Browse recent articles or search for a specific topic.

How High Earners Can Save Money After Maxing Employer Retirement Plans
Investing, Retirement Planning Cicely Jones Investing, Retirement Planning Cicely Jones

How High Earners Can Save Money After Maxing Employer Retirement Plans

Contribution limits on 401(k) and other retirement plans can be frustrating for people earning more than $250,000 per year who want to utilize tax-advantaged investments for their long-term financial goals.

As an employee at a company, you don’t have as much control over retirement vehicles as a business owner does. Your plan may limit you to $23,000 per year if you’re younger than age 50 in 2024. Here is where you can save money once you’ve maxed out your employer-sponsored retirement plan, along with some of the tax implications of each option.

Read More
How Inflation Impacts Your Financial Plan And What To Do About It
Investing, Budgeting, Retirement Planning Cicely Jones Investing, Budgeting, Retirement Planning Cicely Jones

How Inflation Impacts Your Financial Plan And What To Do About It

Before the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, I noticed that not many of the investors I spoke with were very concerned about how the increase in the cost of goods and services impacted their daily lives. This increase is is known as inflation and since 2020, many investors have expressed concerns about it. Here is how inflation impacts your financial plan and some steps you can take to reduce its impact.

Read More
How To Figure Out What Retirement Might Look Like For You
Retirement Planning Cicely Jones Retirement Planning Cicely Jones

How To Figure Out What Retirement Might Look Like For You

When I speak with people about what they envision their retirement to look like, I often get answers along these lines, “I have no idea what I’d do with myself if I wasn’t working.” If you’re one of these people, I’ve found that hearing the stories of what other people do with their time in retirement may make the prospect seem less daunting.

Read More
When Facing A Financial Hardship, Don’t Dip Into Your Retirement Plan To Fix It
Retirement Planning, Budgeting Cicely Jones Retirement Planning, Budgeting Cicely Jones

When Facing A Financial Hardship, Don’t Dip Into Your Retirement Plan To Fix It

If you look at your balance sheet and have an employer-sponsored retirement plan, there’s a fair chance that it’s one of your largest assets. This can lead many people to view their retirement plan as a resource when it comes to addressing major financial hardships. Let’s discuss why a retirement plan should be a last resort in these situations, how to reduce the burden of financial setbacks, and other ways to fund this need.

Read More

MY BOOK

I seek to make personal financial planning less scary.

This book provides a simple guide for working through life's biggest financial questions facing couples in their 20s, 30s, and early 40s today. It starts with goals-based planning around topics including retirement planning, education planning, and major purchase planning. It then walks through some basics of investment management, options for how to invest, behavioral finance, and pitfalls to avoid. Lastly, it discusses risk management and insurance.

If you are not sure where to start, this book may provide some clarity.