Good Financial Reads: How Refinancing Could Save Six-Figures, Switching to an Online Bank, and More

Following along with the blogs of financial advisors is a great way to access valuable, educational information about finance — and it doesn’t cost you a thing! Our financial planners love to share their knowledge and help everyone regardless of age or assets.

Catch up on some of the latest posts with this week's roundup:

How Refinancing Your Mortgage From a 30-Year to a 15-Year Fixed Rate Could Save You Six Figures

by Sophia Bera, Gen Y Planning

If you own a home or you’re currently looking to buy, odds are you’ve got (or are considering) a 30-year mortgage. It’s by far the most popular mortgage option. (And with interest rates at historically low levels right now, I highly recommend locking those rates in with a fixed-rate mortgage!)

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Expected Returns: Finding the Right Balance Between Risk and Reward

by Mike Miller, Miller Premier Investment Planning

One of the core inputs required in the financial planning process is the assumption of what the future return of a given portfolio will be. Obviously higher returns are preferable because they translate into greater spending power and/or reaching your goals sooner. Yet higher returns come with a caveat; higher risk. There is a very strong correlation between risk and return. So the higher the desired return, the greater the risk of losing money over a period of time.

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In Defense of Savings Accounts

by Matt Becker, Mom and Dad Money

I regularly hear from people who want to learn how to invest because their money is “just sitting in a savings account earning nothing”. That’s often the right mindset. Investing is a great way to save for long-term goals and should absolutely be a part of your financial plan. But savings accounts are just as valuable, and in some cases are actually a better option than investing.

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5 Easy to Make Mistakes That Could Cost You Hundreds (if not Thousands) In Savings

by Mary Beth Storjohann, Workable Wealth

Some mistakes can’t be undone, whether it’s burning a bridge, ruining an opportunity or sabotaging something you’ve worked for. Nowhere is that more apparent than in planning for retirement.

While you can put in the work to make up for significant losses in your retirement account, the money you’ve lost is gone forever. But irrevocable as they may be, making mistakes while planning for retirement is part of the game. The key is to learn from those mistakes and do everything possible to avoid making them in the future.

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