The word RISK, defined by the American Heritage Dictionary…

1. The possibility of suffering harm or loss; danger.

2. A factor, thing, element, or course involving uncertain danger; a hazard

3. The danger or probability of loss (to an insurance company).

Perhaps you define RISK differently in your head, even if you don’t know you’re doing it. How do you picture someone in your head that you consider a “risk-taker”? Do find them brave? Crazy? Out of control?

Happy New Year to our dear readers and clients. It’s a very sad time here in Colorado…tragically sad. The area near Boulder, specifically the towns of Superior/Louisville/Lafayette to the east of Boulder, is devastated. As of this writing, over 500 homes have burned to the ground and 35,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes at a moment’s notice as a grass fire swept across a very densely populated part of our home state. The fire was allegedly started by a downed power line onto an extraordinarily dry field of grass on Thursday, December 30th.

Last month I had the opportunity to reflect upon all the things in my life I should be grateful for. This year, topping the list is all the loving, kind-hearted people around me that make life special. If you live in Denver and don’t like shoveling snow, celebrate the wonderful weather. In November, the average temperature in Denver is around 44…

For many of our clients, friends, and family, it’s no surprise that retirement is on their minds. Our conversations on retirement run the gamut- from the young clients that want to retire as early as possible because they’re stressed out and hate their jobs, to the older clients that love their jobs and don’t ever want to leave. Truth is, retirement and financial independence are your own journey, and there is little chance it will happen for you right at the tender age of 65.

Foliage is here, and it's magnificent in Colorado. If you're in Colorado, head to Kenosha Pass and spend a day experiencing the season change with spectacular long-range views and a section of the Colorado Trail. Take breathtaking pictures while you immerse yourself in one of the top four seasons in Colorado…

Fall also marks Back to School Mania for us parents. As I embark on my 14th consecutive year of sending at least one of my children to school in the fall (my oldest is a senior in high school), it never ceases to amaze me how August and September calendars are absolutely LOADED with extracurricular meetings and events. Homecoming is right around the corner for my two high schoolers, and it’s yet another reminder of this wonderful time of year, busy as it may be.

At its very basic core, inflation is an increase in the prices of goods services. Very typically, this happens when an increasing supply of money is chasing a shrinking (or not growing) supply of those goods and services.

The fundamental force behind economics and pricing power is supply and demand. When supply goes down…

It feels good to wrap up a long holiday weekend as we honor those that lost their lives serving our country. We have been living in a period some refer to as the “Long Peace,” which began in 1945. Though wars have occurred during this time, they have been minor relative to some of the wars in our short history. Many site technology…

In our line of work, we spend a lot of time discussing the concept of risk. Personal finance and risk are almost synonymous with each other. Risk tolerance assessment questionnaires, risk mitigation with insurance coverages, the risk that you’re not saving enough…you get the picture.

April Fools! Oh my, what a tradition. It’s the one day a year we all have a weak excuse to orchestrate simple-minded jokes without facing the full recourse of our actions. But why do we celebrate this shallow holiday? Maybe it’s human nature, and we were always searching for justification for our distasteful actions. The exact origins of April Fools’ Day…

Stevie Nicks wrote the great song Landslide in Aspen, Colorado in 1973. She was struggling with a very difficult decision in front of her on whether or not it was time for her to go back to school or to continue on in a toxic relationship with Lindsey Buckingham and their dream of becoming successful musicians. She was 27 years old…

Just when it seemed like the world couldn’t get any more unpredictable, it did! Both the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021 have given me a sustained aneurysm, not to mention the fact that I’m about to be a father! I know what you’re thinking: In this time? In this economy?! As I try to wrap my head around it, both professionally…

My goodness, what a year! 2020, amiright?

The only thing I’m more sick of than the actual year of 2020 is having to hear about what an awful year it was.

Every year, right around now, the majority of us make pacts with ourselves to make us “better” (whatever that means)…

As December begins, COVID cases are reaching new highs. Many Americans struggle to find work and plan their financial future. Whether you or your loved ones have dealt with health or financial issues, 2020 has been a tough year for almost everyone. Without minimizing the dire impact the pandemic has had, perhaps it has shown us what makes…

This election, at least in my lifetime, has created more anger and anxiety than any other I can remember. It’s more than enough to last a generation, and I’m certain that my kids will never forget it as they move toward the age where they can actually vote. Normally, I hate the hyperbole that comes with headlines and news story…

Will investors be tricked this year for Halloween or will they receive a stock market treat? Many are not optimistic after watching the political developments that unfolded earlier this week. Yes, the horror stories got off to an early start as America witnessed one of the most unprofessional debates in history. My wife is a school psychologist…

What’s next?

It’s such an innocent question, and one we ask our friends, family, and co-workers all of the time. But the person we ask this question of the most is ourselves.

I started my career in finance in 1999. I was a fresh graduate out of the University of Colorado’s school of business, the mutual fund/securities industry was booming in the Denver area, and I (as well as all of my classmates) were looking for entry-level opportunities to work as customer service reps at Janus, Oppenheimer Funds, Burger….