More often than not, financial conversations tend to be a challenge. After all, money has been proven to be a significant stressor on marriage and familial relationships. Nearly half of all marriages end in divorce, and one of the two biggest reasons is that darn green stuff. And when we’re young, the majority of us are taught that talking about money is taboo. How many of you remember your parents telling you not to talk money or politics at the dinner table? Yes, we see those hands out there. The problem is, talking money is one of the most critical conversations you can have with your significant other. You can’t just sweep a spending or saving problem under the rug. That will just cause more issues. If you bring two different viewpoints to the table, that’s okay. You need to hash things out, but we get it. Money is tricky, so we’re here to help. In a new episode of A Place of Possibility™, we are thrilled to welcome guest Andy Bryce to the show. Andy is a therapist with more than 30 years of experience helping couples and families with their relationships. Over the years, Andy has helped us break down challenging financial conversation barriers with our clients. In this episode, we’re discussing some of the psychology behind certain financial perspectives and how to approach money discussions with your significant other effectively. We will discuss: Why a person’s background is a major obstacle Spouse expectations and how they impact the conversation The role of power and powerlessness Vulnerability Tactics to avoid conflict And more! The time is now, folks. If you’ve been putting off these types of conversations, find a quiet spot, grab your partner, and press play. It’s not too late to get started and find a solution. We hope that you will be able to turn this discussion into a bonding moment for your relationship rather than a breaking point.

The holidays are coming to an end, and tax season is just around the corner. That means there are documents to gather, figures to add up and accounts to get in order. This can be an overwhelming task for even the most prepared individual, but it's so important to help you save some big money and end 2021 strong. We know, it's a lot easier said than done, so if you are one of many dreading this time of year, team DMG has your back. In this new episode of A Place of Possibility, Richard and Angela cover everything you need to know and should include in your year-end financial checklist, including: Why you may want to avoid having money in regular IRA accounts Maximizing your retirement contributions How to save through charitable contributions Organizing your portfolio Making sure you don't unknowingly increase your Medicare premiums in 2023 Tax-loss harvesting Taxable gains harvesting And more! Our goal is always to ensure that your money works for you. And we hate to say it, but time is running out. So, if it's been a while since you've had a good look at your finances, now is the time. With our year-end checklist, we will help you get the most out of your money and save big time. The New Year is almost here. Press play today!

If you’re thinking about purchasing a home or refinancing, chances are you’ve got a ton of information flying at you. And with that, you probably have many questions, like: What’s the current mortgage rate? What type of loan is the best deal for me? What exactly do I need to know about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Does the Fed actually have an impact on rates? And the list goes on. Trying to keep up with the ever-evolving mortgage market can be a job, literally. Surprisingly, people tend to have more opportunities than they realize. In a new episode of A Place of Possibility, Richard and Angela are joined by Senior Loan Officer, Erin Ekstrum, of Wymac Capital, Inc.   With over 20 years of experience, it’s safe to say Erin has seen it all, and we’re excited to have her discuss the ins and outs of mortgages, along with some tips on how to better leverage a mortgage. In this episode we will cover:   The different types of loans  New loan limits for 2022 Pre-approval insights for first-time buyers  The current state of the mortgage and home buying markets   Why you should really take advantage of the current low rates NOW And more!   Our goal is to help you get closer to mortgages, the market, and the processes that go along with this financial tool. We want to help you protect and make the most of your greatest real estate assets. So, we invite you to download a copy of our guide below, find a cozy spot, and press play. 

A couple of typical questions we always get is, “what are other people doing, what’s going on with your other clients?” Or “what can I be doing better? Is this not a smart direction to go?” Which is valid because there’s always a learning opportunity to be had, right? Intelligent people know that they need to handle the big financial decisions head-on with a proven strategy for the best results. But it’s those things that you don’t know that will creep up and get you. And believe us when we say there are many things dealing with finance that people just don’t understand without the proper guidance. In this episode of A Place of Possibility, we’re sharing stories of the smart strategies and the lessons learned from clients who have come to us for help. We will cover: Smart ways to save on taxes Income diversification Ponzi Schemes The importance of advanced planning And more! No matter where you are in your financial journey, there is a best practice to be had. We hope this episode will give you a little taste of what’s really happening out there. If you’ve been wondering about some of the moves you’re making or just want to get ahead, this is the perfect episode for you. Don’t forget to download a copy of our guide and press play for all the juicy details.

As we all know, asset allocation is the implementation of investing in different types of assets like stocks, bonds, cash, etc. It is a strategy that balances risk and reward, but it is primarily based on you, the investor. Before you even think about asset allocation, you should really have your financial goals and a timeline figured out, so you know what you’re growing your money for and how you want your investments to work for you. There are a lot of factors that go into this fundamental investment strategy, and in this episode, we’re going to touch on them all. We will cover: How to get started in asset allocation What types of investment options are available? Review how risky each type of investment is and why you’d want to invest, or not, Diversification Inflation Tips to change your views on investing How much to put in each asset class? Why should you rebalance your portfolio? And more! Asset allocation can be a challenging subject for many people because they just want to protect their money. And it truly can require a shift in mindset. Our goal is to help you get and stay on the right path so you can smoothly grow and enjoy your wealth. So, if you’re struggling with a riskier allocation, find yourself trying to time the markets, or just want a refresher to make sure you’re on the right track, then join us.

For the most part, everyone’s heard about Medicare, right? The problem is that many people don’t understand exactly what it is or how it works, which is crazy because everyone who turns 65 signs up for it. You would think that because it’s a government program, for virtually everyone, they would make it clear and easy to understand, but hey, we’re talking about the government here, so it comes as no surprise that it’s about as clear as mud. This year, in 2021, the Medicare enrollment period is from October 15th through December 7th, so we’re in the thick of things at this point in time. If you’re facing this decision, we want you to be prepared. In this episode, we are going to go through the nuts and bolts of Medicare, including: The history of Medicare How you qualify for Medicare An in-depth breakdown of Parts A, B, C, and D What Medigap coverage is Why you DON’T want to miss your enrollment period And more! Choosing Medicare coverage is a big decision. One that can have many pitfalls where you may miss out on getting the correct type of coverage for your needs. Our goal is to help you get on the right path from the very beginning. So, we encourage you to grab a copy of the “Know Your Possibilities Guide,” listen in, and share this episode with anyone approaching 65.

Annuities sound great, right? Who doesn’t want a guaranteed income stream for the rest of their life? Yes, that may sound great, but these insurance contracts actually come with A LOT of warnings. Many people don’t understand them with all the confusing terminology and dozens of pages to go through. It’s no wonder issues arise—who’s going to read between the lines when what they think they see are dollar signs? If you’re thinking about buying one, or even if you already have one, this episode is for you. We’re diving into a discussion on annuities and covering everything you should know, which includes: What an annuity is. How they work. Why they exist. The types of annuities available. The pros and cons. Special considerations. What you should do if you already have one. And more! Sure, annuities might make sense in your financial landscape and retirement plan. They might even offer you some benefits, but we’re here to make sure you do not just see smoke and mirrors. Our goal is to ensure you keep, grow, and enjoy your wealth. So, download your free copy of the Know Your Possibilities guide below and get to taking notes. We’re sharing stories, insights, and solutions to help you make the most of your retirement.

When it comes to financial planning, we always start with the goal in mind. What do we want to do, where do you want to go in life, etc., and then we apply capital to achieve that goal. We have many clients who talk about setting goals for higher net worth, and that’s a great goal to have. We make that happen. However, in the end, we find that clients aren’t fulfilled. You may be thinking, “but, if we’re not doing something productive with our money, what’s the point,” right? Wrong! Your most cherished memories aren’t, “oh hey, I made a million dollars,” they are family vacations or giving back to others–investing in yourself and those around you. If you cherish values of connectedness, adventure, or whatever that may be, why aren’t you investing in that?  In this new episode of A Place of Possibility, we’re diving into discussion on aligning money and values. This includes:   How to recognize your values  What true money/values alignment might look like  Why you should invest in the darned vacation   How to get back on track if your actions aren’t aligned with your behavior  If family time or vacations aren’t your thing, how else can you integrate your values and financial decisions    And more!   It’s time to stop struggling and start enjoying the wealth you have, regardless of how much you have. Start thinking about your most cherished moments in life, and let’s take a look at if you’re investing in even more of those moments now. So join us, grab your headphones, and press play. 

Ah, inflation, the age-old monster in the money closet. It also happens to be a HOT topic of conversation these days. But right off the bat, we’re going to say, word to the wise, dial your panic down. Sure, there has been lots of press about it this year, but it’s also been a very different year than we’re used to. The COVID-19 situation has definitely impacted our economy, without a doubt, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to see the inflation rate skyrocket. There is a lot more to it. And we want you to have a clear understanding and knowledgeable insights, so you and your loved ones don’t have to worry. So, in today’s episode, we will talk about EVERYTHING. This includes: The history of inflation What causes it How it’s managed What stops it Hyper-inflation Interest rates What to expect next And more! Looking for that sense of calm to return? We think the insights in this episode will help deliver it, so grab your headphones, download our Checklist, find a quiet corner, and listen in.

Being a small business owner, working for a small business owner, or even being self-employed certainly has its perks, but there is also more of a thought process behind benefits like medical coverage, for instance, or more specifically, in our case, retirement plans.   In fact, when it comes to small businesses, putting money away for retirement is even more crucial because you don’t have access to your typical 401k plans. You’re pretty much on your own. The good news? There are quite a few options to explore. Some are wonderful and others, eh, not the greatest, but that’s what we’re here for. In today’s episode, we will discuss all the options out there, ranging from the simplest to the most complex plans.