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 […]

How can we find joy when things feel chaotic? Gratitude. When we’re grateful, we can let go of our expectations. That can lead to greater happiness and life satisfaction, no matter how uncertain the present is—or the future may be.5 “Gratitude lets you appreciate what truly matters in the moment. That can go a long […]

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 […]

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 […]

It is no secret that returns in the capital markets (stocks and bonds) have been volatile (and below historical averages) for the past few years. Some market “experts” are predicting that those lower returns will be the “new normal” for some years to come. If that prediction is correct, individuals must save more to maintain […]

In previous postings, we discussed some of the factors facing prospective/current retirees. These factors were classified in three general categories: 1) factors over which we have total control, 2) factors over which we have some control, and 3) factors over which we have no control. The second category (factors over which we have some control) […]

In early May, we attended an “Inside Retirement” conference sponsored by Financial Advisors magazine; the topics were centered on “income and longevity.” Various nationally known speakers discussed pertinent items related to those themes. We found some of the presentations worthy of discussing here. Alicia H Munnell (Peter F. Drucker Professor of Management Sciences at Boston College, […]