The Wise Money Blog

By Josh Gregory

I haven’t run track since junior high, but I’m still fascinated by relay races. It’s no wonder. As a teenager, I spent many hours at track practice with a coach that was obsessed with the art of “passing the baton.” While other coaches pressed us to improve our speeds and cut our times, Mr. Cunningham focused on teaching us a single lesson: “I don’t care if you’re the fastest runner out there, just don’t mess up the handoff! If you do, you’re done. There are no second chances.” Maybe his words stuck with me because I wasn’t the fastest kid on the track; at least if I could do a great job at passing the baton to the next guy, we had a better chance at winning the race.

By Mike Bernard

I may have been born to play hockey. Seriously.

Growing up, hockey was so much a part of the culture that I can’t even remember a time before I had skates on my feet. At 3, I was on the ice. At 11, I was playing competitively. The high school in my hometown was (and I think still is) the only school in Michigan to have its own on-campus ice rink, and I was on the ice at all times. By my senior year of high school, I was one of the team’s captains, and we made it to the state finals. (We lost a close one 2-0, and I’m still getting over it!) I played in college and was working toward playing professionally until a career-ending injury put me permanently on the sidelines. Even today, hockey is still a big part of who I am—and it’s definitely part of how I think.

It’s probably no surprise that when I sat down with Derrick and Kate last week, I used a hockey analogy to talk about investing. It certainly wasn't the first time.

By Alysia Boehner

It’s been quite a week in Indiana.

First, the unseasonal warming trend delivered a ton of snowmelt. Then we were hit with inches (and inches!) of rain. And it all happened long before the ground had thawed enough to take in that amount of water. The result was what insurance companies are now calling the “500 Year Flood.”

By Kevin Korhorn

I admit it—I’m a flatlander. Michigan born and bred, until recently, the vast majority of my ski experience had been restricted to our “mountains” in the Midwest. Despite my limited knowledge of what top ski areas in the West had to offer, I was pretty sure that calling Swiss Valley and Caberfae actual ski resorts was a stretch. So when Joshua, our high school senior who will be heading off for the Army in June, suggested a family ski trip over Christmas break, I knew it was time for a real adventure—and real mountains! We decided to go all out for Josh’s senior trip, and planned some time at Breckenridge in Colorado.

By Ryan Fair, CPA, CFP

You may or may not have heard, but Congress actually did something!  And this “something” was a big something that will affect all of us for years to come: Tax Reform.  What does this really mean and how will it effect you?

Most importantly, nearly all of us will see a decrease in federal tax due to the government.  There are several significant changes that lead to lower taxes, but I will focus on those with the most widespread impact.

By Ryan Fair

December is always a flurry of activity. Preparing for the holidays (and fitting in all those holiday parties) can be a challenge for all of us. If you’re like most people, the last thing you want to be thinking about as New Year’s Eve approaches is planning your taxes. Of course, as a tax specialist, that is precisely what consumes most of my time in December. For better or worse, it’s the time of year not only for “decking the halls,” but also for taking wise steps to reduce your tax bill come April 15.

By Ted Foster

I love crossword puzzles. Yes, they can be frustrating (to say the least!), but the process of untangling clues to discover the often curious words that fit perfectly into each puzzle brings me a great sense of satisfaction and even joy. (A church alcove that contains the altar is an “Apse.” Who knew?) Perhaps it’s no wonder that one of my specialties is helping our clients unjumble the many mysteries of Medicare.

By Kevin Korhorn

In 2016, U.S. News & World Report ranked the Mayo Clinic the #1 hospital in the nation. It’s an impressive achievement, but considering how unique their approach is compared to other hospitals, I’m not at all surprised by their success. What does the Mayo Clinic do that’s so different? What is their “secret sauce”?