> The Per Stirling Blog: What to ask a Financial Advisor

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13

August

How Should I Structure My Retirement Portfolio?

Your first step is to take advantage of tax-favored retirement savings tools. If you have access to a 401(k) or other employer-sponsored plan at work, participate and take full advantage of the opportunity. Open an IRA account and contribute as much as you can. Ideally, you’d be able to invest in both an employer plan […]

06

August

Gardening & Financial Planning: Cultivating Success

I’m one of the many who developed a passion for gardening during our ‘Covid time’ of isolation. That is to say, YouTube algorithms have now filled my home page with gardening videos. I have pretty much wrapped up the spring tomato harvest season this year, but the good news is that in Texas we also […]

06

August

Should I Contribute to My 401(K) Plan at Work?

Yes. Unless you absolutely cannot afford to set aside any dollars whatsoever, you should contribute to your employer’s 401(k) plan. A 401(k) plan is one of the most powerful tools you can use to save for your retirement. The first benefit is that your pre-tax contributions to a 401(k) plan are not taxed as current […]

31

July

Back to Basics: Diversification and Asset Allocation

Diversification: Spreading out risk Diversification refers to the process of investing in a number of different securities to help manage risk. The theory is that if some investments in your portfolio decline in value, others may rise or hold steady. For example, say you wanted to invest in stocks. Rather than investing in just domestic […]

23

July

Tax Planning Strategies for a Smart Retirement in Austin

It’s official: you’re retired. No more late-night emails, long meetings, or hectic schedules. There’s less work-related stress, but your finances might be more complex. You’ll have bills to pay and fun hobbies to explore. Do you know how you’ll fund your new lifestyle? Since you aren’t receiving a regular paycheck, you’ll likely draw from various […]

11

July

Q2: A Remarkable Period for What Happened and What Didn’t

In many ways, the second quarter was a period of sea change. On the political front, the quarter witnessed fairly stunning election results across much of the globe, including a sharp shift to the political right in Germany, a dominating performance by both political extremes in France, an underwhelming victory by Modi in India, a […]

08

July

Digital Safety Checklist for Summer

Summer is in full gear, here in Austin.  That also means getaways and family vacation season.  Many of you know I am a big proponent of these great opportunities to forget about day-to-day cares, to take time for yourself and connect with your family, and to finally rest and recharge.  However, don’t let scammers and […]

01

July

Converting 529 Plans to Roth IRAs: Key Benefits for your Children

As a parent, saving for my kids’ education has always been a top priority. I diligently contributed to their 529 plans, hoping to cover a good portion of their college expenses. However, life doesn’t always go as planned. My two older sons are making their way through college but I’m not sure that the path […]