
Insights, Advice, and Conversations to Shape Your Financial Future
DISCUSS WITH RUSS
“Discuss With Russ” is your go-to resource for navigating the complex world of personal finance. Whether you’re looking to manage risk, seize new opportunities, or avoid common financial pitfalls, our blog offers insights to help you succeed at every stage of your financial journey.
We’re here to provide actionable strategies and thoughtful guidance to help you take control of your financial future.
Stay connected!
Subscribe to receive the latest posts, updates, and exclusive content directly to your inbox.
It’s Never Too Early for College Financial Planning
Worried about how you’ll ever save up enough money to cover the huge amount your children will need for their college education? When you start while your children are young, you have many good options.
How to Make Moving Easier and Less Stressful
Knowing what to expect can help you lessen the stress and expense of moving. Here are some things to think about before, during and after your move.
How to Care for a Loved One with Dementia
As the population ages, the prevalence of dementia is expected to increase. Here are the common signs of dementia and strategies for caring for someone who has it.
9 Common Questions About Social Security Benefits Answered
Knowing the answers to these nine common questions about Social Security benefits can help you avoid costly mistakes.
Self-Care for Caregivers
Being a caregiver can take its toll on you physically, mentally, and spiritually. Take time to observe these self-care practices to stay healthy and happy.
10 Smart Tips for Getting Organized with Estate Planning
Creating an estate plan in case of your death or disability can help your heirs avoid unneeded stress and uncertainty. Here are 10 steps to follow.
How to Teach Your Children Good Financial Literacy Skills
Teaching your children financial literacy is one of the most important jobs you have as a parent, but it’s not necessarily one that comes naturally. Here are a few ways you can pass along this necessary life skill.
7 Ways to Reduce Financial Stress
Being worried about money is the number one cause of stress for Americans, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are seven ways you can reduce financial stress in your life.
Financially Savvy Ways to Travel
Traveling can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to ruin your budget. Use these strategies to plan a vacation that won’t break the bank.
Shut It Down! The Financial Planning Lessons from the Government Shutdown
While the President and Congress are feuding over funding governmental operations, some federal workers are not being paid. As the length of the shutdown grows, some are getting concerned about how it will affect their lives.
Volatile Markets
It is understandable if you are feeling nervous, as these things often happen quickly and without warning. But as I said in my discussions with many of you, we have been waiting for events like this to happen for some time.
How to Succeed at Reaching Your Goals in 2019
Many people set aside time before January 1st to make promises to themselves to do better in one or more areas of their lives. However, statistics show that only 9.2 percent of people ever achieve their New Year’s resolutions. Here are the steps that I use in my goal setting process.
5 Things You Can Do Before the End of 2018 Regarding Your Finances
As we head into the uncertainty that is 2019, here are some things you can still do this year to make sure you are prepared financially for the year to come.
The Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA): A Personal Story
Earlier this year, I wrote how the TCJA passed by Congress last December would be a vexing problem for tax planning issues. It seems as if concerns about higher tax burdens being faced by middle- to upper-middle-income families may be overblown.
Emergency Funds
Any financial plan must have an emergency fund in conjunction with long-term investment contributions. Without one, you may run into an issue that can have adverse effects on other elements of your plan.
Emotions and Financial Planning
Recently I was fortunate enough to give a workshop where the purpose was to get people thinking about some financial concepts and to get them talking and thinking about how they view money so they can improve their own situations.
Should New Yorkers Invest Money in Buying a Home or Save it for Retirement?
The New York market provides a unique challenge when you are thinking about how to set yourself up financially. Which should you put more focus on, saving for retirement or saving for a down payment?
Retirement Plans for Really Small Businesses
Do you have a business with 5 or fewer people working in it? Or maybe it's just you? Have you thought that a 401k was too much to deal with, but you'd like to save more than you can in an IRA? Want to still save on some 2017 taxes? This post introduces you to a possible solution.
Happy New Year: A New Tax Regime
With the new tax law, we talk about what we think you can expect and what you might be able to do now to prepare yourself.
Your Money SCROOGED: The Ghosts of Money Future
In our final installment, what future uncertainties keep you from taking care of those financial issues you know you should be handling?