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

For the first time in 25 years, the US is contending with higher inflation than it’s used to in recent memory. We’ve all read the headlines about rising food and housing costs. But inflation has not consistently been above 3% since the mid-1990s (take a look at this chart for a more detailed look). The […] The post Planning for Inflation in Your Cash Flow appeared first on Thinking Big Financial ..read more

Whether it’s a parent or relative or even a friend, taking care of our loved ones is a significant undertaking that requires thoughtful planning and attention. At Thinking Big, we’ve noticed this conversation becoming more common. The main question we hear from clients is: What do I do to prepare?  In guiding these conversations, we […] The post How Do You Care For Your Parents and Loved Ones? appeared first on Thinking Big Financial ..read more

How much to save for the future is often the main reason clients come to us seeking help with financial planning. And it seems to be on everyone’s mind. When I talk with friends and family about finances, long-term savings is usually the topic du jour (though me being a financial planner no doubt encourages […] The post How to Tell If You’re Saving Enough for Your Future Self appeared first on Thinking Big Financial ..read more