Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®
Should I Use 401(k) Money to Invest in Crypto?
Cryptocurrencies have continued to gain momentum lately, with recent regulatory approvals of bitcoin ETFs. These rulings broaden access...
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Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®
- Dec 13, 2023
Fed Note: December 13, 2023
At the December meeting, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee held the Fed funds rate steady at 5.25-5.50%, where it’s stood since...
Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®
- Nov 4, 2023
Ask Jeran: Why not keep all my money in cash?
Video Summary: Right now, cash savings options are better than they’ve been in years. Interest rates on high-yield savings accounts and...
Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®
- Nov 1, 2023
Why Your 401(K) Has a Default Investment Option and How It Helps You
A common question that I get from 401(k) participants is, “Why is my money automatically invested in this fund?” The follow up question...
Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®
- Jun 10, 2023
Diversification: Why there’s more to your portfolio than the S&P 500
Many times, when we hear references to “the market” or “the stock market” people are talking about the S&P 500. This index has become...
Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®
- Mar 4, 2023
Financial Essentials: Save Money in Cash or Invest?
When you think about your financial goals, you may be faced with conflicting priorities. You may feel like you should delay investing...
Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®
- Nov 4, 2022
Essentials: The Cost of Emotional Investment Decisions
You are not alone when you feel concerned about investment losses. That feeling is typically felt by most people and results show that...
Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®
- Jun 10, 2022
Bucket Your Investments for Peace of Mind
In many of the conversations that I am having right now, I am reminding people to stick with the playbook. There are investment...
Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®
- May 19, 2022
Good Charts for Right Now
Bonds have had a bad year…but typically returns improve after a period like this: Source: Blackrock Student of the Market May 2022 The...
Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®
- May 19, 2022
Catch 2022
Recently, I just finished reading Catch-22 for my book club. It was the first time I had read it. It is a fictional story set during...
Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®
- May 6, 2022
Book Notes: The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness
One of the books that I read recently was particularly helpful when it comes to approaching financial decisions. The book is The...
Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®
- Oct 9, 2021
Will Social Security Be There For Me?
Many of us know that the Social Security program has been under pressure for years. In 2020, The Covid Pandemic created a further...
Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®
- Oct 9, 2021
It Costs How Much? Understanding Supply-Chain Issues
In many of the conversations that I’ve had recently, inflation has been a subject of concern. Things are just costing more. Energy...
Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®
- Sep 4, 2021
What is a Taper Tantrum?
When the pandemic started, the Fed slashed interest rates and began buying $120 billion a month in bonds and mortgage-backed securities...
Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®
- Aug 21, 2021
Essentials: Choosing the Right Investment Mix
There are so many options out there for us to invest our money. Over the last few years there has been a reduction of trading fees, new...
Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®
- Aug 7, 2021
Essentials: Are You Following Bad Money Advice?
Have you ever stopped to think about where your money habits have come from? For most of us, we have been given lots of advice over the...
Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®
- Jul 21, 2021
Big Tech and Regulation: What to Know as an Investor
How will government regulation affect our investments in big tech companies? If you follow political headlines recently, this question...
Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®
- Jul 21, 2021
How to Manage Inflation at Different Ages
Inflation is a buzzword right now and you most likely have felt some of the effects of increased prices firsthand over the last few...
Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®
- Jul 3, 2021
Essentials: 3 Things to Teach Your Kids About Investing
For many of us, investing was not a part of our core educational curriculum as we grew up. Financial lessons often are learned in the...
Jeran Van Alfen, CFP®
- Jun 19, 2021
Essentials: Save Money or Pay Off Debt?
When you are in debt, it can feel like your only priority should be to pay it off. The monthly payments are stacking up, the interest is...
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