The Standard Newsletter
Michelle Pimentel
Knowledge about investments is not intuitive and it is not uncommon or surprising that our clients have plenty of misconceptions and confusion regarding their own IRAs. When helping a client understand their accounts, or make initial choices to fund their IRAs, it is important to keep this in mind and... Read More >
Robert Weber and Elizabeth Martinéz
There are four essential aspects on which a homeowner should focus in order to prevent foreclosure. There is no particular order for these steps, though all can be addressed as necessary throughout the foreclosure prevention process. Open and Consistent Communication—Establishing and maintaining open and consistent communication between the client and... Read More >
Carrie L. Johnson
The following research papers discuss the need for information and education for student loan borrowers. Practitioners can help provide education and guidance to college students and student loan borrowers. “What are Student Loan Borrowers Thinking? Insights From Focus Groups on College Selection and Student Loan Decision Making” by C. L.... Read More >
Brenda Vaughn
AFCPE’s Board of Directors typically meet once a quarter, with face-to-face meetings held in June and November prior to the Symposium. However, with the advances in meeting technology, and in an effort to save time and money, the Board voted last year to conduct the June meeting via webcast every... Read More >
Rebecca Wiggins
With the end of summer upon us, we take this opportunity to reflect on the first part of the year, and prepare for what is to come! It has been a busy and productive few months with new professional development programs, statewide community engagement events, additional partnerships and new possibilities.... Read More >
Carol Kando-Pineda, Federal Trade Commission
Crooks use clever schemes to defraud millions of people every year. They often combine new technology with old tricks to get people to send money or divulge personal information. They add new twists to old schemes and pressure people to make important decisions on the spot. One thing that never... Read More >
Michelle Pimentel
Written by Richard H. Thaler Reviewed by Michelle Pimentel, AFC® Richard Thaler, a professor at the University of Chicago and behavioral economist, recaps his career-long endeavor to establish and legitimize behavioral economics in his latest book, Misbehaving. Thaler argues that “misbehavior,” which he defines as “behavior inconsistent with the idealized... Read More >
Timothy J. Corriero, Andrew S. Leonard
A house is the largest asset that most families will ever own. It is also the most emotionally-meaningful. Over the past two decades, housing values have increased significantly, even doubling or tripling in cities like New York and San Francisco. These dynamics result in the conventional wisdom that renting is "throwing money away"... Read More >
Sabrina Johnson
A quick internet search on budgeting will likely pull up some popular advice: how to cut grocery expenses, shopping deals, couponing, minimizing miscellaneous costs, and so on. But really there is more to budgeting than most of us think. Truly the best way to budget is to simply only spend... Read More >
Jessica Padden
Chronic illnesses can be devastating to a family both emotionally and financially. As financial counselors, we can help families set up budgets and financial plans to prepare for such an event. Setting up a good financial plan can help minimize a family’s stress and control spending. The approach you take... Read More >
Alyssa Hart Blakemore
Making the decision to engage in a new career path can be a source of stress for anyone, regardless of age or economic status. It also marks a turning point for thousands of service members facing alternative means of employment. In the 2015 Veteran Economic Opportunity Report, the Department of... Read More >
Joanna Swanson
In December 2014, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act was signed into law authorizing individuals with disabilities to open tax-exempt savings accounts to save for disability-related expenses without impacting current or future eligibility for resource-based benefits. As a result, individuals with disabilities can save more than a total... Read More >