2014 - Page 6 of 13 - The Art of Thinking SMART

Free Financial Plan Samples and Templates

July 10, 2014
David S. Chang

When people think of a financial plan, many people assume it is setting up a budget, saving for retirement, and looking for good investment products. However a financial plan goes much deeper than that. If properly done and updated regularly, it could make the difference between financial independence and financial dependence. Here are examples of […]

July 7, 2014
David S. Chang

Part of thinking smart in life is learning to communicate and write properly. Applying for a job or school, pitching ideas, communicating to customers and coworkers or marketing through social media can be thrown off with minor mistakes. Hiring companies state that spelling or writing mistakes on resumes are one of the top reasons they […]

July 5, 2014
David S. Chang

401(k)A 401(k) plan is an employer sponsored retirement savings plan. 401(k)s are largely self-directed: You decide how much you would like to contribute, and which investments from among those offered by the plan you would like to invest in. Traditional 401(k)s are funded with money deducted from your pre-tax salary. Your earnings are tax deferred […]

July 5, 2014
David S. Chang

Getting Ready for Retirement When you retire, you have more control over your time, and finally have enough leisure to do what you want. While taking control of your time may not require a lot of advance planning, taking control of your retirement finances does. You need income you can count on, year in and […]

July 5, 2014
David S. Chang

401(k) retirement plans can make the difference between a financially secure retirement and the specter of running out of money. These plans offer tax benefits and the opportunity for your savings to compound over time. So it’s important to understand every aspect of how your 401(k) plan works, whether you’re just getting started or you’re […]

July 5, 2014
David S. Chang

What is a Fixed-Index Annuity? An annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company in which the company promises to make periodic payments to you, starting immediately or at some future time. If the payments are delayed to the future, you have a deferred annuity. If the payments start immediately, you have an immediate annuity. […]

July 5, 2014
David S. Chang

Choosing investments is just the beginning of your work as an investor. As time goes by, you’ll need to monitor and track the performance of these investments to see how they are working together in your portfolio to help you progress toward your goals. Generally speaking, progress means that your portfolio value is steadily increasing, […]

July 5, 2014
David S. Chang

When it comes to shopping for SMART for financial products—such as credit cards, auto loans or mortgages—most Americans either do not comparison shop or conduct only limited searches for the best prices or terms. For example, according to the FINRA Investor Education Foundation’s National Survey, nearly two-thirds of all credit card holders reported that they did not […]

July 5, 2014
David S. Chang

Like every investor, you want to choose investments that will provide the growth and income you need to meet your financial goals. To do that, it’s important to understand yourself as an investor. That’s because a portfolio that’s right for someone else may not be best for you. Here are factors on How to Build a […]

July 5, 2014
David S. Chang

Choosing a financial professional-whether a stockbroker, a financial planner, or an investment adviser-is an important decision. Consider the tips below as you make your choice. Also the third page of this document has a list of questions you can ask a financial professional whose services you are considering. Tip 1. Do your homework and ask […]