Columbia
Smart Column: Considering a reverse mortgage?
By ALEX CHASTAIN A reverse mortgage is a non-recourse loan offered to homeowners which allows the owner to access money from the home’s equity. For many years reverse mortgages have …
Inheriting a Traditional IRA
By G. MICHAEL BAUGHMAN, CFP® Inheriting an IRA can be a substantial windfall if you take the steps to understand the rules to avoid significant taxes and penalties. When you …
Follow the Leader: Luck happens
By ANN ELLIOTT Many entrepreneurs and business owners do not enjoy preparation and planning. After all, it is not glamorous and can be tedious. Often, the advantages only become evident …
Organizing your financial files: What to shred, what to keep
By ANGEL T. MARVIN If this past year’s tax time had you shuffling through old bank statements, canceled checks, credit card statements, and other financial papers, you may have asked …
Applying for insurance… What to expect
By MOLLY THOMAS When you are applying for insurance, education and preparation are key. If you know what to expect, you will be better prepared for the underwriting process. What …
Put worry in its place
By ANN ELLIOTT Worry is a waste of time and mental energy. It steals your creativity and robs your business of solutions. What reasonable person would pay interest in advance …
How to think about lending to friends and family
By SUSAN A. MCCANTS Today’s uncertain economic environment forces many people to look for alternative ways to meet their financial obligations. Stringent credit standards of traditional financial institutions have resulted …
Set ‘em up for Success
By ANN ELLIOTT Puzzled managers wonder why employees fail to accomplish important goals. Dismayed business owners see promising players give lack luster performances. Without realizing it, leaders create barriers to …
Funding your child’s college education
By ABBY DONEVANT The approaching graduation season causes many parents to think about funding their own children’s college education. Tuition costs are increasing each year and funding your child’s college …
Courage finds ways around roadblocks
By ANN ELLIOTT We all experience fear. The hallmarks of fear include turf protection, creating chaos, micromanaging, blaming, and reacting to the crisis de jour. When the culture absorbs and …
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