Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
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...
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Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
- Dec 10, 2015
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
- Sep 24, 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 1, 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
- Oct 14, 2014
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
- May 18, 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
- Jan 2, 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
- Sep 13, 2013
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
- May 22, 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
- Mar 14, 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
- Feb 20, 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 4, 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
- Dec 11, 2012
How to Fix Capitalism
Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot to love about Adam Smith. Each person acts in his or her own self-interest in a free market…what’s...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
- Oct 12, 2012
The Bitter Pie: Financial Advisors Industry Statistics
The industry I am in confounds me. Why are so many consumers so poorly served? Almost daily I hear stories of advisors hiding fees,...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
- Feb 9, 2012
Breaking Up with My Bank
Dear Bridget, Although I like a good vampire movie, I don’t like it when I feel like my big bank has fangs in my neck. Between high ...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
- Jul 29, 2011
Crisis: Real or Manufactured?
Dear Bridget, Is there anything we can/should do about the pending debt-ceiling deadline? Should I be getting cash out of the bank to...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
- Aug 4, 2010
Safe Investing
Dear Bridget, In the 70s, when I was in high school, I shared a Pinto with my sister. She bought the gas, I bought the oil. When the...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
- Jun 18, 2010
Shopping Angst Revealed
I've got a theory about stress: it's cumulative. In other words, stress isn't about the two big things that constantly worry you. You...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
- May 20, 2010
Wall Street Journal Weighs in on Refinancing
Following up on my post about what to ask mortgage brokers, the Wall Street Journal has an interesting article on the current state of...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
- Feb 25, 2010
Don't Worry About Tax Hikes
Don't believe the hype on tax hikes. And certainly don't spend precious energy worrying about them. A Kate and Joe were in yesterday. ...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
- Oct 14, 2009
Don't Max Out Your 401K
If you were to get on the Internet and poll the financial gurus, the message you would get load and clear is: Save Money. No matter how...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
- Aug 3, 2009
Wall Street Journal Weighs in on Real Estate Prices
This article from the WSJ covers how the housing market varies by region: Home Sales All Over the Map And this Article from August 3,...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
- Aug 1, 2009
Clunkers Getting More Cash?
The cash for clunker program, which started on July 24th, was supposed to go through November, or when the money ran out. Problem is...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
- Jul 18, 2009
How to Think about Real Estate Prices
I'm not very interested in predictions about how long the current economic downturn is going to last. What I'm interested is in the...
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