Blog Posts

By Marc C. Shaffer

It’s been a busy few months at my office. Three partners, including myself, were married within a four week time span! That means there was a lot of discussion about the best financial advice for engaged couples and newlyweds.

I would hope by the time you’re a newlywed, you have already had the intimate discussions that help you discover who your partner is, what they desire, and understand where your similarities and differences lie. While conversations leading up to a marriage are more philosophical in nature, after the wedding you have to add some action to the ideas. Philosophy + Action keeps marriage and life on track.

By Michael J. Searcy

Twenty-five dollars. That was the tiny amount that caused a friend’s daughter to lose the government benefits she was receiving for her special needs.

When you are a parent or caregiver to a child with special needs, navigating the system alone is a challenge. As hard as you try to do everything right, sometimes a small mistake can have lasting repercussions. In this instance, a friend set up an account for her daughter and paid a $25 fee to get the account started. She then transferred $2,000 into the account, the legal limit allowed in her daughter’s case, so they could manage her finances from this account. She was devastated to find out that the $25 had been reported as causing her daughter’s account to exceed her limit and therefore lose her benefits.

By Marc C. Shaffer

Kansas City always has something exciting to offer, but the excitement that has centered around the Kansas City Royals these past few years has made the city even more electric. I had the opportunity to hear Dayton Moore speak during a series called Break the Fast which is produced by Group O’Dell. Break the Fast is a way to get small business owners together to improve their businesses.

Mr. Moore was a great speaker for the group. He talked to us about building a championship culture, and it was great timing because it was just a few months after the Royals had lost the World Series in 2014. As we know now, they ended up winning the World Series the following year, but I thought it was more impactful to hear what they had been doing for years to get to a championship and how they exhibited character even when things didn’t always go their way. What a joy it was to see their hard work pay off the following year!

Financial markets are rarely easy to navigate alone, and when you add in economic factors, complex political and global developments and devastating weather events, it can seem even more challenging.

Experience has taught us that successful investing requires discipline and patience. A long-term investment focus can help when emotions run high. While balancing ongoing changes can seem daunting, a steady course can help buffer you against turbulence and uncertainty.

To help you overcome these challenges, we've compiled a list of common mistakes and guidelines.

The best course in dealing with elder financial abuse is to prevent it. There are a variety of ways you might assist elderly people in addressing their financial lives to reduce the chance of their being financially exploited.