Blog
Hello and welcome to the Purpose Planning blog. On this page of our website we will be posting periodically about certain financial vehicles we utilize, current events affecting the markets, and general information that you may find useful. We hope you enjoy the information and feel free to reach out to us through the contact page if you have any questions.
Let's Talk About Life Insurance Because it's September
Someone, somewhere decided that September is National Life Insurance Awareness Month, so let's talk about it for a minute. Before we get too far into this, we've got a video about life insurance so if you'd rather listen than read,...
Read MoreBridging the Earning Gap
Did you know that women reach their peak earnings at age 44—a full 11 years before men?1 There are a variety of reasons for this gap—including trends for specific career fields, the choice to start a family, and...
Read MoreSBP Enrollment in 2023- What you NEED to KNOW!
The 2023 SBP Open Season is over half way over! This is an important opportunity for you to review and understand so that you can decide if enrolling in this benefit is right for you. Generally, you must enroll in SBP when you retire...
Read MoreDebit Ceiling Agreement - What to Expect Next
An agreement was reached last week on the debt ceiling. Assetmark’s CIO, Christian Chan, provided a great summary, as well as what to expect next, that we wanted to share with you.
Read MoreWhy We Love the Angel Gala!!!
This will be our 4th year sponsoring the Angel Gala and it never gets old. By now, you should know why we love Angels of America's Fallen. This organization makes an incredible commitment to children of fallen soldiers and...
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It's Time to Talk About Money
April is Financial Literacy Month, a nationally recognized movement to promote and support financial understanding in children and teens. For many, it's a fantastic opportunity to teach and connect with their children or grandchildren,...
Read MoreYou Want Women's History? We've GOT Women's History
As we wrap up Women's History Month I've been thinking a lot about the contributions of women in my industry. While there are more of them than there used to be, this is still a heavily male dominated field. And while you...
Read MoreTax Time and Identity Theft Reminders!
Tax Time is a great time to tighten up your online security measures! And you know we never miss an opportunity to remind you of ways to keep yourself safe online. Here are a few best practices to adopt or continue:Change your...
Read MoreEverything You Need to Know About Silicon Valley Bank in 5 Minutes
Key TakeawaysThe FDIC took over Silicon Valley Bank ("SVB") and Signature Bank last week.To boost the stability of the banking system, the government effectively protected all depositors in the banking system. While some risk...
Read MoreIMPORTANT!! Tax Season Info and BIG Changes to Retirement Accounts
The holiday season is over, and we now enter TAX SEASON! As always, we wanted to remind you of important timeframes, give you some quick tips AND share new information to make this time of the year go as smoothly as possible...
Read MoreAll I Want for Christmas is College Tuition for My Kids
"What do the kids want for Christmas?" As the mother of three young children and the only one of my siblings to procreate, I get this question a lot. They have grandparents, great grandparents, aunts and uncles and great aunts...
Read MoreBreaking Into the Piggy Bank
By nature, emergencies are unpredictable. That’s why it’s so important for your emergency savings to be readily accessible when you need fast access to cash. Yet, many people “lock up” cash and short-term savings in time-deposit accounts...
Read MorePutting Interest Rates Into Perspective
Traditionally, I’ve been a little cautious when people say, “it’s different this time.” After all, the past few years have seen more financial “firsts” than most.But despite that skepticism, this...
Read MoreJennifer's First Podcast Appearance!
A couple of weeks ago Jennifer had the honor of being invited onto the "The Runway Decade" Podcast hosted by our friends Pete and Bill Bush of Horizon Financial Group. She had a great time talking about her up bringing, how her dad...
Read More1% Moves in S&P 500
If you’ve felt like stock prices were a little more volatile in 2022 than in recent years, your “spidey senses” are right on the money.The S&P 500 has posted 81 daily moves of at least 1% through August. Of those...
Read MoreThe Time to Think About Life Insurance is NOW
It’s time for your life insurance checkup. September is National Life Insurance Awareness Month, so it’s a great time to review your coverage. If you don’t have any life insurance, you’re not alone. Life...
Read MoreSTILL Adjusting to Covid Reality
Remember when Covid-19 first hit, and we were all stuck at home in a weird time loop where clocks didn't exist, days didn't matter and no one seemed to be in a rush for anything? A weird kind of calm/chaos reigned and we felt frantic,...
Read MoreWorried About the Bear Market? A Historical Guide
A bear market occurs when stocks fall 20 percent from a recent high. On Monday, June 13, 2022, the S&P 500 fell 22 percent from the last high set on January 3, 2022, thus officially entering a bear...
Read MoreAre You Maximizing Your Military Benefits?
It is one of my greatest honors to assist our service members and their families with their planning and investment goals. As a service member, you receive or are eligible for a unique set of benefits that can be confusing and...
Read MoreHeld Up Without a Gun... Filling Up the Gas Tank
With gas prices higher than ever and interest rates on the rise, Americans are starting to feel the pinch. The future may be weighing heavily on your mind. The following was written by a fellow CFP® buddy of mine out of Ohio...
Read MoreWho Likes Bulldogs? Stubborn but Loyal
Over the years, clients occasionally come up with little nicknames for me: The Money Lady, The Checkbook Keeper, or My Money Coach. They are all fun and very much appreciated. But there is one that has come up more than once, and...
Read MoreRussia's Invasion Into Ukraine
As the situation in Ukraine intensifies by the hour, we wanted to share J.P. Morgan's Weekly Market Recap. While we know that geopolitical upheaval is unsettling on many levels, we urge you to remember that we have planned for the long...
Read MoreHow Women Are Changing Philanthropy
I came across this article from our friends at City National Rochdale and wanted to share it with you. Over the years, I have seen women's financial power increase in really substantial and exciting ways and I wanted to take a moment to..
Read MoreLeave Your Fear in 2021
It's real talk time, woman to woman. I'm in my mid 30s and it wasn't until a conversation with our business coach in 2020 that I realized JUST how much I had let fear drive the decisions I had made especially when it came to my career.
Read More2021 Coming to an End
Happy Holidays to all of you! It has been unseasonably warm here in Colorado. It felt quite strange putting up the tree and stockings last week as we begin our most favorite time of year. The high today is 72 degrees and we have not seen...
Read MorePARTNER SPOTLIGHT: DUSTY GREEN!
Last month, I brought you Stevie. This month, I give you Dusty. I asked him some equally deep questions and I was equally impressed with his answers. It took us SLIGHTLY longer to get around to food. These people are my kind of people!...
Read MorePARTNER SPOTLIGHT: STEVIE GREEN!
After our recent announcement of our strategic alliance with Spencer Financial, we are sure you have some BURNING questions about Stevie and Dusty. I took a deep, deep dive with them, and asked some really serious stuff and I am here...
Read MoreYou’re Invited: IN THE ROOM with Heroes of 9/11
We are living in a pivotal moment of American history, and there’s one word that best sums up our hope and optimism: resiliency.It’s in this spirit that I’d like to invite you and your family to join me IN THE ROOM...
Read MoreJeep Gladiator. To Buy or Not to Buy?... A lesson on inflation
Inflation is defined as the general upward price movement of goods and services in an economy. The key word is “general.” Inflation tends to be uneven and affects the price of some items more than others.If you’ve...
Read MoreJunior Enlisted Families at Peterson AFB are MELTING!
As a part of my involvement with the Military Affairs Council (MAC), we at Purpose Planning have become aware of an initiative to provide in-room air conditioning units to 110 homes for junior enlisted families currently living at...
Read MoreWhat a Night! The 2021 Angel Gala
Man, oh man! By any standard, the 2021 Angels Gala was a huge success. There were 582 attendees in person and 300 households in attendance online. In total, $407,000 was raised for Angel youth and families: THE MOST EVER! We watched...
Read MoreAre You Getting Your Financial House In Order?
At the beginning of the year we urged you to work on getting your finances in order. Things like making sure all of your accounts have beneficiaries on them and knowing how to log into all of your online, financial accounts. But one...
Read MoreRising Interest Rates and Inflation
While the market continues the climb,
Read MoreWomen and Wealth: Taking Charge of Your Finances
When it comes to financial planning, women are likely to face different challenges than men. I've talked a lot about this. As a single women, a mother and a business owner, it is one of my greatest joys to help women achieve financial...
Read MoreI.R.S. Delays Tax Filing, Payment Deadlines
Less than one month ahead of the traditional date, the I.R.S. has delayed the deadline for filing and paying taxes. The new deadline is May 17, 2021.1,2,3The delay follows continued disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic and a late...
Read MoreYou're Probably Going to Out Live Him
It's not an illusion, there ARE more little old ladies in the retirement homes than little old men. On average, women in the U.S. live longer than their male counterparts, making outliving their income in retirement a very real...
Read MoreYou’re Invited: An Exclusive Conversation with Dr. Ben S. Bernanke
You’re invited to an exclusive conversation with former Federal Reserve Chair Dr. Ben Bernanke, who helped guide the U.S. economy out of its worst recession of the century. His insights on how the economy can emerge and grow...
Read MoreThe Women of Purpose Planning Have Resolve!
Well, it's February. How are your New Year's Resolutions coming along? Have you forgotten about them? Did you even make any? Well, we did! And we want to share them with you! In case you missed it, here is our 2021 New Year's...
Read MoreRetirement Plan Contribution Limits for 2021
With the holidays officially behind us, we enter everyone's LEAST favorite time of year, tax season. I know, I know, it is too soon to start thinking about all that. Don't worry, I will keep this short. Attached here is a list of the...
Read MoreJennifer's Birthday is Pearl Harbor Day!
I love history, and every time I travel to somewhere new I want to learn a bit about the place. A few years ago I was in Maui, Hawaii for a conference. After a few days of work I spent a week playing tourist with my sister. I knew...
Read MoreYankee Swap and Other Christmas Traditions
Dearest friends, Is it too early to decorate for Christmas? Yes. Am I going to start doing it anyway? Also yes. My husband is one of the easiest going humans on the face of the planet (this is the single most important factor to the...
Read MoreElection 2020: Preparing for Any Outcome
As the U.S. presidential election draws near, expect to see more and more headlines that propose, "What will happen next if this person is elected?" or, "What policy changes to prepare for in the next four years?" In reality, however,...
Read MoreThe Military's New Blended Retirement System
For many years the government offered an annuity style retirement plan for those who served and then actually retired from military service. This used to be common practice for many industries. However, pensions and unions are a bit of...
Read MoreIt's Almost Election Time!
As we make our way into September, we find ourselves planted firmly in the middle of an election season unlike any other in recent history. Nothing about 2020 has been typical, and this...
Read MoreThe Importance of Good Credit
Did you know that it wasn’t so long ago that women faced challenges in obtaining credit? In the 1960s and 1970s, legislation provided women with equal access to credit opportunities, paving the way for their independence and...
Read MoreWho is Sadie Boone? Purpose Planning Employee Spotlight
As we told you last month, we have recently added a new staff member and here she is! Sadie Boone has recently moved back to Colorado after having been gone for 30 years. She has been working in client support for the last 23 years...
Read MoreThe Sandwich Generation
The pressures of being a women in today's world are higher than ever. Many women work outside of the home but are also still the primary care-giver for children AND aging parents (both their own parents and those of their spouses)....
Read MoreKeeping Kids Occupied During the Summer Months
It has been hotter than Hades here in Colorado for the last week. So hot that it's pretty much impossible to send my little ones outside to play. We have been going to our community pool twice a week and that is a nice relief. And...
Read MoreImportant 2020 RMD Information
It’s been a busy summer for the U.S. Treasury and the IRS as they continue to issue new guidance for several provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. As you know, 2020 RMDs have been suspended...
Read MoreWhat Every Woman Should Know About Long-Term Care
One of the reasons we love working with women is that they have a different set of challenges from their male counterparts. Often times women are paid less and work fewer years but live longer and are responsible for caring for not...
Read MoreEmployee Spotlight- Bethany Essendrop
In our second installment of Purpose Planning's employee spotlight we are talking about one of my most favorite people: ME! Haha! I've worked for Jennifer for many years now and I've spoken to most of you at one time or another, but...
Read MoreBeing Financially Independent
For many women like you, being financially secure is an important goal, whether you’re married, single, working, or staying home with children. This financial independence can give you a certain level of empowerment and...
Read MoreFrequently Asked Questions About the 2020 Stimulus
Are you eligible for a stimulus check from the Treasury Department? As of Friday, April 24, the Internal Revenue Service said it had issued 88 million payments to individuals across the country. It plans to send out more than 150...
Read MoreThe CFP® Difference
Did you know that anyone registered to sell investment products can call themselves a "Financial Advisor"? It's a very broad term that can mean any number things regarding a persons experience and qualifications. On the other hand, the...
Read MoreEmployee Spotlight- Cameron Groah
Our clients are a huge part of our lives and we feel like we know all of you pretty well. So in the coming weeks we want to highlight each member of our exceptional team so that you all can get to know us on a deeper level. This week...
Read MoreKeys to Prevailing Through Stock Market Decline
These are uncertain times. The market is swinging widely and it's hard to watch. Painful, even. We get it. We are feeling it as well. As we prepare to see our first quarter statements, I thought it would be a good idea to take a look...
Read MoreCoping with the Quarantine
It is mid-April. For those of you who are losing track of time and space, that may come as a real shock. I know this last month has felt like approximately 2,546 days have passed, but you're wrong. It's all wrong. Everything is wrong....
Read More4 Tips for Navigating the Coronavirus Crash
When stock markets experience sudden downturns, investors can feel anxious and make decisions detrimental to their long-term goals. After all, when you’ve worked hard for the money, it’s painful to see your account balances...
Read More2020 RMDs Waived and More
As you know, things are rapidly changing from day to day during these extraordinary times. One big piece of news we want to highlight is that RMDs for 2020 have been waived. If you have an RMD scheduled or planned for this year we will...
Read MoreIt Was the Strangest of Times
Am I the only one who feels like we are living in a movie? Someone please tell me that I am correct in my understanding that this is 2020. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be hoarding toilet paper and searching the city...
Read MoreHow is the Coronavirus Effecting Purpose Planning?
The COVID-19 situation has very rapidly grown to effect almost every aspect of our daily lives. Social distancing, strains on our healthcare system and negative economic impact are dominating the headlines. Businesses are trying to...
Read MoreMarket Correction Territory
As the headlines are reporting, the equity market has entered correction territory. By definition, “correction” means it has closed 10% below its previously established record high close. Corrections are a common...
Read MoreWhat Medicare Covers- And What it Doesn't
One of the things we get asked about time and time again is Medicare. "What is covered, what isn't. When am I eligible?" The list goes on. So we wanted to take some time to try and answer a lot of those questions. You are eligible for...
Read MorePurpose Planning is Taking Bold Stand with Children of Fallen Heroes
Here at Purpose Planning we feel that it is vitality important to invest in our community. We believe that we have a responsibility to our large military population and their families. When we serve them, our entire city reaps the...
Read More2020 RMD and Tax Season Information
It's everyone's favorite time of year- TAX SEASON! We wanted to take some time to remind you of important deadlines and some quick tips to make this most wonderful time of the year go as smoothly as possible. Also, there are some...
Read MoreTension in the Middle East
Please see the latest commentary from Cetera Investment Management, Middle East Tensions Go from Boil to Simmer. This commentary discusses the recent developments in the Middle East. The stock market has been resilient to the recent...
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