Money Wisdom & Musings

       The end of September evokes multiple reminders for many of us. It is time to get winter clothes out, make sure the leaf blower is working, trade out hiking boots for ski boots, and start preparing for the end of the year. We form many rituals when the seasons change, and I propose adding one more to the list, year-end tax planning. This is not as fun as prepping for the holidays and Winter adventures, but it should help reduce mistakes, minimize panic in the last week of the year, and avoid regrets when you file your tax return the following year.

As a proud Certified B Corporation® since 2019, Cornerstone Financial Planning is honored to be selected as one of B Lab’s 2022 Best for the World companies.

Service within our communities is something we value greatly at Cornerstone. Not only do our employees receive paid time to volunteer for the organizations of their choosing, we also participate in a company-wide group volunteer day annually.

I remember being twelve years old and hearing the dreaded announcement that a family meeting had been scheduled for Sunday night. The topic usually had to do with scheduling, summer plans, or random house rules but it always felt like a chore. Now as an adult, I can see the importance of family meetings. They can be a great way to keep lines of communication open and ensure everyone is on the same page.

An article published in Investment Advisors Spring 2022 issue peaked interest here at Cornerstone, as it focuses on the correlation of women and their increased interest in environmental, social, and governance focused investment strategies. Interest in sustainable or ESG investments has been growing over the years for many reasons such as: supporting important issues like climate change or diversity, best employee practices, and most popularly, investors just wanting to align investments with personal values.

As part of our B Corporation™ status, Cornerstone is committed to considering our environmental footprint and how we can improve business and operational practices to positively impact the planet. Earth Day, celebrated on April 22^nd annually, serves as a great reminder that we are all responsible for caring for our planet (and not just on Earth Day!)

March is ‘B Corp™ Month,’ which means that Certified B Corporations™ across the globe are taking this month to celebrate the over 4,600 B Corps™ around the world. Cornerstone Financial Planning, a Certified B Corporation™ since 2019, is excited to build awareness of the B Corp™ mission and share how being a Certified B Corporation™ reflects and builds upon our company values.

The unthinkable day has arrived for football fans – Tom Brady is retiring. (Will football ever be as much fun to watch?) It’s likely that he’s set monetarily for life (after all, his net worth including wife Giselle Bündchen is $650 million according to HITC.com). But is Tom really prepared for retirement?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how dis-United we have become in America. By many means, it seems anger, hatred, and impatience have trammeled their way into our society and culture. I long for the days following 911 when everyone was caring, compassionate, and focused on us as one nation. Older folks, no doubt, recall a similar sentiment from the Roosevelt administration and World War II.