Advanced Wellbeing offers financial therapy insights each week to inform more details about financial therapy.
International diversification has long been part of a balanced investment strategy. Rick Kahler explores why looking beyond U.S. stocks may matter more than ever in today’s changing global economy.
The “Trump account” savings vehicles that were created as part of last year’s “Big Beautiful Bill” are now available. If you have children younger than 18, should you open one of these 530A accounts for them?
Recently I heard from a reader who had just finished building a new home. He noticed something on his loan paperwork that didn’t sit well: his construction loan rate floated two percent above prime. This was on top of a one percent origination fee and several smaller charges. He questioned why the bank would need another two percent.
His suspicious reaction is understandable. Yet in most cases, construction loan pricing isn’t a sign of greediness.
Given the economic uncertainties around trade policies and their impact on the markets, might this be a good time to add more real estate to your investment portfolio? Only if you do it very thoughtfully.
Rising interest and maintenance costs, reduced affordability, and policy uncertainties all compound the risks of being a landlord.
If you have ever filed a homeowners insurance claim, you know it can feel more like an endurance test than a straightforward process. While insurers are legally required to honor valid claims, they have strong financial incentives to delay, underpay, or deny them whenever possible.
Over the years, I’ve learned this the hard way.
There’s nothing like cleaning out your attic or a storage unit to offer a chance to reflect on your life. I’m currently “enjoying” this opportunity as I dig through boxes holding decades of accumulation. It takes a lot longer if you stop and ponder on the contents of every box.
Several were full of books on investing in real estate, written 40 to 50 years ago, that formed the foundation of my professional career.
A few weeks ago, an anti-trust lawsuit against the National Association of Realtors (NAR) was settled for 419 million dollars. News reports announced this would slash commissions by 25% to 50%. How would that happen?
How much of your income should you spend on rent or a house payment? In my decades as a financial planner as well as my previous career in real estate, my standard advice has been to keep housing costs at or below 25% of your household income. In some places, today’s real estate climate can make that a challenge.
For many of us, our home is more than just a piece of property. It holds deep memories and emotional meaning, especially if we raised our families there. For this reason, estate planning discussions often include leaving the family home to the kids.
This can be a way to keep the property so family members can continue to enjoy it for generations to come. It also can be a burden.
Today’s rising real estate prices and interest rates have sparked memories for me of the 1980s, when I made my living as a real estate broker. Those were the days of 12% mortgages, which put home ownership out of the reach of many. Seller financing, where the seller rather than a financial institution makes the loan to the buyer, was a common way to buy and sell property without involving bank financing.
Today, cash deals have become the gold standard in real estate. I haven’t been aware of a seller carrying back financing for decades. But rising interest rates are giving some sellers an opportunity.
