Politicians are creating more drama than Hollywood over the federal debt ceiling. Let’s recap what we know with some educated speculation about what could happen next. [Scroll down to the bottom for the nitty-gritty if you want to skip the details.] What is the debt ceiling and why is it in the headlines (again)? The […]

In a perfect world, logic would always guide our financial decisions. Emotions wouldn’t come into play. But we don’t live in a perfect world. Far from it. That means our emotions impact our financial choices more than we realize.1 Shockingly as much as 95% of our purchase choices are made subconsciously, driven by our emotions—as […]

With a volatile 2022 in the books and numerous uncertainties looming in 2023, we’d like to provide you with our annual Recap, Outlook, Risks, and Opportunities. 2022 Recap 2023 Outlook Asset Class Returns – Next 5 Years Risks Opportunities While sticking to the financial plan is rarely easy, history has shown it is the best […]

Market corrections hurt. They can come out of nowhere. And when they do, they ignite fear, amplify worries, and set off alarm bells. It’s hard not to panic when that happens. And it’s tempting to react and want to pull back.1 Many people give in to that temptation.2 Informed investors don’t. Why? Because they know […]

Imagine printing out your next meal or wearing contact lenses that know your thoughts and feelings.1,2 What if your house could learn about you … and then anticipate your needs?3 Mind-blowing inventions like these could be just around the corner. And they’re not even the wildest things that we may see by 2050. Advancements in […]

What would make your life better? A new house or car? A bigger paycheck or bank account? It’s easy to want more when you think of being happier and living better.1 And there’s little doubt that money can buy some (more) happiness.2 But the happiness we get from money is fundamentally limited.3 It leaves us […]

How often do you think about retirement? Most of us think about it a lot — at least four times a week.1 We think about when we’ll retire and how we’ll spend our time in retirement.2,3 As exciting as that can be, it can also be nerve-racking to think about trying to fill up all […]

Do you think you’re telling yourself the truth about money? We may think we know the facts about our finances. But our beliefs can often overshadow the facts. Our wishes, hopes, and fears can tip the scales away from the truth. This makes it easier for us to believe what we want to about money […]

We at Paragon Financial Advisors don’t believe that “any direction” is acceptable. The financial well-being of you and your loved ones is too important to be left to chance. That’s why we encourage our clients to develop their personal financial goals. Goals are basically a result or achievement toward which you are willing to expend […]

Normally, retirement plans are generally considered safe from creditors. A recent ruling by the Bankruptcy Panel for the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has called that safety into question. An individual was awarded ½ of his ex-wife’s 401(k) plan and her entire individual retirement account in their divorce settlement. He later filed for Chapter […]