Money Wisdom & Musings

I remember being twelve years old and hearing the dreaded announcement that a family meeting had been scheduled for Sunday night. The topic usually had to do with scheduling, summer plans, or random house rules but it always felt like a chore. Now as an adult, I can see the importance of family meetings. They can be a great way to keep lines of communication open and ensure everyone is on the same page.

An article published in Investment Advisors Spring 2022 issue peaked interest here at Cornerstone, as it focuses on the correlation of women and their increased interest in environmental, social, and governance focused investment strategies. Interest in sustainable or ESG investments has been growing over the years for many reasons such as: supporting important issues like climate change or diversity, best employee practices, and most popularly, investors just wanting to align investments with personal values.

As part of our B Corporation™ status, Cornerstone is committed to considering our environmental footprint and how we can improve business and operational practices to positively impact the planet. Earth Day, celebrated on April 22^nd annually, serves as a great reminder that we are all responsible for caring for our planet (and not just on Earth Day!)

March is ‘B Corp™ Month,’ which means that Certified B Corporations™ across the globe are taking this month to celebrate the over 4,600 B Corps™ around the world. Cornerstone Financial Planning, a Certified B Corporation™ since 2019, is excited to build awareness of the B Corp™ mission and share how being a Certified B Corporation™ reflects and builds upon our company values.

The unthinkable day has arrived for football fans – Tom Brady is retiring. (Will football ever be as much fun to watch?) It’s likely that he’s set monetarily for life (after all, his net worth including wife Giselle Bündchen is $650 million according to HITC.com). But is Tom really prepared for retirement?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how dis-United we have become in America. By many means, it seems anger, hatred, and impatience have trammeled their way into our society and culture. I long for the days following 911 when everyone was caring, compassionate, and focused on us as one nation. Older folks, no doubt, recall a similar sentiment from the Roosevelt administration and World War II.

Cornerstone’s own Susan Veligor was recently quoted in a Bangor Daily News article highlighting fiscal advice from Maine financial experts. The piece titled “Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference in Getting Your Finances into Shape in 2022,” features tips on how to stay on top of finances as we begin a new year.  

It’s that time of year again. Twenty-twenty-one is coming to a close and the holiday season will soon be in the rear-view mirror. For many that means New Year’s resolutions: new goals, packed gyms, and commitments to spending time and money in ways that align with your values. A great place to start is to think of any big life changes and what they may mean to your financial life. 

Mackenzie was invited back to Falmouth High School, located in Falmouth, ME, on November 15^th, 2021 to speak to several groups of high school seniors. Mackenzie first presented to Falmouth HS seniors in 2019, and was invited back this year to share again!

On October 21^st Financial Planner Sara Casale was featured as a panelist at the Junior League Portland’s (JLP) event ‘Financial Education Panel Discussion’ that was open to both JLP members, friends, and community members. In addition to Sara, the other panelists were Gail Fongillo of Morgan Stanley and Brie Pio of Birch Point.