Real Life

  • Donna Skeels Cygan

Close out 2020 by simplifying, giving
Close out 2020 by simplifying, giving 1772 916 Donna Skeels Cygan

Many of us will be eager to see 2020 come to an end. The COVID-19 pandemic has killed over 275,000 Americans. Many families are grief-stricken. Many businesses have shut down,…

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  • Donna Skeels Cygan

Take control of retirement health-care costs
Take control of retirement health-care costs 1674 1138 Donna Skeels Cygan

As a financial planner I am often asked how to estimate what health-care costs will be in retirement. Also, some of my clients want to retire before becoming eligible for…

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  • Donna Skeels Cygan

Take time now to prepare for the worst
Take time now to prepare for the worst 1922 1162 Donna Skeels Cygan

Watching the devastation caused by fires in California, Oregon and Washington state in recent weeks has been heartbreaking. The nightly news shows us the anguished faces of people whose homes…

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  • Donna Skeels Cygan

Talk to kids about jobs, money, experiences
Talk to kids about jobs, money, experiences 1296 1020 Donna Skeels Cygan

You can have a positive impact on your child or grandchild by becoming a financial role model. This does not require that you are wealthy or a successful investor. It…

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  • Donna Skeels Cygan

Nearly anyone can benefit from Roth IRAs
Nearly anyone can benefit from Roth IRAs 900 758 Donna Skeels Cygan

Roth IRAs are a powerful tool in an investor’s toolbox. Created in 1998, Roth IRAs are now over 20 years old. Fortunately, many employers started offering Roth 401(k)s and Roth…

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  • Donna Skeels Cygan

Course correction
Course correction 1000 750 Donna Skeels Cygan
We’re heading into summertime, which usually includes visions of days when the livin’ is easy. Yet the stock market may have other plans. It often mimics a roller coaster, with many peaks and dips. It can upset our lazy summer days and cause investors to be fearful. We would all like the stock market to [...]read more
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

Start now to save money on future taxes
Start now to save money on future taxes 900 600 Donna Skeels Cygan
Benjamin Franklin had it right when he wrote in 1789 that “nothing is certain except death and taxes.” However, just because taxes are inevitable does not mean that we cannot manage them wisely. The Tax Cut and Jobs Act that took effect on Jan. 1, 2018, was a gift to large corporations – reducing the [...]read more
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

Staying calm when the market is not
Staying calm when the market is not 2560 1706 Donna Skeels Cygan
Some say the U.S. stock market will be strong in 2019 while others say we are heading for a recession. No one knows for sure. Economist Paul Samuelson famously said, “The stock market has forecast nine of the last five recessions.” The stock market was far more volatile than investors would like during October through [...]read more
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

Family stories
Family stories 900 600 Donna Skeels Cygan
Thanksgiving is a time when families get together for a special meal. Often, several generations eat together. The meal is delicious, and we tend to overeat. I encourage you to focus on starting an important conversation this Thanksgiving with your kids or grandkids. The objective is to pass down family stories from past generations, discuss [...]read more
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

Prepare now for the next financial crisis
Prepare now for the next financial crisis 541 363 Donna Skeels Cygan
September marked the 10-year anniversary of the huge nosedive on Wall Street in the 2008 financial crisis. Last month’s article discussed what led to the 2008 crisis, and this month’s article encourages you to prepare for the next financial crisis. Another financial crisis is inevitable, although we do not know when it will occur or [...]read more

© 2024 Donna Skeels Cygan, CFP®, MBA, Author of The Joy of Financial Security and Becoming Enriched.

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