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Welcome! Bridget Sullivan Mermel and John Scherer talk introduce themselves and talk about why they started the channel, Friends Talk Financial Planning.
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6 Questions to Ask Mortgage Brokers
Originally published in 2009, the author updates this with new information periodicaly
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Oct 15, 2020
Video: Your Corona Virus Financial Checkup
What should you be doing right now with your finances?
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
May 20, 2020
Buying a house? Avoid these five pitfalls
The biggest mistake people make when buying a house is over-buying.
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Jul 15, 2019
Millennials Are Mooches…and Other Money Myths
There are plenty of stereotypes about how certain people behave around money — stereotypes I’ve often seen contradicted in my experience as
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Jul 15, 2019
How I Plan for the Stock Market Freakout…I Mean Selloff
I got an email from Nate, a client, linking to a story about the stock market’s climb. “Is it time to sell?” he asked me. “The stock...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Jul 15, 2019
Buying a House? Talk to Kojak
Terri and David came in for a meeting with me. They were expecting a baby and wanted to buy a house. They had their eye on a $500,000...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Jul 15, 2019
What I Tell Clients Who Want to Buy Gold
“Okay,” the client said at the end of our meeting, after I had recommended my investment strategy, “I’ve just got one more question.” ...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Jul 15, 2019
Give Money, Feel Happy
“How should a client think about giving money to charity?” was the question my colleague posted on an adviser forum. I should know this,...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Jul 15, 2019
Breaking up with your bank
Socially responsible money management starts with your bank
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Jul 9, 2019
"Fee-only" versus "fee-based"…what is the difference?
A lot of financial advice is "free."
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Jul 9, 2019
The Truth about Why to Invest in Real Estate
Don't buy real estate because you think it's an easy way to make money while in your underwear watching TV while eating Cheetos.
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Jul 9, 2019
2,557 Reasons Why You Should have International Stocks in your Portfolio
Even before Brexit passed, I got questions if it still makes sense to include international stocks in our portfolios. So I asked one...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Jun 28, 2016
Dive Deep into Credit Cards
Recently a client emailed me to ask, “What is the best credit card?” Then, at a family holiday, four of my nieces and nephews asked the...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Feb 18, 2016
Draft Brett Favre to Start Your End-of-Life Plans
It's awkward to have "the talk" with your parents. Here's how to get started. We should all have an ongoing conversation with our loved...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Dec 10, 2015
Give Money, Feel Happy
“How should a client think about giving money to charity?” was the question my colleague posted on an adviser forum. I should know this,...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Sep 24, 2015
New Ways to Invest in Small Businesses
When nonprofessional investors are able to put money into small businesses, everyone can benefit. I met with Paul on Tuesday. He is the...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Sep 1, 2015
How to be Charitable...and Hold Onto Your Money
You can inexpensively plan for a donation from your 401(k) while retaining access to the account if you need it. After they got married,...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Oct 14, 2014
Why Investments Smell
Why investments smell Our fridge finally died; we could also use a new dishwasher. So, when we found that a local retailer was...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
May 18, 2014
Market at All-time High: good time to sell?
USA Today says that stocks are at all-time highs. So is it a good time to sell? Well…probably not. Here’s why. Let’s take a closer look...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Jan 2, 2014
Here's Joe: Chopping Onions and Saving Money
I’ve been watching a lot of US Open Tennis. As any fan knows, that means being inundated with commercials pitching financial advice. ...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Sep 13, 2013
Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
Welcome guest blogger: Judy McNary CFP(R) I posed this question at a seminar recently and all hands shot up. It doesn’t matter whether...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
May 22, 2013
Four Green Ways to Pay Less Tax
I beg to differ. As a comprehensive planner, I love to talk about the good you can do without investing a dollar. One great way is to...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Mar 14, 2013
Check Your Insurance Before You Need It
The insurance socially responsibility test. Subject your insurance to it even if you don’t care about “social responsibility.” What is...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Feb 20, 2013
How do Guns Make the Grade in a Portfolio?
Dear Bridget, Recently I’ve read reports that the both the California and Chicago teachers pension funds are either reviewing or...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Feb 4, 2013
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