4 Steps for Better Emotional Health During Times of Stress

As people all across the world are working to adjust to the unprecedented events that have unfolded over the past weeks, we thought it may help to share some practices we personally follow to help ourselves remain grounded and be present in our interactions with you, our clients during such difficult times.

We as individuals and as a nation are currently dealing with two contagions: first, the coronavirus outbreak itself, and second, the emotions that come along with it. It has been commonly reported that negative emotions are just as contagious as a virus. Read the rest of this entry »

Actions We’re Taking Following Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Clients and Partners,

As we all navigate the outbreak of the Coronavirus together, I wanted to share what’s important to us, what we’ve done, and what we’re doing.

What’s Important to Us
The health and wellbeing of everyone we work with informs our decision-making. Our clients trust us with their life’s savings, but also to be a partner in their journey for so much more. We value this relationship deeply, and we also feel a great sense of responsibility to do things that support the needs of those around us.

There are parts of our population that are particularly vulnerable to this virus, and we intend to do everything in our power to prevent the spread of the virus, or slow its progression.

Simultaneously, we see our partnership with our clients as a valuable relationship, and we intend to do everything necessary to ensure we’re available and ready to help you for everything ahead, financially, emotionally, and for your health otherwise. Read the rest of this entry »

Callahan Financial Planning Opens San Francisco Financial Advisory Office

San Francisco – Callahan Financial Planning, a fee-only independent personal financial planning and investment management firm with offices throughout the Bay Area, has announced its latest expansion with the addition of a financial advisory office in San Francisco, CA.

“We see this as an incredible opportunity to provide our special fee-only advice to not just those in San Francisco, but also those throughout the peninsula in communities like San Mateo, Redwood City, Palo Alto, South San Francisco, Daly City, along with Oakland and Berkeley in the East Bay”, said Callahan Financial Planning’s Vice President of Financial Planning, Reuben Brauer, CFP®.

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Callahan Financial Planning Opens Marin County Financial Advisory Practice in San Rafael, CA

San Rafael, CA – Callahan Financial Planning, a fiduciary financial planning and investment advisory company, has announced the opening of an office in San Rafael, CA following the acquisition of certain assets of the financial advisory firm Gary A. Dossick & Associates. The office is now located at 851 Irwin St Ste 201A, San Rafael, CA 94901.

Clients will be served by a team that includes three Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) practitioners, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) charterholder, an IRS Enrolled Agent, and supporting staff.

Callahan Financial Planning has seen significant growth since opening in 2010. The firm now manages $125 million in client assets, and anticipates opening additional locations in San Francisco and Mill Valley in California, and Denver, Colorado following this expansion.

From this San Rafael office, Callahan Financial Planning anticipates serving clients throughout Marin County, including residents of Mill Valley, Fairfax, Larkspur, Marin City, Corte Madera, San Anselmo, Marinwood, Novato, Sausalito, Tiburon, and Lagunitas-Forest Knolls.

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How to Find the Best Financial Advisor Recommended for Your Situation

The financial advice field is a bit convoluted, but this guide can help.

Financial Advisor Fees/Costs

First, there’s how you pay for advice. All financial advice has a cost, but sometimes it’s explicit (e.g., you can see it), and sometimes it’s only implicit (e.g., it’s embedded inside a financial product, and what you’re paying is not easily visible).

Most financial advisors today describe themselves as fee-based advisors. Legally, this means they can (and generally do) perform their activities in two ways: they earn a commission on certain product sales, and a fee on certain investments. The title is a bit misleading in this way, but the moniker persists.

We think this creates a conflict of interest: it often causes (even if only subconsciously) the financial advisor to recommend things that pay them the best compensation over what is in the client’s best interest.

Because of this inherent conflict, a special sub-set of financial advisor was born: the fee-only financial advisor. We recommend anyone seeking financial advice only work with a fee-only advisor.

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A national organization lists and ensures fee-only compliance for all of its members; it’s called the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), and it has an online directory of all of its members. So, for example, you can search for a list of all the fee-only financial advisors in Omaha, NE or the San Francisco, CA Bay Area (cities where we have offices).

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How to Make Better Decisions

blankBy understanding, identifying, and mitigating the common problems inherent in the decision-making process, we can make better choices and gain greater confidence.

When making important decisions, such as whether to make an investment, how to deal with certain income taxes properly, whether to move, what do to about a new or current job, or how to respond to sharp declines in financial markets (or sharp appreciation), a common process goes as follows:

Common Decision-Making Process Read the rest of this entry »

Callahan Financial Planning Adopts CFA Institute Asset Manager Code of Professional Conduct

CFA Institute Asset Manager Code

Callahan Financial Planning Company is proud to announce that the company has adopted the CFA Institute’s Asset Manager Code of Professional Conduct.

Callahan Financial Planning joins approximately 1,400 firms worldwide that have adopted this professional conduct code.

The Asset Manager Code of Professional Conduct outlines the ethical and professional responsibilities of companies that manage assets for clients. This code serves as a point of reference for investors, establishing clear policies on what investors can expect by working with a firm that has claimed compliance with the code. Read the rest of this entry »