Getting an education to prepare you for your field of choice is an admirable professional goal, and eventually repaying that student debt over time is an important financial goal. But having lingering student loans? Well, that isn’t anyone’s goal. Here are some nuances about student debt that are important to consider as you weigh paying down debt against your other financial goals.

It’s that time of the year again. The days are getting longer as the sun is coming out of hibernation, plants will soon be sprouting up, and of course there’s the dreaded tax season. While it’s normal to feel tempted to treat this money like a windfall, you’ll want to be smart about how to manage this money -- just as you would any other money. Here are some things to consider.

If you’ve ever watched a movie that featured someone in finance, you’ve almost certainly heard that character say it’s important to “diversify your assets.” And it’s true – it’s important to make sure you have an investment strategy that ensures all of your eggs aren’t in one basket, so to speak. But a smart investment allocation strategy isn’t just about being diversified. It’s about making sure that your funds are allocated in a way that’s aligned with your personal financial goals.

For many in the tech industry, especially those at early-stage companies, stock-based compensation can make up a large part of their total compensation. This commonly-held but seldom-understood type of compensation can seem like an enigma, making it hard to know if it’s your ticket to financial independence or a mere distraction.  And how can you really evaluate it as a part of your compensation package if you don’t really know how to value it? Let’s discuss further.

If a doctor told you that you needed a major surgery, you’d probably want to get a second opinion to make sure that surgery was the best course of action for you. In that respect, the financial world isn’t that much different than the medical world. It’s often worth getting a second opinion on your portfolio to ensure you’re getting the best advice and outcomes given your current situation.

Late-January is the time when the rubber meets the road on those New Year’s Resolutions. As any good fitness coach will tell you, the key to hitting your fitness goals isn’t a crash diet. It’s a sustainable, achievable plan that you’re able to stick with for more than just a few days. The same is true of hitting your financial goals.

One of the most common misconceptions that people have is that they need all pieces of their financial situation to be settled before they engage an advisor, or that everything needs to be in place before they start to develop a plan. That is far from the truth. Here are three things you can do to get started on the path to achieving your goals TODAY.

Now that you’ve got a new job it’s time to look forward to new opportunities and leave behind old challenges, but don’t forget to pay attention to your existing 401(k).  With all the time and hard work to earn it, it’s important to make sure your money is well invested and continues to grow. Now let’s discuss the four main options for handling your existing 401(k) account.

As the year comes to a close and work starts to wind down, many people find themselves with some extra free time, making it the perfect time to tackle those lingering financial planning tasks.  Even though tax returns aren’t due until April 15th, the end of the year is an opportune time to make adjustments to your financial plan.  Here are some of the top reasons why you won’t want to wait until the new year.