Ed Leach, Partner and Wealth Advisor, is joining the Board of Directors for Passaic County Habitat for Humanity starting this January. By stepping into this volunteer leadership role, Ed will contribute his personal time and energy to advancing Passaic County Habitat’s mission of building homes, communities, and hope.
Holiday Debt Detox: The Ups and Downs of Credit Card Balance Transfers
The holiday season will soon pass, and for many, the joy of gift-giving has been overshadowed by a mounting credit card balance. As bills start rolling in, the temptation to explore a credit card balance transfer becomes increasingly attractive. But is this financial strategy a lifeline or a potential trap?
Ed Leach earns Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) Designation, Enhancing HIGHLAND's Personalized Wealth Management Services for Business Owners
HIGHLAND Financial Advisors is excited to share that Edward Leach, CFP®, MBA, has earned the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) designation through the Exit Planning Institute (EPI). This education and experience strengthen HIGHLAND's ability to provide personalized wealth management to business owners as they navigate the complex planning process for their businesses' eventual transition.
2025 Employer Retirement Plan Contribution Limit Changes
Are You Leaving Your Family Unprotected? Part 2: Disability Insurance
When building a financial plan, many people focus on investments, retirement accounts, and life insurance. However, one crucial component is often overlooked: disability insurance. Your ability to earn an income is your most significant financial asset. Protecting it is as vital as safeguarding your home, car, or retirement savings.
Preparing for Your Performance Review
Year-end review season can be an excellent opportunity for those in the workforce to receive feedback on your job performance and push your career forward. Sometimes, year-end conversations can create anxiety, especially if you plan to negotiate a promotion or pay raise and aren’t quite sure what direction the conversation will take.
Maximizing Your Benefits: A Guide to Open Enrollment Season
As the end of the year approaches, it’s time for one of the most critical financial planning opportunities for employees: open enrollment. Whether you’re re-evaluating your benefits or making selections for the first time, open enrollment is a golden opportunity to make choices that align with your financial goals and needs.
Beyond the Surface: Uncovering the Hidden Causes of Pain in Fitness and Finance
As I approach my thirties, I've noticed that my body doesn't bounce back from workouts as quickly as in my high school and college years. The days of waking up fresh after an intense workout without a second thought are behind me. Now, I realize the importance of adding mobility work and stretching to my weekly routine. Lower back pain and tightness have become recurring issues, mainly due to sitting more throughout the day and most likely lifting too heavy without perfect form.
Essential Financial Planning for Dental Practice Owners: Cash Reserves Explained
In today's video, Certified Financial Planner™ Ed Leach delves into a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of financial planning for dental practice owners: cash reserves. Understanding and managing your cash reserves can significantly impact the stability and growth of your practice and your financial security. This video will answer critical questions about how much you should have in your practice and personal savings accounts, what types of accounts you should use, and how to choose the right banking relationship.
Arnold Schwarzenegger: Bodybuilder, Movie Star, Governor...Financial Planner?
When you think of Arnold Schwarzenegger, visions of his bodybuilding championships, blockbuster movies, and tenure as the governor of California probably come to mind. However, the Austrian-American renaissance man has added another accomplishment to his impressive resume - author. In his book "Be Useful: A Blueprint for Living an Integral Life," Schwarzenegger outlines his philosophy for leading a fulfilling existence by being useful and serving some cause greater than yourself.
Dinner with a Time Traveler
It's January 1, 2018, and you just won the lottery for $5,000,000.
You are sitting in our office, discussing your plans for the money, and you decide it's a good idea to invest the proceeds for the long term.
You decide on a portfolio of 25% US Bonds, 60% US Stocks, and 15% International Stocks.
After feeling pretty good about your lottery winnings and the investment decisions you made, you leave our office and treat yourself to a meal.
Five Key Reasons to Choose a Roth 401(k) Over a Pre-tax 401(k)
The decision between a Roth 401(k) and a Pre-tax 401(k) can significantly impact your financial future. While both accounts offer unique advantages, certain scenarios may make a Roth 401(k) a more attractive option. This article delves into the top five reasons you might consider a Roth 401(k) over its Pre-tax counterpart.
The Dependent Care FSA – An Overlooked Benefit During Open Enrollment Season
Three Questions Answered Regarding your Company's Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
A Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) is a form of compensation that some companies use to reward their employees. RSUs represent a promise to give an employee a certain number of shares of company stock at a future date, typically once certain conditions are met, such as a specified vesting period or performance goals. RSUs are a common form of equity-based compensation used in publicly traded and private companies.
3 Reasons Every High Net-Worth Family Should Fund a Health Savings Account
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are not only a savvy investment option but also offer numerous benefits, especially for high-net-worth families. An HSA is a tax-advantaged savings account designed for individuals with high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) to help cover out-of-pocket medical expenses. While the utility of HSAs is universal, they hold advantages for high-net-worth families and have steadily grown in popularity since their inception.
Travel Medical Insurance: Are You Covered for Foreign Emergencies?
Family Goal Setting: "The Three Questions Every Frantic Family Should Ask." [Book]
![Family Goal Setting: "The Three Questions Every Frantic Family Should Ask." [Book]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59fa0413692ebe1686955d81/1684178293052-4XSI5DX1GS0W6N0F064D/unsplash-image-SIOdjcYotms.jpg)
"The Three Questions Every Frantic Family Should Ask" is a book by Patrick Lencioni, a renowned author, speaker, and consultant on organizational health. The book aims to help families overcome the stress and anxiety of modern-day family life. Lencioni draws from his extensive experience in organizational health to provide practical insights and tools that families can use to build healthier relationships, communicate better, and achieve greater success in their personal and professional lives.
How Banks Work and the Importance of FDIC Insurance
Follow a Disciplined Approach to Investing
“Optimism sounds like a sales pitch. Pessimism sounds like someone trying to help you.” -The Psychology of Money, Morgan House.
I was having dinner with friends in December of 2018, and at the time, the markets were in the middle of a 20% drawdown. While we were out, one of my friends met an acquaintance of his who happened to be a Sales Representative for one of the large Wall Street brokers. I was happy to listen to his perspectives on the markets.
My Sabbatical: The Silence Between the Notes & The Race Everyone Will Lose
My wife, Alyssa, and I have three beautiful daughters, Sydney, age 5, and Peyton and Avery, our 3-year-old twins. A “relaxing” escape would not be in the cards with our three girls. I often joked that this sabbatical might be more about surviving three kids under age five than it would be about “recharging.”