Maximizing the Annual Review

Maximizing the Annual Review

By Jessica Lanning, JD, CFP® My annual medical check-up last week has given me a whole new perspective on my clients’ annual financial reviews.   Rather than poke, prod, squeeze, smash, or radiate body parts, I’m more-or-less doing the same with someone’s financial...
Build Your Spending Plan on an Annual Basis, Not Monthly

Build Your Spending Plan on an Annual Basis, Not Monthly

By Jessica Lanning, JD, CFP® Believe it or not, May is my most expensive month for skiing.   I don’t even ski in May.  I don’t much care for spring skiing, and I’m not going to travel to the Southern Hemisphere to ski.   Yet here I am loading up on ski passes for the...
HELOC and SBLOC – Security Tools for Your Finances

HELOC and SBLOC – Security Tools for Your Finances

By Jessica Lanning, JD, CFP® The HELOC and the SBLOC are two tools I think all investors should have and are the ones most often overlooked. How HELOCs Work Most people are familiar with a home equity line of credit.  Homeowners go to a bank.  If there’s enough equity...
Best Advice?  Tax Diversification

Best Advice? Tax Diversification

By Jessica Lanning, JD, CFP® While sitting family style at dinner on the Amtrak train with my two new friends this past New Year’s Eve, I was asked:  “What’s your best financial advice these days?” Yes, Amtrak.  The train cars are totally stuck in the 90s – one outlet...
Investing:  Know What Game You’re Playing

Investing: Know What Game You’re Playing

By Jessica Lanning, JD, CFP® One last sports analogy, and I’m done.  At least for a little while. Promise. It’s March.  Which means I’m a bit crazy.  Ski season is winding down, and March Madness is winding up.  And UNC-Chapel Hill is going to the dance.  Go Heels!...
Maintaining the Basics in Financial Planning

Maintaining the Basics in Financial Planning

By Jessica Lanning, JD, CFP® I’ve gone the entire ski season without using some cliché sports analogy about skiing and financial planning.   So here it comes. I’m taking skiing lessons and reviewing the basics.  I thought this would be boring.  And it was.  But the...