Retirement is often seen as the finish line. After decades of hard work, planning and saving money are finally over. In reality, retirement is a major transition . It’s not simply a matter of flipping a switch and drawing on your retirement fund. The post-retirement phase requires careful planning and strategic decision-making. On a lighter […] The post What Planning in the Post-Retirement Chapter of Life Looks Like appeared first on Thinking Big Financial ..read more

As our digital world expands, so does the threat of cyber-attacks. From identity theft to surprisingly sophisticated phishing schemes, cybercriminals are constantly devising new ways to access and steal your hard-earned money. And it’s not just individuals being targeted – the institutions that safeguard your assets and personal information are also frequently fending off cyber […] The post How to Protect Your Finances from Cyber Threats appeared first on Thinking Big Financial ..read more

I recently read Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy’s enlightening book, The Gap and The Gain. The central theme is adopting an attitude of appreciation and gratitude in place of one that dwells on deficits—a valuable lesson in both our personal and professional lives. In this post, I’m going to apply the principles from the book […] The post The Power of Perspective: Reflecting on Past Achievements vs. Future Goals appeared first on Thinking Big Financial ..read more

In the world of parenting, planning for your child’s education sits right up there with teaching them to ride a bike or making sure they eat their veggies. But with the cost of college escalating dramatically over the past 20 years, figuring out how to save for higher education can feel more daunting than convincing […] The post How to Save For Your Kid’s Education: Navigating the Maze of Options appeared first on Thinking Big Financial ..read more

When it comes to saving for the long-term, the 401(k) plan is the most common option for employees to build a nest-egg. However, not all 401(k) contributions are created equal.  Beyond the typical pre-tax contributions associated with 401(k) plans, some employer-sponsored 401(k) plans have started offering after-tax and Roth options. While variety is the spice […] The post What if your 401(k) offers after-tax and Roth contribution options? appeared first on Thinking Big Financial ..read more

In our last post, we discussed the foundational steps couples needed to take to merge their finances. . Now, we move onto part two: the actual merging of finances. We’ll break down the three options couples have to merge (or not merge) their finances and the pros and cons of each.   Fully Merging All Finances: […] The post Merging Finances as a Couple: Which Path to Choose? appeared first on Thinking Big Financial ..read more

Since I’ve started working as a financial planner, I’ve learned so much from my clients about what good planning actually is. One area that has become important is financial planning for couples. The most important thing I’ve learned is that  there is no right or wrong way to do it!   Logistics aside, the conversation typically […] The post Financial Planning for Couples appeared first on Thinking Big Financial ..read more

Interest rates play a pivotal role in our economic landscape, making them an aspect of financial planning we pay close attention to. Not only do interest rates affect the ups and downs of investment portfolios, they shape our day-to-day financial activities like saving cash, borrowing money, and paying off debt. As a result, it’s crucial […] The post How High(er) Interest Rates Affect Financial Planning appeared first on Thinking Big Financial ..read more

Why Haven’t My Investments Grown as Promised? Over the past year, you may have been asking yourself why your investments haven’t been growing. How come, even with all the money we’ve put into our 401k or brokerage accounts, the value still feels stagnant? How come we’re not reaping the benefits of compounding growth?  Your questions […] The post Why Aren’t My Investments Growing? appeared first on Thinking Big Financial ..read more

In the world of financial planning, the Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) designation is considered to be the gold standard. It represents a commitment to education, ethics and the highest standards of fiduciary responsibility. At Thinking Big, both Jim Marrocco and I proudly hold the CFP® designation.  The CFP Board is an ever-evolving organization whose overarching […] The post What It Means That We’re CFP® Professionals appeared first on Thinking Big Financial ..read more