http://www.isnare.com/?s=author&a=Jeffrey+Stoffer+CFA%2C+CFP Finances Jeffrey Stoffer CFA, CFP Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=404762&ca=Finances The objective of investing is not to make a "big pile of money." This idea may be startling to many investors. Certainly, making a fortune would be wonderful and most of us would love to have that "problem." Yet this commonly held goal is rather vague. How much is a big pile, a lot, or even a boatlo... Advice Jeffrey Stoffer CFA, CFP Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=382108&ca=Advice Shouldn't planning for the future be fun and exciting? Think of those late-night conversations with your spouse, sitting by the fire, pondering the future. You begin to picture what your lives could be like. Will you retire by the ocean or in the mountains? You can almost smell the clean air and fee... Business Jeffrey Stoffer CFA, CFP Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=379436&ca=Business Not long ago, I found myself engaged in the delicate task of trying to lead my son to a sensible decision without giving the impression I was telling him what to do. He was considering not taking traffic school for a speeding ticket. It’s rare to get the opportunity for a “do-over.” He could pay mor... Finances Jeffrey Stoffer CFA, CFP Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=370090&ca=Finances Captain Jack Sparrow in the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean” has been forced ashore by a mutinous crew. We see him stranded on an island drinking rum with his lovely companion beside a fire. They are discussing his ship. “It’s not just a keel, a hull, and a deck and sails. That’s what a ship needs.... Finances Jeffrey Stoffer CFA, CFP Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=359456&ca=Finances Dorothy: "I don't like this forest. It's...it's dark and creepy!" Scarecrow: "Of course I don't know, but I think it'll get darker before it gets lighter." Are we really in uncharted territory? Upheaval in financial systems has been occurring for thousands of years. According to Yale professors, Wil... Finances Jeffrey Stoffer CFA, CFP Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=350037&ca=Finances What is retirement? The definition has evolved over the last half century. How you view retirement can affect how you plan and invest. The current economic situation also comes into play. By viewing retirement as a process, by starting early and planning, it is possible to reconcile your values and... Finances Jeffrey Stoffer CFA, CFP Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=339179&ca=Finances 2008 saw a lot of stunning, almost apocalyptic events. People ask, "What else could possibly go wrong?" The prevailing view seems to be that the economy will get worse before it gets better. As we look out on the year ahead, it is easy to conclude that there are only storm clouds on the economic hor... Finances Jeffrey Stoffer CFA, CFP Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=319028&ca=Finances Socially responsible investing can promote wealth, and a healthier world. Most of us think of investing as putting our hard-earned money to work in stocks or mutual funds. We hope (and pray) that we've made good choices so that our money will yield a decent return. We hope that we've invested in the... Finances Jeffrey Stoffer CFA, CFP Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=319031&ca=Finances The losses are more than just paper. It feels like loss of the order of things, and perhaps loss of faith. It reminds me of W. B. Yeats' line, from The Second Coming, "Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold." From this vantage point however, I see an opportunity arising that may call upon each on... Finances Jeffrey Stoffer CFA, CFP Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=304179&ca=Finances How did we get here…on the verge of the biggest financial crisis since the 1930's? So much has happened in the last few weeks that I felt it was important to step back and try to get a handle on what has transpired. We experienced a real estate bubble and as with most bubbles throughout history, the...