Whether you’re approaching retirement or already in it, you probably have questions about Social Security and how it impacts your retirement plan. Social Security is as complex as it is important. The income stream can be an integral part of a well-thought out financial plan and the myriad of options often lead to sub-optimal elections by otherwise well-informed folks. Social... Read More
Written by Crodant Ambassador Dave Unzicker When you reach the end of your Intel career and make the shift into retirement, will you know what you can expect this next stage of your life to be like? For many it’ll be a mystery. But for those who plan and intentionally prepare for it (and I don’t mean saving money) much... Read More
Integrate, v. ˈin-tə-ˌgrāt To form, coordinate, or blend into a functioning or unified whole A frequent complaint we hear from Intel employees surrounds the investment restrictions in their retirement accounts. While the investment options in the accounts are increasing, you are still limited to a preset menu in each account. Those wishing to expand their allocation beyond this list of funds cannot... Read More
“Half of the troubles of this life can be traced to saying yes too quickly and not saying no soon enough.” Josh Billings Occasionally clients or prospects will ask: “What changes have you recently made? What action have you taken on my behalf?” The implication is: what are you doing to add value? Sometimes it’s not doing that adds value. Often, a good... Read More
*This is a guest post written by Cordant Ambassador, Dave Unzicker. Are Your Children Exposed to Affluenza? Don’t let them get infected! Recent news stories based on the capture of the fugitive “victim of affluenza,” Ethan Couch, have really brought to the forefront an issue that I have been struggling with for years—in this world of plenty that glorifies... Read More
“It doesn't matter what people say. Watch what they do.” In an unsurprising, but refreshingly straightforward article Reuters wrote recently about Morgan Stanley’s latest product push to boost its profit. The article titled “Morgan Stanley Turns To Stodgy Bank Accounts To Boost Profit” is a glimpse inside how the traditional Wall Street sales culture works and how these firms view... Read More
I sometimes wonder if our clients and prospective clients tire of us talking about the concepts of transparency, alignment and mutual understanding. However, past experience has given me a lens through which I view those concepts, and I want to share why they’re important to me, and how a document that we created, the “Financial Blueprint,” gives them material meaning.... Read More
One of our firm's core values is continuous improvement—i.e., getting better every day. This post highlights the massive change that can result from a daily focus on improving and celebrates two members of the Cordant team living out this value and who have accomplished significant things this year. Read More One of the great advantages of being a long-term investor... Read More
"An overnight success is ten years in the making." - Tom Clancy The illusion In a recent podcast, screenwriter Eric Bogosian shared some of his thoughts about planning ahead. He describes a particular screenplay in which a character (played by a comedian) is cast with a job of answering the phone. The bit is, every time someone calls in, this... Read More
*Note: This is Part 2 of a two-part series. Click here to read Part 1, where we discussed the magnitude of available options today and their impact on financial decisions. To receive helpful posts like this directly to your inbox, sign up for our free newsletter! Last time on the Cordant Blog, we explored how being overwhelmed by too much... Read More
