Best Financial Life Blog

Social Security Isn’t Going Away

In a recent survey, 55% of adults believe Social Security won’t be around when they retire, yet 72% say they will need that money in retirement. It’s become very common to believe Social Security is “bankrupt” or even a “ponzi scheme,” when the truth is far from this. Instead, know that Social Security isn’t going […]

By Joe MorganFinancial Fulfillment, Financial Planning, Goals, Investment Plan, Investment Strategy, Retirement, Retirement Income, Social Security, Spending, Spending PlanJuly 12, 2018September 2, 2020

Prepare For Market Crashes

We know we can’t predict the markets and we certainly know we can’t predict crashes, so how do we prepare for something if we don’t know when it will arrive? Like the Boy Scouts, we try to always be prepared. We prepare by investing so that our portfolio is likely to never fall enough to [...]

By Joe MorganBest Financial Life, Investing, Investment Plan, Investment Strategy, Market Crash, Stock Market, VolatilityJune 14, 2018September 2, 2020

Of Fried Chicken And Green Beans

Last night, I dreamed I was riding my dog, Lucy, through a small Italian village and came upon something that would completely change my life, reducing stress and increasing happiness: fried chicken growing in stalks like green beans! Like many, I struggle with my diet and being from the South, I truly enjoy most any […]

By Joe MorganAccounts, Best Financial Life, Finances, Financial Anxiety, Financial Fulfillment, Financial Health, Financial Planning, Financial Wellness, Investing, Investment Philosophy, Investment PlanMay 14, 2018September 2, 2020

A Financial Plan Without A Spending Plan Is No Plan At All

We all want to be financially successful and tend to equate this success with our investment portfolios, but a solid investment strategy is only 25% of a solid Financial Plan. Another 25% comes from an area where we often seek to avoid clarity: our spending. This may come from a rooted desire not to limit [...]

By Joe MorganBest Financial Life, Finances, Financial Anxiety, Financial Planning, Goals, Income, Investment Plan, Investment Strategy, Spending, Spending PlanApril 3, 2018September 2, 2020

Did You Feel That?

A swarm of earthquakes hit Danville recently and at all times of the day and night.  But that’s not what I meant. Did you feel the market shake, rattle and roll?  Did it feel like a little or a lot? If we could take a poll, we’d find those of you who felt the most [...]

By Joe MorganBest Financial Life, Financial Fulfillment, Financial Health, Financial Planning, Investing, Investment Philosophy, Investment Plan, Investment Strategy, Spending, Spending Plan, Stock MarketApril 3, 2018September 2, 2020

Where To Buy Life Insurance

“This ain’t fun. But you watch me, I’ll get it done.” – Jackie Robinson “Get ‘R Done!” – Larry The Cable Guy Now that we have decided to buy simple, term life insurance, the goal is to “Get ‘R Done!” Term life insurance is a cheap, nearly-commoditized offering that any life insurance firm can offer. But be […]

By Joe MorganBest Financial Life, Financial Planning, Goals, Life Insurance, Retirement, WealthJuly 10, 2017September 2, 2020

How Much Life Insurance? (Part 2)

"Fun is like life insurance. The older you get, the more it costs." - Kin Hubbard There are any number of ways to calculate how much life insurance (we’re talking straight term insurance here) you might need, however I tend to use two that provide an upper and lower bound. In this post, we will discuss the lower [...]

By Joe MorganBest Financial Life, Goals, Life InsuranceJune 26, 2017September 2, 2020

How Much Life Insurance? (Part I)

"It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but also for what we do not do." - Moliere There are any number of ways to calculate how much life insurance (we’re talking straight term insurance here) you might need, however I tend to use two that provide an upper and lower [...]

By Joe MorganBest Financial Life, Finances, Financial Planning, Goals, Life Insurance, Money, Retirement, Retirement IncomeJune 19, 2017September 2, 2020

Types Of Life Insurance

"Keep it simple, stupid." - Design principle, U.S. Navy   Life insurance can be very simple or very complicated. At its base level, you pay a fee, called a premium, each year in exchange for the insurance company paying your beneficiary should you pass away during the term. This very simple, clean transaction is as [...]

By Joe MorganBest Financial Life, Finances, Financial Planning, Goals, Income, Investment Plan, Life Insurance, Liquidity, Net Worth, Retirement, Retirement Income, Spending, Spending PlanJune 12, 2017September 2, 2020

Why Life Insurance?

"What, me worry?" - Alfred E. Neuman Many, if not most, of the things we do in our financial lives are for others. We work to provide a service or product that someone else values enough to pay us. We use that money to take care of our families and give to charities. We even [...]

By Joe MorganBest Financial Life, Finances, Financial Planning, Financial Wellness, Goals, Income, Investing, Life Insurance, Money, Net Worth, Retirement, Retirement Income, Spending, Spending PlanJune 5, 2017September 2, 2020