"Silent night, Holy night. All is calm, all is bright..." The carols try to tell us that this is a calm and silent time of year. But for most of us, the weeks leading up to Christmas can be anything but calm. You know the drill: office parties, shopping, baking, wrapping, relatives, Christmas plays and everyone's favorite - family pictures. It's...

It is often said that balance is the key to happiness. Financial balance is an important part of a balanced life. Life can sometimes be like the balance scales our grandmothers used years ago with many different aspects of our beings coming together to balance and form the people that we are. We work and play, rest and expend energy, commune with...

“Out of work”  doesn’t mean out of hope. No matter how much you anticipated it or how many of your colleagues find themselves in the same situation, losing your job due to downsizing, restructuring or any other reason can be a shattering experience. In fact, psychologists agree that sudden unemployment is as emotionally stressful as divorce...

Major changes — whether personal or professional — can significantly affect your family’s insurance and investment needs. A year-end review of your situation will help ensure that you have adequate coverage and that your investments are meeting your needs. Consider where you stand now in terms of your financial goals and what, if any, adjustments...

The most valuable things we offer our children cost nothing. But there are many other things we give them that cost money.  The most expensive is often the opportunity for them to attend college or university. Without financial assistance, our children may have to forego post-secondary education or graduate with loads of student debts.  We want...

In difficult economic times like these, it’s natural to search for ways to cut expenses and reduce the pressure on your family income. Among the many ways to lower expenses, the easiest may seem to stop making donations to your favorite charities. If we truly believe in what these organizations are doing, discontinuing our financial support means...

Many families suffer “hole-in-a-pocket” syndrome, meaning the money they earn seems to slip away leaving no trace. As a result, plans we have for our family, home, church or charity giving and future are set aside.  We say “we can’t afford it” even when the family income suggests that the plans are – or should be – affordable. This...