Catch Financial Planning Insights and More from Marsha!

9.1%. That’s the average annual inflation rate for the US as of June 2022, the worst increase in 40 years.Is there an end in sight? It’s hard to say, even though the government is raising the interest rates to cool off the soaring prices.But what do these statistics and policies mean for you? What’s your personal inflation rate?At […]

10 (+1) Terms You Need to Know to Figure Out Crypto Cryptocurrency. NFTs. Mining. Wallets. Confused by the new buzzwords? Have a lot of questions but can’t keep it all straight? Are NFTs an investment or a scam? How does it all work? If you’ve been confused about the digital frontier, here’s a primer of […]

For the past few months (years, really) it seems like there’s a 24/7 stream of bad news bombarding us all the time. Markets, the economy, housing prices, grocery store prices, gas prices, and that whole COVID thing that’s still happening. It’s a lot. So, what do we do? Do we give in to doom-scrolling and […]

People have been saying the “R” word a lot recently. Recession. And that talk has included a lot of “are we, aren’t we?,” featuring optimistic statements from the White House and other experts. But between the stock market’s lower figures and inflation’s effect on prices, it can be hard to feel any optimism. For now, let’s […]

As stocks drop and prices rise, there’s a lot of talk about annuities. Some people speak about annuities like they’re the answer to all your problems. Others think it sounds too good to be true. It’s fair to be skeptical about any financial thing that has a guarantee. We’ll look at a few good points […]

I just returned from a trip to the beautiful island of St. John. Beaches, amazing views, delicious food, and a laid-back vibe. I felt on top of the world! The trip home, however, was a DISASTER! Severe weather in Washington D.C. diverted my flight to Richmond where we refueled and waited for Dulles airport to reopen. Ugh! […]

Stop Paying Unnecessary Taxes on Your RMDs! Use QCDs to Save Money, AND Give Back! I’d like to talk about a topic that doesn’t get enough attention despite its ability to have a significant impact on our financial lives – using Qualified Charitable Distributions to stop paying unnecessary taxes AND give back! QCDs are a […]

How do you prioritize and pay down debt? Highest rate first? Lowest balance? Avalanche or snowball? There are two main strategies to tackle debt efficiently: the “avalanche method” and the “snowball method.” The one that works best for your situation comes down to what motivates you and what will make it easiest for you to […]