Unfortunately, some of the concerns we deal with every day as financial advisers are identity theft and cybersecurity issues. Have you ever wondered why all new computers come with some sort of trial or free anti-virus software already installed when you buy them? Here’s the answer, a recent tech article I read estimated that it takes less than 2 minutes for a computer that is newly connected to the internet to be exposed to a virus unless they are […]

  There’s a popular advertisement today that says, “What’s in your wallet?” This is our take on that from just a little different viewpoint. I recently assisted an elderly friend during a trip to her bank to take a look at what was in her safety deposit box. The box was virtually crammed full of documents and other items. After inventorying everything and throwing away a ton of old and out of date items I realized that my friend was […]

  Whether you’re already retired, thinking about retiring or retirement is just on your mind, there are specific financial concerns which, if not considered, could undermine the best years of your life. Most folks don’t understand the stress that retirement puts on finances. You work all your life to save, grow and accumulate retirement funds and then the day comes when your paycheck is no more, and your retirement funds must provide enough income to support you for the rest […]

  The government shutdown is over. Government workers have returned to their jobs and back pay should be arriving soon (if it hasn’t already). Things are back to normal… for now. President Donald Trump announced on Friday, January 25th, a deal to reopen the government for three weeks after clashing with congressional Democrats over funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall. An estimated 800,000 federal workers went without pay for 35 days, and an additional 1.2 million contractual workers also didn’t […]

  So… you’ve finally made it to retirement. It’s time to sleep in, relax and enjoy some well- earned quality time. That’s exciting news! Or, perhaps you’re just a few years away, and starting to think more seriously about what your retirement will look like. Whenever we’re working with clients about planning their retirement, whether it’s in a few years or they’ve just retired yesterday, the most common question we always get asked is this… what should I do with […]

  Given a choice, everyone would wish for life to be easy and for success to just fall into their laps. However, my experience, and the life stories I have heard from hundreds of our clients, friends, and business associates has shown that life can be hard. Because SGL is a holistic financial planning firm we will concentrate in this article on “financial” success, but we fully acknowledge that financial success is one small part of having success in life. […]

  Home is where the heart is. And, right now, if your heart is at home in Chicagoland, you may be wondering what will happen to its value, especially if you’re planning to buy or sell in 2019. There are many questions that anyone planning their next real estate move might be considering right now: What will the housing market do in Chicagoland in 2019? What are the forces driving prices up or down? What are the trends? What should […]

  If you have ever attended one of our educational seminars you have probably heard Steve or Gabriel ask you if “your retirement would be the most epic road trip ever?” Although we ask this in a figurative sense, many of our clients want this in the most literal way possible! Hitting the road after retirement, whether by vehicle, plane, train, or cruise ship, is the goal of many people contemplating a work-free future. It’s true that retirement is the […]

  Everyone knows that as we get older it is a good idea to have scheduled, regular physicals and other check-ups with your doctor, dentist, optometrist, etc. But far too many people forget about another checkup that is equally important – a Financial Checkup. Just like things tend to change throughout the year with your health, financial changes seem to happen almost daily and are important to consider for your overall “wellness”. At SGL Financial, we strive to help you […]