By Kyle Berg, CFP®, BFA™

At Affiance Financial, it is one of our core values to stay curious. Part of that includes staying up to date on the current — and always changing — laws that affect financial planning.

By Kyle Berg, CFP®, BFA™

There is a rumbling amongst the younger segment of the population. Most notably, the Millennials, who are in the process of trying to turn the traditional idea of retirement on its head.

By Dan Lear, CFP®, BFA™

With help from think2perform.

As part of our recent BFA™ training, the advisors at Affiance Financial teamed up with think2perform to help increase the ways that we can help you, our valued clients. One key concept that think2perform teaches advisors is the Smart Money Philosophy.

We believe the stock market’s 10% decline from the September 20th high is due to a confluence of three major fears for investors. First is the fear of rising interest rates and the Federal Reserve Bank’s monetary policy. Second is the fear of slower corporate earnings growth. Third is the fear of trade wars, especially with China. We believe that recent stock market weakness reflects temporary risks and is NOT a precursor to deeper economic problems.

By Kyle Berg, CFP®, BFA™

When we sit down with new clients, one of the first questions we usually ask is “Do you have a budget?” This single question can lead down many different paths to help us better understand your thought process when dealing with money. Hearing about your budget also offers a surprising amount of insight into your values, priorities, and goals.

October. This is one of the peculiarly dangerous months to speculate in stocks. The others are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, June, December, August, and February. — Mark Twain

By Kyle Berg, CFP®, BFA™

Between the seemingly daily headlines announcing changes to Medicare and the alphabet soup of supplemental care insurance, we at Affiance Financial feel it is important for you to know what to expect with open-enrollment season upon us.

We often joke about “all the letters” following many of our advisors’ names. But each designation represents time and effort spent honing their craft. The latest letters you may have noticed are BFA™, representing certification in Behavioral Financial Advice.

By Kyle Berg, CFP®

With the world of financial technology (FinTech) ever changing, the landscape for how someone keeps a budget has never been more robust. In fact, some say it can be done in the palm of your hand... While some choose to stick with the traditional, manual method of tracking income and expenses — Yes, I’m talking about you, Excel — the vast number of mobile apps available make budgeting more accessible and automated than ever.