“Live in the sunshine. Swim in the Sea. Drink in the Wild Air.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
It’s summer, so let’s celebrate! The broker-dealer transition is behind us. Rheagan and Harold are approaching their three-year anniversaries with the firm. There are personal milestones, too. Rheagan and her long-time boyfriend, Shawn, are engaged to be married next June, while Harold and his fiancée, Taylor, are buying their first home this August. Please join me in congratulating them both!
Cash is the Cornerstone of a Solid Financial Plan
When you talk to us about cash in the bank, we always ask about your “sleep at night number.” How much money do you need in cash so that you can sleep at night? It’s different for everyone. Like stocks, bonds, real estate, and commodities (e.g., gold), cash is an asset. It adds to your overall diversification, and it provides guardrails to protect your portfolio from volatility like the kind we saw in 2022.
Taking advantage of today’s best CD and high-yield savings account rates could be a great way to earn interest on a portion of your savings that you do not need to access in the next three months.
Laddering
Laddering involves buying a series of bonds or CDs that will come due at various times – let’s say in three months, then in six months, then in nine months, and so on. We ladder US Treasuries just to provide cash when we need it – for clients’ upcoming withdrawals or expenditures, for example. CD rates, on the other hand, are usually higher the longer the duration (the farther the maturity date) so a laddering strategy may reduce interest rate risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I access my accounts online?
Most of our clients should be using eMoney to access their accounts online. The link is available through our website eMoney Client Access (flexfinancialplanning.com). However, if you have a brokerage account with Pershing, your data feed won’t be current. Please reach out to us for an invitation to Cetera’s AdviceWorks client portal. Tax documents and statements are available directly from the custodian. In other words, you will need an American Funds login to access your American Funds account statements, etc. Advisory clients can access their accounts directly through our website Schwab Alliance Login (flexfinancialplanning.com)
How do I contact your office?
By Phone
If you have questions, you can reach us at 518-383-3581 or 518-854-3598. The numbers ring in both offices, so there is no need to call both numbers. You can always leave a message if you don’t reach us on the first try.
By Email
Emailing help@flexfinancialplanning.com ensures that your email will be answered by someone as quickly as possible. This email goes to everyone in our office, and we can delegate your request to the appropriate person.
All of us at Flex Financial Planning wish you a summer filled with sunshine, sea, and wild air.
This material is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney or tax adviser. Before making any financial commitment regarding the issues discussed herein, consult with the appropriate adviser.
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