Fee only financial planner kansas city - Chladek Wealth Management

6 Ways To Use Market Psychology For Good Not Evil

John Chladek2022-10-03T17:54:31+00:00August 15, 2022|Blog, Financial Planning Psychology, Investments|

Our financial market is in a volatile state. Stocks are down, inflation is sky high, interest rates are increasing, and faith in the market is dwindling. When financial instability becomes mainstream, many people’s thoughts and attitudes toward their money follow suit. This phenomenon is known as market psychology, and market psychology represents the overall sentiment investors carry toward the stock market at any given time. And right now, it’s not all that pretty. Market psychology [...]

How Important Are Standardized Test Scores for College Admission?

John Chladek2022-01-17T13:27:01+00:00January 15, 2022|Blog, College Planning, Family Financial Information|

Institutions have long used standardized tests to measure students' competency in specific subject areas. Some of the more common areas consist of language, math, science, logic, and reasoning. Students of all ages have come across these tests. From Common Core in elementary school to the ACT and SAT in high school, educators continuously use standardized tests to evaluate students’ intellect. ACT and SAT scores have been synonymous with college applications for years. These tests leave [...]

The True Impact Your Emotions Have On Money (And It May Surprise You)

John Chladek2022-01-10T22:16:44+00:00January 10, 2022|Blog, Financial Planning Psychology, General Financial Planning|

Think back to the last time you purchased something—the holidays are just barely in the rearview mirror, so maybe pick something from this past season. Now ask yourself: why did you buy it? It’s likely your answer has something to do with making the recipient happy or bringing joy to someone else. If so, you bought that item to fulfill or inspire an emotion—and unsurprisingly, that’s the underlying motivation for most people’s buying decisions in [...]

5 Financial Goals To Start The New Year Off Right

John Chladek2022-01-10T22:22:10+00:00January 1, 2022|Blog, General Financial Planning, Lifestyle|

The new year glistens with hope, promise, and excitement. It opens the door for new beginnings and a chance to grow. It's also an excellent time to take a look at your financial plan. What are you excited to accomplish this year? How can you maximize the resources that put you on a path to live your ideal life? Here are five financial goals to help get you started. Goal 1: Commit To (Extra) Retirement [...]

5 Creative Ways to Avoid the Gift Tax (Including Paying for College)

John Chladek2021-12-03T19:26:10+00:00December 15, 2021|Blog, Charitable Giving, College Planning, Taxes|

We’ve officially entered perhaps the highest spending month of the year! In fact, Christmas celebrations are expected to cost 17% more this year when compared to 2019 (you can thank COVID-19 and inflation for that lump of coal). Despite being “the happiest time of the year,” gifters should beware of another type of Grinch, the gift tax. Giving to others doesn’t have to result in paying extra for your generosity, but how do you give [...]

Top Tips to Walk Into 2022 With Confidence and Purpose

John Chladek2022-01-07T13:58:55+00:00December 1, 2021|Blog, Family Financial Information, General Financial Planning, Lifestyle|

With 2022 just around the corner, thoughts of New Year’s resolutions begin to swirl across the country. Among the expected career and health goals, many individuals will resolve to improve their money management skills in the upcoming year. As the importance of financial education steadily grows, there’s no better time to start making deliberate and informed decisions about your finances than right now. But what decisions should you take into account? How will the current [...]

4 Top Money Boundaries To Set With Your College-Bound Teen

John Chladek2021-07-31T01:21:40+00:00August 1, 2021|Blog, College Planning, Family Financial Information, Financial Roadblocks|

As a parent of a college-bound teenager, you likely have a lot on your mind. How will they adjust to campus life? Will they find something they are passionate about? How much will it all cost? College doesn’t come cheap, and it isn’t just the University bill you have to worry about. You certainly want to avoid college credit cards gone wild. While you can’t be there at checkout with them, you could do something [...]

Risk and Investing: How To Keep Your Head and Your Heart on The Same Side

John Chladek2021-07-31T01:08:25+00:00July 1, 2021|Blog, Investments|

When it comes to long-term investing, the numbers are simply one piece of an enormous puzzle. The remaining pieces of that puzzle consist of your “why.” Why are you investing in the first place? Are you building up your nest egg for emergencies or unexpected expenses? Are you preparing to send your kids to school? Is it finally time to start chipping away at the downpayment on your dream vacation home? With every vital goal [...]

Checklist For Year-End Planning

John Chladek2021-06-08T12:27:14+00:00December 8, 2020|Blog, General Financial Planning, Taxes|

Looking to year end I know it’s a busy time. But it’s not too soon to start thinking about taxes. Many questions about the new administration have come my way, including questions about new tax proposals. Joe Biden’s plan is aggressive, but it may not get out of the starting gate if the Republicans hold the Senate. As you probably know, two early January runoffs in Georgia will determine the fate of the upper chamber. [...]

[Infographic] Confusion Amidst Covid-19: Understanding the Difference Between the Stock Market & the Economy

John Chladek2022-08-01T15:27:51+00:00September 29, 2020|Blog, Investments|

When we think of our own (and the nation's) financial health, we tend to lump a variety of characteristics together - investments, unemployment levels, the Dow Jones Industrial Average performance, etc. It's important to recognize, however, that these benchmarks are not one in the same - and they do not always indicate the status of one another. Chladek Wealth Management is a fee-only financial planning and investment management firm, in Overland Park, Kansas, serving [...]

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