If you were born between 1980 and 2000, you’re a millennial, and you’re among those that will experience some of the biggest financial surprises of a lifetime. Just what are those surprises? 1. STUDENT DEBT. While student debt isn’t a surprise when entering university, the reality of how long it’ll take to pay back is. It seems so big, so deep and so tall that it can also feel terrifying. 2. TOGETHERNESS. Young people are living independently longer. They come into a joint partnership with financial habits that have already been established, and many are surprised to find their partner doesn’t share their views about money. 3. BUYING A HOUSE. As housing prices continue to soar, especially in

The short answer: probably not. If you think you don’t need a financial plan because you’re too young or not far enough along in your career, you’re missing an opportunity to take control of your finances and get on the path to financial and emotional well-being. So, how will I know I’m ready? Even if you’re just finishing school and starting your first “real” job, it’s an ideal time to start planning. Time is on your side—you’ve got lots of it ahead of you, giving you a head start on reaching your goals. Once you start earning some income, you’re probably ready to sit down with a financial planner to set some goals and get your plan started. How should I get started? Here are some tips to

When we meet with recent graduates or young adults, we use analogies that resonate with the age group, often comparing financial plans to backpacks, and budgets to water bottles. We take the students on a ‘financial hike’ – a discussion about financial goals and the different backpacks you need depending on the route of the hike. A day pack for short-term goals, a fun backpack and a retirement backpack – and all the different survival tools you need in each backpack and financial plan. Graduates are often understandably nervous when they first meet with a financial planner. It’s something they haven’t done before, but they really benefit from seeing a CFP professional and getting the basics

When the bonds of marriage begin to break, the impact can be immense. Separation or divorce brings an emotional blow that is often compounded by a financial hit. Money goes into motion when life goes into transition. Large amounts of money can, and do, move during these often chaotic events. Where divorce is concerned, the exact opposite of 'compounding' occurs—while compounding multiplies wealth over time, divorce divides it. If you are facing a divorce, you know that money quickly becomes a primary topic of discussion and negotiation. The division of assets, spousal and/or child support payments, facing the solo costs of maintaining a household—the financial impact of divorce can be substa