Bleakley Financial Group - Houston

When families get together during the summer months, it's a wonderful chance to spend quality time reconnecting and discussing important matters, including your financial future. One valuable tool we suggest to our clients is the "family meeting." What is a family meeting? - Clients invite family members to join us for a high-level overview of their financial strategy. - As financial professionals, we can help answer questions about investment approaches, key goals, estate decisions, and more. - We can provide information so that everyone knows where important documents are kept and that we're here to support them. Sometimes, family members are ready to start a relationship with a financial professional or ask for an evaluation of their existing financial strategy. Others just appreciate knowing that their parents' or grandparents' assets are being taken care of and meeting the professionals with whom they have entrusted the management of their personal finances. As your family gathers this summer, consider the benefits of bringing everyone together for a financial family meeting. #FamilyMeeting #FinancialTransparency #EstateManagement #FinancialGoals

A 2024 survey by Caring.com revealed that only 32% of Americans have a will as part of their estate strategies. Many put it off, thinking it’s too early or they don’t have enough money to need one. Estate management can be complex. So, it can be helpful to consider your estate strategy as an ongoing process. We’ve seen many families negatively impacted by common preparation mistakes. Here are just a few: 1️) Overlooking the benefits (and limitations) of a Financial Power of Attorney or Advance Health Care Directive 2️) Not providing details on how to access digital tools 3️) Not accounting for non-financial assets such as heirlooms, pets, etc. 4️) Not periodically reviewing your estate strategy 5️) Not preparing for the expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) at the end of 2025. Even if there are no changes to your situation, you may want to meet periodically with your estate team to discuss whether your estate strategy reflects current best practices in estate management. #EstateManagement #LegacyStrategy #PersonalFinance #WealthTransfer

🍪🍦🍰 Houston is a dessert haven, with delectable spots at every turn. Let’s explore some of the best desserts in the city: https://hubs.ly/Q02FVWGc0 #HoustonTX

If you are a sandwich generation caregiver or think you may become one in the future, your financial plan should reflect this life-changing event. #SandwichGeneration

🗣 First, the good news: according to the latest Retirement Confidence Survey, most pre-retirees (68%) and retirees (74%) are optimistic about financing a comfortable retirement! 🚧 Inflation remains a top concern, with 83% of surveyed pre-retirees worried that rising costs will make it harder to save as much as they'd like. For many, there’s still a gap between the nest egg they want ($1.5M+) and what they have saved. 🤔 So what does this mean? Inflation may weigh on savings efforts, but most surveyed pre-retirees are feeling good about their retirement choices and their future! #Retirement #RetirementConfidence #Inflation #savings #surveysays

The Risk of Playing It Too Safe With Your Investments 📈 “Safe” investments can be tempting but may mean foregoing better returns over time

In a 2024 National Institute of Retirement Security survey of working-age Americans, 79% agree that the nation faces a retirement savings crisis, up from 67% in 2020. And more than half of Americans (55%) are concerned about their financial security in retirement. Gen Z, the youngest adults in America, thinks they have a potential solution. Have you heard about the FIRE 🔥 movement? The FIRE philosophy (Financial Investment, Retire Early) urges workers to save up to 70% of their income for early retirement. According to a survey by Credit Karma, more than 50% of Generation Z say they are part of the FIRE movement. However, the problem is that 76% of Gen Z have no company-sponsored retirement plan, and nearly 60% lack a savings account. So, the data would suggest that the vast majority of people lack the tools needed to pursue the early retirement dream. When was the last time you assessed your retirement strategy? Let us know if you’d like to review your approach to see if you’re on track to pursue your retirement goals. #GenZ #FIREmovement #RetirementStrategy #FinancialLiteracy #InvestInYourFuture

With the uptick in do-it-yourself (DIY) investing, more people than ever are trying their hand at managing a portfolio. This can be risky, and individual investors find themselves attempting to manage several potential missteps. Here are the 4 biggest missteps DIY investors often make: 1. Letting Their Ego Interfere: Ego can lead traders to overvalue their own ideas, abilities, and knowledge about the financial market. Ego can lead to poor decision-making, especially in pressure-filled situations. 2. Making Emotion-Based Decisions: Managing your emotions is one of the most challenging aspects of investing. DIY investors often look for a person to ask, “What do you think?” 3. Portfolio Concentration: DIY investors inadvertently find their portfolios concentrated in a few assets, which may not align with their goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. 4. Failing to Use Portfolio Management Tools. Modern portfolio management tools can help guide the process of managing money. However, some DIY investors don't understand them or how to use them properly. DIY investing works for some, but it can be challenging, and individuals may find themselves in complicated situations and searching for answers. A financial professional may be able to offer a second opinion. #DIYInvesting #InvestingMistakes #FinancialStrategy

Happy Independence Day! Hoping you and your family and friends have a wonderful long weekend! And while you’re celebrating, don’t forget to think about our freedom, what freedom means to us, and how we can work together to uphold those ideals in our own communities. Whether you're hosting a backyard barbecue, watching a parade, or simply enjoying the day with loved ones, remember the courage and determination of those who fought for our independence. Here’s to the land of the free and the home of the brave! 🎇 #IndependenceDay #4thOfJuly #Freedom #Unity #ProudToBeAmerican

Freedom shines bright on Independence Day!