What Interest Rate Volatility Means for Homebuyers
With recent market volatility, mortgage interest rates have been all over the place. Rob talks with Steve Tetzner from Homestar Mortgage to shed some light on what’s happening now and what recent changes mean for Rhode Island homebuyers. Topics Discussed: Wild swings in 30-year mortgage rates What buyers should know about rate locks Advice for […]
Financial Planning Rules of Thumb
Learning everything you need to know about financial planning can be overwhelming, but understanding a few basic rules of thumb can help you become more confident in managing your money. In this episode, Rob Auclair explains some basic rules you won’t want to skip as well as some helpful calculations you can use to […]
How to Prepare for Estate Planning With Confidence
Estate Planning Estate planning may not be a fun topic, but it’s important, and everyone should know the basics of an estate plan. In this chapter, Rob discusses revocable and irrevocable trusts, the purpose of a will, and the role a financial planner plays in the estate planning process. Snowbirds Many New Englanders move south […]
What You Should Know About Your Financial Advisor
What You Should Know About Your Financial Advisor Before working with a financial advisor, it’s important to understand that advisors can have specialties, unique backgrounds and qualifications, offer a variety of services, and have varying business models. Asking the right questions to determine if someone is the right advisor to help you meet your goals […]
Choosing a Lump Sum vs Stream of Income in Retirement
In this premiere episode of Retire with Balance, Rob Auclair of Balanced Wealth Management pulls back the curtain on what it looks like to work with a financial advisor and exactly what financial planning entails in a way that takes the mystery out of the process. Having a firm grasp on your finances will put […]
Year-End Deadlines & RMD Calculations
As year-end deadlines approach, it’s always a good idea to go through a financial or tax-planning checklist to ensure you are properly managing important aspects of your finances. Topics Discussed: Maximizing your retirement plan Consider tax-loss harvesting Taking your required minimum distributions (RMD) Spending your flexible savings account (FSA) funds Making charitable donations The opinions […]
Identity Protection
Identity theft isn’t just a buzzword – it’s real and it’s a problem. From 2019 to 2020 identity theft cases rose from 500 billion to 712 billion. As our digital world expands, so does digital risk. In this episode of Successful Living, Rob highlights how fraud impacts you and offers tips on how to best […]
The Importance of Good Credit
Once a year, Rob likes to revisit the credit conversation to reinforce best practices for improving and maintaining your good credit score. He shares what aspects of your life are affected by your credit score, what a good credit score actually is, tips and technology that can help improve your score, plus a great viewer […]
What IS Bitcoin? It’s Time to Rethink Cryptocurrency
Rob welcomes Travis Gatzemeier, CFP from Kinetix Financial Planning to explain Bitcoin basics. Did you know there are six thousand other types of crypto assets built on the same blockchain technology? Watch to learn more. Topics Discussed: Bitcoin basics – what exactly is it? How a peer-to-peer payment network works Other blockchain alternatives How to […]
Budgeting: The Most Impactful Way to Improve Your Finances
Does hearing the word ‘budget’ make you cringe? Do you struggle wondering where to begin? You’re not alone. Join Rob as he breaks down budgeting into small, actionable steps that minimize overwhelm and help you get started doing this important exercise. He also shares some helpful app reviews for both newbies and advanced tech users. […]