’re faced with more and more news articles and stories about our impending retirement. And a lot of the advice can either be contradictory or overwhelming. You need X amount for a 20-year...

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

You’ve probably already done your estate planning. You have a will, maybe some trust documents, a power of attorney. Your whole life is organized and documented so that someone else can take care of things if you become...

Friday, April 21, 2017

For many people, it’s hard to find the time and resources to confidently build and manage your assets. And it can be even more difficult to know how to integrate your personal values into your financial plan. At ClearVista...

Friday, April 14, 2017

Our interests and passions can change a lot throughout our lives, but some traits are ingrained in us and make us who we are. For me, that’s helping people. I’ve been helping people throughout my life in some capacity....