2016 - Page 2 of 2 - The Art of Thinking SMART

Want To Retire With $1 Million? Here’s How Much You Should Already Have Saved

March 1, 2016
David S. Chang

The number one financial goal most people have is to build (and spend!) their retirement account. If you wanted to retire with $1 million in the bank by age 65, do you know how much you need to have saved? This chart below shows how much you need to have already saved by a certain age, assuming a […]

SMART Insurance Basics – Why You Need Insurance and What Types to Get

February 15, 2016
David S. Chang

Benjamin Franklin once said “Certainty? In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.” Life is full of risks. It is one thing that is certain in life. Although one cannot control death, one can control how to protect loved ones through life insurance. Here are some insurance basics to help you navigate through the maze! […]

February 12, 2016
David S. Chang

For those looking to move into the field of paraplanning or to start off their career in financial services, then we have some great tips for you in our article below. When it comes to getting your foot in the door of financial services, one of the smartest things you can do is start off […]

February 12, 2016
David S. Chang

When it comes to your investments in commercial property, you should always be as calculated and profit/return-focused as possible. You didn’t invest or haven’t planned on investing in a commercial property to make losses after all, and so being smart about your contracts and movements in commercial property is essential. We know that the world […]

Three Ways to Lose Your Money in the Stock Market

February 11, 2016
David S. Chang

There is no doubt that despite the ups and downs of the stock market, it is one of the best way to build wealth over the long-term. Fidelity recently conducted a study as to which accounts had performed the best. What they found interestingly, was that they were dead or had forgotten they had an […]

February 3, 2016
David S. Chang

During extreme periods for the market, investors often make decisions that undermine their ability to build long-term wealth. Especially in light of the recent market ups and downs, it can be very valuable to look back in history and study the timeless principles that have guided some of the greatest investors through both good and […]

Should You Pay Your Mortgage Down? 5 Reasons Why You May Not Want To

January 19, 2016
David S. Chang

Not many enjoy having a large mortgage looming over their heads and racking up interest for up to 30 years. As a result many with extra cash look to pay off their mortgage as soon as possible. However paying your mortgage off early may not always be the best decision. There are two types of debt, […]

Should You Use Mobile Payments?

January 12, 2016
David S. Chang

Shopping isn’t what it used to be. For the first time this past Holiday Season, more people shopped online than in stores. People spent close to $5 billion dollars during this past Thanksgiving and Black Friday online, rising 14% from a year ago. Another trend is the use of mobile payments, using your smartphone to […]

Three Stock Market Lessons to Learn for Next Year

January 4, 2016
David S. Chang

The performance of the S&P500 was relatively flat this year, however there was enough drama behind the scenes to provide some valuable lessons for us all. Here are three stock market lessons that can come in handy as we look at the market for 2016! Click here for more tips on SMART Investing and what you can […]