Blog

Life Insurance at Various Life Stages

Andrew Gardner, CFP®, CFEd®

Thursday, December 1, 2022

Your need for life insurance changes as your life changes. When you're young, you typically have less need for life insurance, but that changes as you take on more responsibility and your family grows.

Using the "3-6 Months Rule" to Determine Your Cash Reserve Needs

Patrick Wallace, ChFC® , CFEd®

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

What is the 3-6 months rule?The 3-6 months rule is a broad rule of thumb commonly used as the starting point for determining a cash reserve goal. The first question that typically arises is, three to six months of what?

How can I reduce my spending?

Frances Gardner, CFP®, CDFA® , CFEd®

Tuesday, November 1, 2022

To reduce your spending, you first need to know where your money goes. Start out by keeping track of all of your expenses for a month. None are too small or insignificant: the daily newspaper, coffee on the way to work, etc.

Saving for Retirement and a Child's Education at the Same Time

Andrew Gardner, CFP®, CFEd®

Monday, October 10, 2022

You want to retire comfortably when the time comes. You also  want to help your child go to college. So how do you juggle the two?

Teaching Your Child about Money

Patrick Wallace, ChFC® , CFEd®

Monday, October 3, 2022

Ask your five-year old where money comes from, & the answer you'll probably get is "From a machine!" Even though children don't always understand where money really comes from, they realize at a young age that they can use it to buy things.

Kids under 26? What parents need to understand about the HIPPA laws

Frances Gardner, CFP®, CDFA® , CFEd®

Friday, September 16, 2022

Oftentimes, in our discussions with parents, we find that many parents are simply unaware that they are not entitled to information regarding their adult child's medical information.

Understanding Risk

Frances Gardner, CFP®, CDFA® , CFEd®

Thursday, September 8, 2022

Few terms in personal finance are as important, or used as frequently, as "risk." Nevertheless, few terms are as imprecisely defined.

Retirement Plans for Small Businesses

Andrew Gardner, CFP®, CFEd®

Thursday, September 1, 2022

If you are self-employed or own a small business and you haven't established a retirement savings plan, what are you waiting for? A retirement plan can help you and your employees save for the future.

Buying a Home

Patrick Wallace, ChFC® , CFEd®

Monday, August 8, 2022

There's no doubt about it--owning a home is an exciting prospect. After all, you've always dreamed of having a place that you could truly call your own. But buying a home can be stressful.

Taking Advantage of Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans

Frances Gardner, CFP®, CDFA® , CFEd®

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

Employer-sponsored qualified retirement plans such as 401(k)s are some of the most powerful retirement savings tools available. If your employer offers such a plan and you're not participating in it, you should be.

Rolling Over Funds from an Employer Retirement Savings Plan: What You Need to Know

Andrew Gardner, CFP®, CFEd®

Monday, July 11, 2022

When you leave your employer, you have several options available to you for managing your retirement savings plan assets.

Asset Protection in Estate Planning

Patrick Wallace, ChFC® , CFEd®

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

You're beginning to accumulate substantial wealth, but you worry about protecting it from future potential creditors.

Should You Buy Long-Term Care Insurance?

Frances Gardner, CFP®, CDFA® , CFEd®

Friday, June 10, 2022

The longer you live, the greater the chances you'll need some form of long-term care.

Taxation of Investments

Andrew Gardner, CFP®, CFEd®

Friday, June 3, 2022

Taxation of Investments It's nice to own stocks, bonds, and other investments. Nice, that is, until it's time to fill out your federal income tax return. At that point, you may be left scratching your head.

Six Keys to More Successful Investing

Patrick Wallace, ChFC® , CFEd®

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

A successful investor maximizes gain and minimizes loss.

Determining Your Retirement Income Needs

Frances Gardner, CFP®, CDFA® , CFEd®

Thursday, May 5, 2022

What is it? Determining your retirement income needs is a process that helps you identify your retirement planning needs based on your desired standard of living and the resources you'll have available.

Trust Basics

Andrew Gardner, CFP®, CFEd®

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Trust Basics Whether you're seeking to manage your own assets, control how your assets are distributed after your death, or plan for incapacity, trusts can help you accomplish your estate planning goals.

Budgeting: Calculating Your Net Worth

Patrick Wallace, ChFC® , CFEd®

Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Your net worth is your personal bottom line. It's what your total holdings are worth after subtracting all of your financial obligations. In financial terms, your net worth is equal to your total assets minus your total liabilities.

Should I invest my extra cash or use it to pay off debt?

Frances Gardner, CFP®, CDFA® , CFEd®

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Answer: To answer this question, you must decide how your money can work best for you. Compare the money you might earn on other investments with the money you would pay on your debt.

Should I be investing more aggressively?

Andrew Gardner, CFP®, CFEd®

Thursday, March 3, 2022

There's no way to know the answer to that without reviewing your individual circumstances and financial goals. However, if you are investing too conservatively, it can have a profound effect on your long-term financial security. How...

Should I invest in a Roth IRA or a traditional IRA?

Patrick Wallace, ChFC® , CFEd®

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

There is no easy answer to this question. Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs share certain general characteristics.

Please join us in congratulating Frannie Gardner, Founder & Managing Partner of Gardner Wallace, on making D CEO Magazine's Dallas 500 List of the most influential business leaders in Dallas, Texas!

Appropriate Checklists for Year-End Tax Planning

Patrick Wallace, ChFC® , CFEd®

Friday, November 12, 2021

What are appropriate checklists for year-end tax planning? Tax planners often develop checklists to guide taxpayers toward year-end strategies that might help reduce taxes. Typically, suggestions are grouped into several different...

Members of the Military: Personal Financial Planning

Frances Gardner, CFP®, CDFA® , CFEd®

Thursday, November 4, 2021

Financial planning is the process that can help you pursue your goals by evaluating your whole financial picture, then outlining strategies that are tailored to your individual needs and available resources. Just as the success of a...

We're pleased to announce our 2021 recognition in D Magazine as "Best Financial Planners in Dallas"! Thank you to our clients, team, colleagues, and family for making this possible! The November issue hits newsstands this week (October...

How can I get credit if I have no credit history?

Frances Gardner, CFP®, CDFA® , CFEd®

Monday, October 25, 2021

It's the old catch-22. You cannot establish a credit history without having credit, and you cannot get credit without a credit history. But if you work at it, this problem can be overcome. While you create a history, be sure your...

What Rising Rates Could Mean for Your Money

Andrew Gardner, CFP®

Monday, October 18, 2021

After years of keeping the benchmark federal funds rate at historic lows, the Federal Reserve has been raising it gradually. Near-zero rates were an emergency measure, and gradual increases reflect greater confidence in the U.S....

If you're considering withdrawing money from your traditional IRA or Roth IRA to pay for college, you'll want to evaluate several factors: How many years you have until retirement Your retirement balances The amount of money you intend...

Your gross estate for federal estate tax purposes includes: All property that you own at death (e.g., real estate, investments, business interests, personal property, mortgages held by you) Property you have given away while retaining...

What is a government bond fund? A government bond fund is a bond mutual fund that invests in debt instruments issued by the U.S. government and its agencies. The broad category of government securities includes U.S. Treasury...

Looking beyond U.S. borders In the past, American investors have focused largely on U.S. markets. However, that is rapidly changing. Although U.S. equities still represent the single largest segment of the global stock market, more...

Investors are often confused about the differences between growth stocks and value stocks. The main way in which they differ is how they are perceived by the market and, ultimately, the investor. Growth stocks are associated with...

Keeping your cool can be hard to do when the market goes on one of its periodic roller-coaster rides. It's useful to have strategies in place that prepare you both financially and psychologically to handle market volatility. Here are...

It's generally a good idea to review your employer-sponsored retirement savings plan at least once each year and when major life changes occur. If you haven't given your plan a thorough review within the last 12 months, now may be a...

Getting Married Checklist General information Yes No N/A 1. Has relevant personal information been gathered? · Names, ages, health statuses · Dependents · Children from previous marriages 2. Has financial situation...

What is it? Marriage is an important step in anyone's life and brings many challenges with it. One of those challenges is the management of your finances as a couple. The money decisions that you make now as a couple can have a...

What is it? Marriage is a major life event that can change more than your last name or living situation. Your change in marital status can also alter the benefits you receive from your employer. When you marry, you and your spouse...

It depends. If you are 59½ or older, you can take money from your traditional IRA without penalty. In contrast, if you withdraw from your IRA before age 59½, the taxable portion of your distribution may be subject to a...

What is it? Definition A prenuptial agreement (also known as a premarital agreement, antemarital agreement, or prenup) is a binding contract executed by prospective spouses to define the rights, duties, and obligations of the parties...

Planning for marriage should involve more than just picking out invitations and deciding whether you should serve chicken or fish at the reception. More importantly, you'll want to take a look at how marriage will impact your...

You've identified your goals and done some basic research. You understand the difference between a stock and a bond. But how do you actually go about creating an investment portfolio? What specific investments are right for you? What...

The longest bull market in history lasted almost 11 years before coronavirus fears and the realities of a seriously disrupted U.S. economy brought it to an end. If you are losing sleep over volatility driven by a cascade of...

Do you ever wonder where your money goes each month? Does it seem like you're never able to get ahead? If so, you may want to establish a budget to help you keep track of how you spend your money and help you reach your financial goals...

In celebration of Woman's History Month, we asked the women of Gardner Wallace: "What do you enjoy most about working in the financial industry? Here's what they shared:

With age comes responsibility, so if you're a young adult in your 20s or 30s, chances are you've been introduced to the realities of adulthood. While you're excited by all the opportunities life has to offer, you're also aware of your...

Many IRA and retirement plan limits are indexed for inflation each year. While some of the limits remain unchanged for 2021, other key numbers have increased. IRA contribution limits The maximum amount you can contribute to a...

For many people, tax-advantaged investing is an excellent way to reduce their income tax liability. And while many of the traditional tax-advantaged strategies have been eliminated, there are still alternatives left that can help you...

Gardner Wallace Financial Solutions has committed to providing 1,500 meals per month to families, children, and seniors in 2021. We are honored to help those in our community and we thank the North Texas Food Bank for their work.

Tax information statements, which includes your 1099 forms, will be delivered as early as possible. Companies will begin mailing 1099 tax statements by January 31, 2021. Please be aware that some issuers do not make their final...

This excerpt was originally published December 23, 2020 from D CEO Magazine. View the original article here. It’s safe to say that we’re all ready to bid goodbye to 2020. The editors of D CEO recently checked in with area...