Investing

Access the FREE Balanced Money Toolkit HERE

MAKE A FINANCIAL PLAN BLOG

Election Commentary: 5 Things to know about the election and your money

Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®

Nov 3

Election Commentary: 5 Things to know about the election and your money

During election seasons it is easy to become short-sighted. Anxiety, fatigue and overwhelm all seem to be common emotions

Should I Use 401(k) Money to Invest in Crypto?

Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®

Mar 16

Should I Use 401(k) Money to Invest in Crypto?

Cryptocurrencies have continued to gain momentum lately, with recent regulatory approvals of bitcoin ETFs. These rulings broaden access...

Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®

Dec 13, 2023

Fed Note: December 13, 2023

At the December meeting, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee held the Fed funds rate steady at 5.25-5.50%, where it’s stood since...

Ask Jeran: Why not keep all my money in cash?

Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®

Nov 4, 2023

Ask Jeran: Why not keep all my money in cash?

Video Summary: Right now, cash savings options are better than they’ve been in years. Interest rates on high-yield savings accounts and...

Why Your 401(K) Has a Default Investment Option and How It Helps You

Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®

Nov 1, 2023

Why Your 401(K) Has a Default Investment Option and How It Helps You

A common question that I get from 401(k) participants is, “Why is my money automatically invested in this fund?” The follow up question...

Diversification: Why there’s more to your portfolio than the S&P 500

Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®

Jun 10, 2023

Diversification: Why there’s more to your portfolio than the S&P 500

Many times, when we hear references to “the market” or “the stock market” people are talking about the S&P 500. This index has become...

Financial Essentials: Save Money in Cash or Invest?

Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®

Mar 4, 2023

Financial Essentials: Save Money in Cash or Invest?

When you think about your financial goals, you may be faced with conflicting priorities. You may feel like you should delay investing...

Essentials: The Cost of Emotional Investment Decisions

Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®

Nov 4, 2022

Essentials: The Cost of Emotional Investment Decisions

You are not alone when you feel concerned about investment losses. That feeling is typically felt by most people and results show that...

Bucket Your Investments for Peace of Mind

Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®

Jun 10, 2022

Bucket Your Investments for Peace of Mind

In many of the conversations that I am having right now, I am reminding people to stick with the playbook. There are investment...

Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®

May 19, 2022

Good Charts for Right Now

Bonds have had a bad year…but typically returns improve after a period like this: Source: Blackrock Student of the Market May 2022 The...

Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®

May 19, 2022

Catch 2022

Recently, I just finished reading Catch-22 for my book club. It was the first time I had read it. It is a fictional story set during...

Book Notes: The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness

Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®

May 6, 2022

Book Notes: The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness

One of the books that I read recently was particularly helpful when it comes to approaching financial decisions. The book is The...

Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®

Oct 9, 2021

Will Social Security Be There For Me?

Many of us know that the Social Security program has been under pressure for years. In 2020, The Covid Pandemic created a further...

It Costs How Much? Understanding Supply-Chain Issues

Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®

Oct 9, 2021

It Costs How Much? Understanding Supply-Chain Issues

In many of the conversations that I’ve had recently, inflation has been a subject of concern. Things are just costing more. Energy...

Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®

Sep 4, 2021

What is a Taper Tantrum?

When the pandemic started, the Fed slashed interest rates and began buying $120 billion a month in bonds and mortgage-backed securities...

Essentials: Choosing the Right Investment Mix

Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®

Aug 21, 2021

Essentials: Choosing the Right Investment Mix

There are so many options out there for us to invest our money. Over the last few years there has been a reduction of trading fees, new...

Essentials: Are You Following Bad Money Advice?

Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®

Aug 7, 2021

Essentials: Are You Following Bad Money Advice?

Have you ever stopped to think about where your money habits have come from? For most of us, we have been given lots of advice over the...

Big Tech and Regulation: What to Know as an Investor

Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®

Jul 21, 2021

Big Tech and Regulation: What to Know as an Investor

How will government regulation affect our investments in big tech companies? If you follow political headlines recently, this question...

How to Manage Inflation at Different Ages

Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®

Jul 21, 2021

How to Manage Inflation at Different Ages

Inflation is a buzzword right now and you most likely have felt some of the effects of increased prices firsthand over the last few...

Essentials: 3 Things to Teach Your Kids About Investing

Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®

Jul 3, 2021

Essentials: 3 Things to Teach Your Kids About Investing

For many of us, investing was not a part of our core educational curriculum as we grew up. Financial lessons often are learned in the...