Each year many people set lofty financial goals, only to realize shortly thereafter that they are not realistic. The positive news is that the solution resides in applying the same skills many people have already mastered in their career to their financial life. Here are some of the things you can do to stay on target.

As the year comes to a close and work starts to wind down, there tends to be some down time when people aren’t working or traveling, which is a great time to address outstanding financial planning tasks. While tax returns don’t have to be filed until April 15th, and financial documents arrive after year end, here are a number of important topics to consider before the new year.

As we’ve previously discussed, when a firm is acquired, it’s natural for two key topics to immediately come to mind: first, the potential threat of job loss and lack of visibility, and second, the monetization of stock-based compensation. While there isn’t much that can be done about the former, there is a lot at stake financially regarding the latter, and that’s where Paceline can help.

The US stock market has been ticking up, up, up. But when it pertains to the economy nothing good can go on indefinitely. Think of it like a baseball game…one that goes into extra innings and, unlike other sports, is not time-limited. Keep reading to learn about the competing priorities of remaining invested (capturing the “upside”) while staying prepared for a recession (avoiding the “downside”).

M&A events can bring both excitement and uncertainty for employees. During transition time, it’s natural to think about what this means for you professionally – in terms of how your role may change – and financially – especially if you have stock-based compensation.  Here’s how to stay focused on what matters most.

Getting started managing your money doesn’t have to be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve unpacked five key tips for managing your money and setting yourself on the path to financial success.

As we’ve discussed in part 1 and part 2 of our marriage and finance series, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to finances in any relationship. In this article, we’ll discuss three common approaches to merging (or not) your assets.

Over the last week, there has been news coverage of an “inverted yield curve” and how this situation has preceded every US recession since 1967 (along with a few instances where one did not materialize). When a recession did follow, on average it arrived 14 months later. An inverted yield curve can be seen as a flashing yellow light – something important worth noting, but not something that on its own indicates a recession is certain.

If you’ve read part 1 in this series, then you already know that the most important thing to do before merging finances with your partner is to have an open and honest discussion about your income, spending habits, outstanding debt, etc. Once you’ve done that comes the next stage – deciding whether merging your finances is the right decision for you as a couple. Here are a number of items you’ll want to cover.

It’s no secret: stock-markets recently reached all-time highs, and we are in the midst of the longest economic expansion in US history. This is a very, very long expansion, which by many measures has outlasted historical norms. It’s important to remember that what may have worked well for the last decade is only one segment of a viable investment strategy.

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve been together for 3 years or 30 years – money can be an emotional and stressful topic in a relationship. In this three-part series, we’ll explore the various dimensions you’ll want to consider as you make decisions about structuring your finances approaching/during marriage.

Making the decision about when (or if) to hire a professional financial advisor can feel like a big one, and it may feel unfamiliar and potentially uncomfortable if you’ve been relatively successful in doing so on your own. Working with an advisor can (and should) be about thoughtfully crafting a financial plan and implementing a tailored investment strategy, not a way to outsource what you’re currently doing.

As with most big decisions in life, there is seldom a “perfect time” to start planning for your financial future. Maybe you feel you still don’t have enough saved up yet, maybe you’re focused on other life goals like having kids or buying a house, or maybe you’re just too overwhelmed by a job search to think about finances. All of these are common reasons people put off engaging a financial advisor, but here’s why getting started is a lot easier than you might think (and shouldn’t wait).

Finding the right investment advisor can be a tall order. After all, it can take a lot of questions, a fair amount of due diligence, and a little bit of faith to feel ready to trust someone with your nest egg. That’s why some people think working with a robo-advisor, a computer algorithm that makes investment recommendations, may be the answer. Here’s why personalized advice and service make all the difference.

Contributing to a 401(k) can be a valuable part of a retirement savings plan, and like other tax-advantaged savings vehicles there are limits. Here are some important points to note so you can maximize the benefits of your employer plan, without being penalized for doing too much of a good thing.

You’ve worked hard for your money, but how do you know if it’s working hard for you? Getting from here to there when it comes to your investment strategy can be a challenge to manage on top of your day-to-day responsibilities. If the prospect of planning for retirement or managing your investments seems daunting or unmanageable, then it might be time to let an expert help. Here, we’ll discuss some of the life events where this can be especially useful.

It can feel really overwhelming to come into an inheritance. You’ve gone from losing someone that you were close with to gaining a large sum of money in a very short time period. So what should you do? Here are a few tips for navigating a new inheritance.

It can feel like a big step to put your investment strategy and financial future in the hands of an advisor. Whether you’re new to working with an advisor entirely or making a switch from an existing advisor – it can be challenging to wade through sales pitches to really understand what you’re getting. Consider asking these key questions when you’re interviewing financial advisors to make sure you’re selecting someone who can best help you achieve your goals.

Often, the key to mitigating risk within your investment portfolio is to have a diversified approach. But what exactly is a diversified portfolio? Well, the specific answer is different for each person, but the general sentiment is to avoid having too much of your portfolio concentrated in one particular area. Reason being, having a highly concentrated portfolio opens you up to much greater risk. Keep reading to learn how this may affect you and why.

Whether you’re working with a financial advisor or doing it on your own, it’s important to periodically review your portfolio to make sure it’s still working for you. At Paceline, we like to categorize investment holdings into three categories based upon their level of attractiveness: Core Holdings, Opportunistic Holdings, and Sale Candidates. Read on to learn about what each type of holding is, and why it’s important to know what you own and why you own it.