https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:48:48 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question/page/2#post-1621670 Thu, 08 May 2014 14:07:12 +0000 cmomma17 1621670@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: haha, that's a good way of putting it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1621668 Thu, 08 May 2014 14:05:47 +0000 BSB 1621668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cmomma17: Yup, I have no idea if I'm behind or very behind. I know I'm not ahead. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1621665 Thu, 08 May 2014 14:04:49 +0000 dagret 1621665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sheskrafty: where are you in PA? Mine is south-central PA. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1621541 Thu, 08 May 2014 13:20:33 +0000 cmomma17 1621541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: good thread to bump, this same question (the OP) is always on my mind. I also have no clue how "good" our retirement savings are (probably "not good enough!") </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1621521 Thu, 08 May 2014 13:15:25 +0000 BSB 1621521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bumping this old thread. Good question! Thanks for asking! </p> <p>Wondering if I find and talk to a financial adviser to make sure my retirement plan is somewhat in order. Just got out of a 401k meeting at my work and thinking about if I should make some changes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1189348 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 22:09:55 +0000 Periwinkle 1189348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You ladies are amazing. That is all. </p> <p>:)</p> <p>You've given me so much to think about and I am truly<br /> grateful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188875 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 17:06:37 +0000 MamaMoose 1188875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I send 'em to you as often as I can ; ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188770 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 16:10:29 +0000 looch 1188770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: sing it sister! I make loans to wealthy people for a living! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188750 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:59:10 +0000 PurplePumps 1188750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: oh ok! Yes, if you put it that way, it makes complete sense. I do have an adviser that helps out with my investments and have talked to a CFP in his office and he did a great projection of our retirement accounts and stuff. I was just thinking more in terms of budgeting which is what I thought the OP was asking about. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188658 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:23:24 +0000 Mae 1188658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely ask around to see if you know of anyone who would recommend their financial planner! </p> <p>Also I don't agree with the advice that you want to absolutely avoid commission-based planners. First, fee-based planners may be out of your budget at the moment. Second, I think that they DO have an incentive to do right by you so that you make money and recommend them to friends and family. Obviously there has to be a level of trust there, but if you find a good planner I don't think that being commission-based is reason to not go with them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188646 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:15:32 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1188646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: I used mint to help my sister set up a budget. It's free and works really well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188640 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:11:25 +0000 Pirouette 1188640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: TOTALLY agree that becoming debt free is not always good financial advice! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188636 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:09:01 +0000 Pirouette 1188636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Periwinkle: I just wanted to mention, i've never used YNAB, but i use mint.com and it is SO easy and useful. we use our debit cards for everything and all of our debit and credit cards import seamlessly. I just detected fraud on my credit card because mint imported the transaction even before my bank did! also, it's completely free. it has budgeting tools and savings devices as well.</p> <p>we've been looking for a financial planner (for other reasons) for a while, so i'm no help on that end, sorry! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188631 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:04:43 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1188631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: thank you for saying what I wanted to say. I don't get the hype about Dave Ramsey. I don't agree with his approach and think its oversimplified in a way that isn't helpful. You and I are on exactly the same page about making our money work for us. My highest interest rate is 3.1%. Even my savings account makes 4%... So I'm in no hurry to pay down my mortgage or student loans :)</p> <p>@Periwinkle: Does your work provide low or no-cost financial advising? Ours has an advisor come in every 6 months. We don't use them that often, but we do meet with them about once a year. They are able to do a detailed analysis of our expenses and income and project what we'll have for retirement, what our monthly bottom line should be. The rest we do on our own. They just provide the detailed long range planning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188629 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:04:00 +0000 MamaMoose 1188629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@TemperanceBrennan: I'll wall you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188625 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:02:28 +0000 mrsmate 1188625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrswin: I agree that manually entering transactions is an important part of the program!</p> <p>I once read an article about Warren Buffet. He was bothered bc he couldn't remember how he had spent $6. SIX DOLLARS! If Warren Buffet thinks it's important to keep track of your spending, who am I to argue? :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188622 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:01:48 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 1188622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: We have looked into getting a financial planner, but it is out of our budget for now. We think we have a pretty good handle on our finances, but want the advice of an expert. Do you think this is something we make a priority now, or wait until we can work it into the budget? The cheapest we have found is $600 for two hours for very general/high level stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188618 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:58:31 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 1188618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: Yep. One time fee. When they do upgrades, they will send you a code to download it. If there is ever a huge overall, they will let you keep the current version or upgrade to the new software at a discounted price. </p> <p>You can do a trial for 28 days and then buy the access code if you want to try it. </p> <p>I have their blog in my reader and they usually have good tips.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188615 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:57:48 +0000 MamaMoose 1188615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: I'm biased as I do this for a living but a financial planner will have tools available to them that are much more sophisticated than a budgeting app. Yes, you can probably figure out how much extra you have, but if you aren't experienced how do you know what to do with that extra. How do you invest it? What can you expect that investment to look like at retirement. Can you retire when you want to if you continue doing things the way you're doing them? Financial planning has so many aspects its hard to understand them all without the help of an expert. I highly suggested working with a Certified Financial Planner.</p> <p>I will say, from what I know of him I definitely don't agree with Dave Ramsey's methods. Successful, wealthy people borrow money. The idea that being debt free is the number one goal is often not correct. All the debt I have (mortgage, student loans, car loans) is no higher than a 4% interest rate. Meanwhile, my investment account is up 18% year to date. Allocating more money o paying down our debt makes no sense. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188596 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:48:02 +0000 plantains 1188596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, you should take a look at the Bogleheads forums. Tons of useful info on personal finance, investments etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188591 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:45:53 +0000 MrsBrewer 1188591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@TemperanceBrennan: Is it just a one time fee? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188590 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:45:48 +0000 mrswin 1188590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: I am a huge advocate of YNAB! Provided you commit to the program you will get your $60 investment back in a hurry. The have a ton of free classes to teach you how to use the software too which is invaluable.</p> <p>@Periwinkle: I know it is easier to import your statements but part of the point of manually entering the transactions is awareness and active budget management not just a retrospective look at the month </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188588 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:45:07 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 1188588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: It is for us. You can sign up for free classes and the raffle off a free copy at the end. I have also seen them run sales. We paid the full amount, $60 - but that's way cheaper than a financial planner (in our area, the cheapest is $300/hour). </p> <p>I REALLY like the philosophy and the computer software is integrated with the app really well. We've been using it for four months and it has helped us a lot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188582 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:39:36 +0000 PurplePumps 1188582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you do any expense tracking on your own, I don't understand what a financial adviser can tell you that you cannot determine on your own. You know your income, you know your basic minimum living expenses and can determine your left over. From there, you can decide how to save or spend your money based on your own goals. What kind of insight would a planner give? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188552 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:29:16 +0000 sheskrafty 1188552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: I'd love a PA financial planner recommendation!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188538 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:24:30 +0000 MrsBrewer 1188538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Is YNAB worth the cost? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188520 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:16:11 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1188520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would HIgHLY recommend taking dave ramseys financial peace university class and then finding one of his recommended advisors. He has a very common sense approach and encourages folks to never do any investing that they dont understand first. All of his endorsed advisors have the goal to teach about investments, not just sell them. We have been through the class twice and it changed my life and has set up our marriage to be successful ( we went through it as an engaged couple). It is so totally worth it. We now use one of his financial advisors too and have been really pleased. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188472 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:00:23 +0000 NorCalWayfarer 1188472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following -- we need to find one as well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188413 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 13:40:30 +0000 Periwinkle 1188413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Hmmm... I am thinking I might have known that but perhaps forgot about that feature! Thanks :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/financial-planning-question#post-1188353 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 13:27:32 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1188353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Periwinkle: You can import to YNAB! </p>