Blog

Welcome to the FFG Retirement Counseling blog!  In order to greater serve our clients, friends, and family, we have started this blog to better inform you about your finances, retirement, investment strategies, and the fun things we are doing along the way!

We sincerely hope you enjoy our blog posts.

 

Monday, May 17, 2021

Spring is here! Tax season has ended, the kids are getting out of school, and the time for travel and outdoors fun has begun. It is also the time that most people begin looking for, and selling, houses. If you have not looked at the...

 

Thursday, May 13, 2021

FFG offers a diverse selection of managed portfolios for the different objectives or our clients. In our quarterly investment update, we focus on 3 of our core portfolios; the On Deck Portfolio, the Dividend Portfolio, and our...

 

Monday, May 10, 2021

In the spirit of Mother's Day I wanted to shine a light on just how wise Mom’s are when it come to money. In preparation for writing this article I asked each team member for some lessons that they learned from their Mom. Never...

 

Monday, March 22, 2021

Less than one month ahead of the traditional date, the I.R.S. has delayed the deadline for filing and paying taxes. The new deadline is May 17, 2021.1,2,3The delay follows continued disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic and a late...

 

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Giving is important to all of us, it is the way that we see our hard work and good fortune make a difference in this world. Naturally, we want to give as much as we can, and that means being tax conscious. Many clients come to us...

 

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Monday, March 1, 2021

We are pleased to announce our newest team member here at FFG. Last fall we hired Josh Dunlop as a Financial Planner. Josh has a very strong background in planning and we were really impressed that he spent time serving families in the...

 

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

I remember just a few months ago really looking forward to 2021. I had so many expectations for the new year. 5 weeks in and it feels very similar to 2020. Including all of the volatility within the financial markets. The 2020...

 

Friday, February 12, 2021

FFG Investment Update FFG offers a diverse selection of managed portfolios for the different objectives or our clients. In our quarterly investment update, we focus on 3 of our core portfolios; the On Deck Portfolio, the Dividend...

 

Monday, February 1, 2021

Traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA), which were created in 1974, are owned by roughly 46.4 million U.S. households. And Roth IRAs, created as part of the Taxpayer Relief Act in 1997, are owned by nearly 24.9 million...

 

Thursday, January 21, 2021

There are few things in the world more complex than health care. This is especially true when we consider the government administered portion of our healthcare system. Medicare is the healthcare system for individuals aged 65 or older...

 

Thursday, January 7, 2021

With a world of information at our fingertips, we can find reviews, history, product specifications, and more details than we’ll ever need about anything we want to buy. In other words, before making a major purchase, we can arm...

 

Monday, January 4, 2021

There was a time in our parent’s and grandparent’s day when one could hold a group of blue-chip stocks and live off the dividends. My wife’s grandmother lived her entire retirement off a pension and a little inherited...

 

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

On October 26, the Treasury Department released the 2021 adjusted figures for retirement account savings. Although these adjustments won’t bring any major changes, there are some minor elements to note.401(k)sThe salary deferral...

 

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

As we close the book on a hard and tumultuous year it is important to reflect. We learned a lot about ourselves this year. We learned what is most important, and what we sometimes can take for granted. Not the least of what we often...

 

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

FFG offers a diverse selection of managed portfolios for the different objectives or our clients. In our quarterly investment update, we focus on 3 of our core portfolios; the On Deck Portfolio, the Dividend Portfolio, and our...

 

Monday, May 11, 2020

The On Deck Portfolio seeks low volatility while earning a strong income yield. Our Thoughts: After a strong performance in 2019, we are looking forward to continuing the trend this year in the On Deck Portfolio. It continues to be...

 

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Our lives have rapidly evolved into this new (albeit temporary) “social distancing” normal. I’d like to assure you that FFG will continue to be available to help in any way we can. We are well prepared to run business...

 

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

As you probably know, this week has certainly been a wild one in the stock market. The rising concerns of the global economic impact of the spreading coronavirus has sent a shock to the market. The threat of this virus is real, and we...

 

Monday, February 24, 2020

FFG offers a diverse selection of managed portfolios for the different objectives or our clients. In our quarterly investment update, we focus on 3 of our core portfolios; the On Deck Portfolio, the Dividend Portfolio, and our...

 

Monday, January 20, 2020

Is it really possible to overcome putting something off for tomorrow what we know should get done today? With the right motivation, we can move forward to accomplish the tasks that we have in front of us and not get lost in the winding...

 

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

“This generation got no destination to hold...We are volunteers of America”“Volunteers” by Jefferson Airplane¹ Those of a certain age will recall these Jefferson Airplane lyrics as a call to action, though...

 

Friday, November 22, 2019

John and Mary are nearing retirement and they have a lot of items on their bucket list. Longer life expectancies mean John and Mary may need to prepare for two or even three decades of retirement. How should they position their money?1...

 

Friday, November 15, 2019

Tip: How Much? Check your Social Security earnings and see an estimate of your benefits on the website, www.ssa.gov. Social Security’s been a fact of retirement life ever since it was established in 1935. We all think we know how...

 

Friday, November 8, 2019

FFG offers a diverse selection of managed portfolios for the different objectives or our clients. In our quarterly investment update, we focus on 3 of our core portfolios; the On Deck Portfolio, the Dividend Portfolio, and our...

 

Friday, November 8, 2019

There's more to life than money! Take some time to enjoy this wonderful Fall recipe... Rich coconut milk makes this soup filling and fragrant. Ingredients (Serves 4) 1 can full-fat coconut milk 1 medium onion, diced 1 Tbsp minced...

 

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

It’s the Debbie Downer subject of the financial world. Talking about life insurance means talking about death, and that’s not exactly fun. However, purchasing life insurance is probably the biggest step you can take to make...

 

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

The closer you get to retirement, the more it probably weighs on your mind. You may find yourself constantly wondering, “Have I saved enough?” or “When should I claim Social Security?” Since your retirement...

 

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Tips For Tax Efficient Giving Most of us are eager to claim as many tax deductions as possible. Unfortunately for many, the newly expanded standard deduction will preclude many of us from itemizing moving forward. If you are in a...

 

Monday, September 9, 2019

Are you on track to retire when you want, how you want? It’s a loaded question, I know, but your answer can make or break your financial future. Retirement readiness is about so much more than just having a large sum of money in...

 

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

FFG offers a diverse selection of managed portfolios for the different objectives of our clients. In our quarterly investment update, we focus on 3 of our core portfolios; the On Deck Portfolio, the Dividend Portfolio, and our...

 

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

If you’ve ever felt completely overwhelmed by the thought of preparing for and transitioning to retirement, raise your hand. Retirement is a time of mixed emotions. Ever since you started your working years, you probably began...

 

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Would you hand over your house keys to a stranger? That’s often what it feels like to work with a financial advisor. Not only do you need to find someone you can trust with your finances, arguably one of the most important parts...

 

Thursday, July 18, 2019

If you're like most people, you probably have a junk drawer at home. We know it can feel overwhelming to even think about cleaning it out and organizing it. For many of us, our finances can resemble a junk drawer from time to time....

 

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

There are times when it makes sense to hire a professional...This is true if you are talking about a plumber, doctor, or even a retirement advisor. Our focus is to reduce your money worries and help you get where you want to go. FFG's...

 

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Our first priority is helping you take care of yourself and your family. We want to learn more about your personal situation, identify your dreams and goals, and understand your tolerance for risk. Long-term relationships that...

 

Monday, July 1, 2019

At FFG Retirement Counseling, we believe that everyone has been gifted with their own unique abilities. Each member of our team has been intentionally selected because of their unique abilities to best deliver a specific part of your...