Asset Management Building Wealth

The Stories We Tell Ourselves About Money

Growing up, kids are taught very simple facts about money: you need to earn it to pay your bills and save it to retire and buy things you want along the way. Yet, as we get older, these basic facts about money seem to have gotten lost. Instead of emphasizing…

Kristin McKennaOctober 26, 2017

Asset Management Building Wealth Current events Employee benefits Financial Planning Retirement Planning Tax planning

The Best Ways to Build Wealth

What are the best strategies to build wealth and a comfortable lifestyle for you and your loved ones? The answer isn't sexy or complicated. The best way to build wealth and create financial security for you and your family is no secret. It is accomplished through an ongoing commitment to…

Kristin McKennaJune 5, 2017

Asset Management Retirement Planning

Hidden Retirement Risk: 85% of Workers Don’t Rebalance Their 401(k)

In 2015, an estimated 54 million Americans were actively participating in a 401(k) plan at work. However, according to a 2014 study by Aon Hewett, only 15% had rebalanced their 401(k). Why does this matter? As the market goes up and down, the funds you've selected for your 401(k) will…

Kristin McKennaMay 10, 2017

Asset Management Diversification Investing Managing Risk

How to Diversify Your Investments

Why is it important to diversify your investments? The answer is simple: to manage risk. Diversifying your investments is about more than holding different stocks and bonds. Full diversification involves all of your assets: homes, stock options, retirement accounts, and so on. If you're wondering how to diversify your investments,…

Kristin McKennaJanuary 25, 2017

Asset Management Diversification Investing Managing Risk

How to Manage Your Investments: 6 Components of a Successful Strategy

Like many things in life, managing your own investments becomes more complex as you get older. For young professionals just starting out, it makes sense to learn the basics of how to manage your investments and do it yourself. Later in your career, there is more wealth to protect and…

Kristin McKennaJanuary 11, 2017

401(k) Plans 403(b) Plans Asset Management Investing Rebalancing Retirement Planning

How Often Should You Rebalance Your 401(k)?

Like any investment account, rebalancing your 401(k) or 403(b) retirement plan is an important part of a successful strategy. Without periodic rebalancing, your asset allocation (the percentage of your account that you distribute between different asset classes, ETFs, and mutual funds) will change over time, causing you to be invested…

Kristin McKennaDecember 21, 2016

Asset Management Financial Planning Inheritance Stock options

What Should You Do with a Windfall?

Wondering what to do with a windfall? Perhaps you have received an inheritance or experienced a liquidity event from company stock. Now you need to know how to use the proceeds to maximize the benefits for your family, and help achieve your lifestyle goals. Ultimately, how to invest a windfall will depend…

Kristin McKennaNovember 16, 2016

Asset Management Employee benefits Financial Planning ISOs NQSOs RSUs Stock options

How Much Money Should I Have in Employer Stock?

It is not uncommon for employees with stock options or equity based compensation to hold too much employer stock. Employees don't often realize how much of their financial future is tied to their employer. Other times, individuals simply ignore the risks or just have no idea how concentrated they are.…

Kristin McKennaOctober 26, 2016

Asset Management Employee benefits Financial Planning ISOs NQSOs RSUs Stock options

Are You Holding Employer Stock in Your Retirement Plan?

Investing your 401(k) in company stock can be quite risky. Although companies are scaling back on the practice, there are still many big U.S. firms that allow participants to buy employer stock in their retirement plan or that make matching contributions in the form of company stock. Employees unaware of…

Kristin McKennaOctober 5, 2016

Asset Management Investing

Know How You’re Invested

This article was originally published on U.S. News by Kristin McFarland, Wealth Advisor at Darrow Wealth Management. Whether you manage your own money or hire a professional advisor to do so on your behalf, it is important to understand the investment strategy, even if only at a high level. Quite understandably,…

Kristin McKennaAugust 31, 2016