St. Croix Insights Blog | Financial Planning Articles

2020 Federal Stimulus Cash

by Brett Anderson | Family, Financial Advisor, Financial Planning

With markets whipping between rallies and retreats, it’s natural to ask:
Is it time to buy? Is it time to sell? Are we near the bottom? Is the bear market finally over?

Coronavirus & Your Money

by Brett Anderson | Budgeting, Financial Planning, Simplicity

After weeks of headlines about the coronavirus outbreak, markets have been caught in a volatile pattern of surges and retreats.

Final Life Lesson: The Lessons Never End – Life Lesson 50 of 50

by Brett Anderson | Family, Financial Planning

We may have reached the end of our Life Lessons for the year, but the real lesson is this: the lessons never end.

Make a Dream Board: Life Lesson 49 of 50

by Brett Anderson | Financial Planning, Retirement, Retirement Strategies

Visualization is a powerful technique that can help anyone realize their dreams. To harness this power in your everyday life, make a dream board!

Take a Sabbatical – Life Lesson 48 of 50

by Brett Anderson | Financial Planning, Simplicity

You don’t have to be a professor to take a sabbatical. Whatever your career, spending time away will help you recharge your batteries and refresh your spirit.

Attitude Reflects Leadership – Life Lesson 47 of 50

by Brett Anderson | Simplicity

One line from the movie Remember the Titans sums up trickle-down leadership culture better than any management book ever could: “Attitude reflects leadership.”

Don’t Trust People Who Say “Trust Me” – Life Lesson 46 of 50

by Brett Anderson | Family, Simplicity

Don’t say “trust me”—these days, the phrase is practically meaningless. Instead, demonstrate qualities that will make me want to trust you on my own.

Do Business with Good People: Life Lesson 45 of 50

by Brett Anderson | Simplicity

We all have choices, including the choice to do business with good people. Why waste valuable time with those who don’t have your best interest at heart?

Broke vs. Poor – Life Lesson 44 of 50

by Brett Anderson | Family, Personal Finance, Simplicity

We often say “poor” when what we mean is “broke.” Broke simply means being without material comforts; poor is a serious life-threatening condition.

Share Your Blessings by Giving Back: Life Lesson 43 of 50

by Brett Anderson | Estate Planning, Family, Simplicity

We’ve all been blessed in our life, whether we realize it or not. Want to increase your quality of life? Share your blessings with the people around you.

Shit Happens: Life Lesson 42 of 50

by Brett Anderson | Family, Financial Planning

We can prepare as much as possible, but we can’t predict everything. This is real life: shit happens, and sometimes all we can do is roll with the punches.

Your Money or Your Life? – Life Lesson 41 of 50

by Brett Anderson | Family, Financial Planning, Retirement, Retirement Strategies

Every choice we make influences the direction of our lives. Many of these choices boil down to the same basic question: What’s more important, your money or your life?

The Benefits of Having Children – Life Lesson 40 of 50

by Brett Anderson | Family

The Benefits of Having Children BY BRETT ANDERSON/ST.CROIX ADVISORS, LLC Photo by Ben White Our messy, beautiful lives are filled with many blessings, but those of us who are parents know that children are perhaps the greatest blessing one can know. Parenthood may not...

Personal and Professional Development: Life Lesson of 39 of 50

by Brett Anderson | Financial Planning

Whatever industry you’re in, at whatever level, personal and professional development is something all of us should focus on periodically throughout our careers.

Don’t Retire with a Mortgage. Life Lesson 38 of 50

by Brett Anderson | Retirement, Retirement Strategies

Whatever you do, don’t retire with a mortgage—you want to kick back and enjoy your retirement, not spend your time worrying about making those monthly payments.

Which Side of the Check do you Want to Sign? Life Lesson 37 of 50

by Brett Anderson | Financial Advisor

A recent trip to my dentist had me thinking about the financial responsibility of being a business owner. It’s all about which side of the check we want to sign.

Trust the Professionals! Life Lesson 36 of 50

by Brett Anderson | Simplicity

No matter how handy we are or how many side skills we develop, there’s someone who’s been doing it longer. For some tasks, it’s best to trust the professionals.

Looking for Unconditional Love? Get a Dog: Life Lesson 35 of 50

by Brett Anderson | Family, Simplicity

Looking for unconditional love, boundless enthusiasm, and a lifelong friend? The solution is simple: get a dog!

We’ve Lost the Art of Being Friends: Life Lesson 34 of 50

by Brett Anderson | Family, Simplicity

Remember when we used to practice the art of being friends? There was once a time for meaningful conversations, but many of us have lost the knack for it.

I Don’t Want to Share: Life Lesson 33 of 50

by Brett Anderson | Family, Simplicity

Just like Joey in Friends, I don’t want to share—not my food, not my clothes, and definitely not my TV remote. And you know what? That’s just fine with me.

Not All Change Is Good: Life Lesson 32 of 50

by Brett Anderson | Simplicity

We live in a world of amazing technological advancements—but not all change is good. Before embracing new things, it’s worth considering the potential cost.