Insights & Education
The Park Lake
Perspective
Financial planning, investing and everyday money decisions can get complicated. The Park Lake Perspective offers practical thoughts and explanations designed to help you better understand the financial issues that may affect your life.
Financial topics explained in plain English.
Featured Perspective
Your Financial Health Checklist: Mid-Year Money Moves
Just like you might check your car before a summer road trip up north or get the lawn mower tuned up, taking some time for a mid-year financial review helps keep everything running smoothly. Even small tweaks now...
Read the PerspectiveMore From The Park Lake Perspective
Perspectives Worth Exploring
Practical thoughts on financial planning, investing and the money decisions that come with everyday life.
FREE DINNER!!!
Free Dinner Seminar & Complimentary Dinner PresentationSecrets Revealed It appears that it’s that time of the quarter again. If you haven’t received it in...
Read the PerspectivePros and Cons of REITs
In the past several months, I have fielded calls from a few different clients that have heard, and become interested in, investing in Real...
Read the Perspective8 Little Known Ways To Save Money On Vacation
8 Little Known Ways To Save Money On Vacation There is something special and relaxing about vacation. People love planning for it, talking about...
Read the PerspectiveAre You Retiring Within the Next 5 Years?
Are You Retiring Within the Next 5 Years? What should you focus on as the transition approaches? You can prepare for your retirement transition...
Read the PerspectiveTen Free Tips To Financial Freedom
I sometimes get asked to dispense with some free financial advice. Frankly, there are times when it doesn’t make sense for someone to pay...
Read the PerspectiveFive Lessons Football Teaches Us About Finances
Football season is (finally) here. For those of us that love the game, it’s one of the best times of the year. For those...
Read the PerspectiveInsights & Education
All Perspectives
Explore the complete collection of Park Lake Perspectives covering financial planning, investing and the financial decisions that come with everyday life.
Your Financial Health Checklist: Mid-Year Money Moves
Just like you might check your car before a summer road trip up north or get the lawn mower tuned up, taking some time for a...
Read PerspectiveInflation Signals
If you’re having trouble wrapping your head around inflation, you aren’t alone. Many economists are perplexed by the trends these days because it seems like, only...
Read PerspectiveThe KISS Principle
Keep It Simple Stupid (The KISS Principle to Investing) The KISS Principle is something that I’ve grown up having engrained into my head. If you haven’t...
Read PerspectiveManaging Drug Costs
Managing Drug Costs How can households meet the challenge? Are prescription drug costs burdening your finances? Some people find it a challenge to manage the cost...
Read PerspectiveCollege Funding Options
College Funding Options You can plan to meet the costs through a variety of methods. How can you cover your child’s future college costs? Saving early...
Read PerspectiveThe Major Retirement Planning Mistakes
Much is out there about the classic financial mistakes that plague start-ups, family businesses, corporations, and charities. Aside from these blunders, some classic financial missteps plague...
Read PerspectiveThe SECURE Act
The SECURE Act Long-established retirement account rules change. The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act is now law. With it, comes some of...
Read PerspectiveFinancial Strategy for Athletes
Financial Strategy for Athletes Step One: Find a trusted financial coach; Step Two: Listen to your coach. Whether you are a professional athlete, a college amateur,...
Read PerspectiveAn Estate Strategy for Your Digital Assets
Your digital assets should not disappear into a void when you die. When you think about your estate, you may think about your personal property, real...
Read PerspectiveHouse Buying – A Big Commitment
Buying a house is a big commitment. While one of your first steps (after saving money for the purchase) is to speak with a mortgage professional,...
Read PerspectiveTaking Charge of Your Financial Life
Taking Charge of Your Financial Life Delegating responsibilities to others may lead to problems down the road. When you are putting together a household, it isn’t...
Read PerspectiveWhy DIY Investment Management Is Such a Risk
Why DIY Investment Management Is Such a Risk Paying attention to the wrong things becomes all too easy. If you ever have the inkling to manage...
Read PerspectiveThe Importance of TOD & JTWROS Designations
The Importance of TOD & JTWROS Designations A convenient move that could ward off probate on your accounts. TOD, JTWROS – what do these obscure acronyms...
Read PerspectivePros and Cons of REITs
In the past several months, I have fielded calls from a few different clients that have heard, and become interested in, investing in Real Estate Investment...
Read PerspectiveAre You Retiring Within the Next 5 Years?
Are You Retiring Within the Next 5 Years? What should you focus on as the transition approaches? You can prepare for your retirement transition years before...
Read PerspectiveMidlife Money Errors
If you are between 40 & 60, beware of these financial blunders & assumptions. Mistakes happen, even for people who have some life experience under their...
Read PerspectiveYour Emergency Fund: How Much is Enough?
An emergency fund may help alleviate the stress associated with a financial crisis. Have you ever had one of those months? The water heater stops heating,...
Read PerspectiveThe A, B, C & D of Medicare
Breaking down the basics & what each part covers. Whether your 65th birthday is on the horizon or decades away, you should understand the parts of...
Read PerspectiveBad Money Habits to Break
Behaviors worth changing. Do bad money habits constrain your financial progress? Many people fall into the same financial behavior patterns, year after year. If you sometimes...
Read PerspectiveFive Lessons Football Teaches Us About Finances
Football season is (finally) here. For those of us that love the game, it’s one of the best times of the year. For those that love...
Read PerspectiveWe All Scream For Ice Cream!
We’re in the birthday season in my house. While it would be wonderful if this was limited to one party for my (almost) 8-year old son,...
Read Perspective3,453 Day Bull Run
On Wednesday, the bull market turned 3,453 days old. By most definitions, that is the longest bull run on record. Since the financial crisis bottomed on...
Read PerspectiveTen Free Tips To Financial Freedom
I sometimes get asked to dispense with some free financial advice. Frankly, there are times when it doesn’t make sense for someone to pay a financial...
Read PerspectiveTen Steps To Paying Off Your Debt
Getting into debt can seem like a very easy thing to do. Outside of home or car loans, it’s not something that usually happens overnight. It...
Read Perspective“How To Become A 401(k) Millionaire” Rebuttal
How to Become a 401(k) Millionaire – A Rebuttal I read an article the other day entitled “How to Become a 401(k) Millionaire“. The premise of...
Read PerspectiveFiduci-what? Who Are Fiduciaries? Plus Five Basic Principles of Fiduciary Duty
This post isn’t directed as something that the average person is probably interested in. It is truly intended for business owners and fiduciaries of retirement plans....
Read Perspective8 Little Known Ways To Save Money On Vacation
8 Little Known Ways To Save Money On Vacation There is something special and relaxing about vacation. People love planning for it, talking about it and...
Read PerspectiveMadness in March
It’s that time of year again – MARCH MADNESS! Those who know me well, know that I absolutely love this time of year. The culmination...
Read PerspectiveLa Mort Et Les Impots
La Mort Et Les Impots Benjamin Franklin once wrote: “Notre constitution nouvelle est actuellement établie, tout paraît nous prome promettre qu’elle sera durable; mais, dans ce...
Read PerspectiveMarket Chaos and Your Portfolio
Market Chaos and Your Portfolio Holy Volatility! It has definitely been a rocky week since our last blog post. Since that time, we’ve seen: Friday –...
Read PerspectiveFREE DINNER!!!
Free Dinner Seminar & Complimentary Dinner PresentationSecrets Revealed It appears that it’s that time of the quarter again. If you haven’t received it in the mail...
Read PerspectiveFive-Minute Finance
Prefer to Watch
Instead?
Five-Minute Finance takes many of the same financial topics and breaks them down into short, straightforward videos designed to help make financial concepts easier to understand.
- Short videos built for busy schedules
- Financial planning, investing and personal finance topics
- Clear explanations without unnecessary jargon
