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A 401(k) plan is one of the most popular and effective techniques for saving for your retirement. A company will automatically withdraw and contribute money from each paycheck to your 401(k) plan. Some employers will even match a...

Investing your money for the future might be one of the quickest ways to grow your wealth, whether saving for retirement or making a large purchase. While most people know investing is a potential way toward a more manageable financial...

You may sometimes hear the terms "estate planning" and "asset protection" used interchangeably. They actually have different meanings, and it's important to incorporate both strategies into future financial plans. Below, we discuss key...

With the increasing amount of personal information shared and stored online, it’s crucial to take proactive steps to protect yourself. Here are a few essential tips to help you safeguard your sensitive data and maintain your...

After spending so much of your life saving for retirement, it may be challenging to transition from depositing funds to withdrawing them. You may wonder whether there is any way to maintain your lifestyle and preserve your wealth to...

In the U.S., women control a third of household assets. But by 2030, U.S. women are expected to control much of the assets that the baby boomer generation will pass to heirs, roughly 30 trillion in assets. High-earning women have...

Do you consider yourself a high-net-worth individual (HNWI)? Most people tend not to categorize themselves or see themselves as anything more than a spouse, parent, sibling, neighbor, boss, or business owner. However, society does...

Having a solid life insurance policy in place is crucial for any adult who has assets, a business, or a steady income. While most adults know that having a life insurance policy is a vital piece in their financial puzzle, there are...

Philanthropy today is different than it was in the past. It was once common for donors to distribute their wealth through smaller grants to numerous organizations. Over time, best practices for charitable giving have evolved, and...

September is self-improvement month and a great time to work on your financial health. When you think of self-improvement, you likely think of your health or career but may pay little attention to your finances. Getting your financial...

Have you ever thought about what kind of golf partner best suits your game? Maybe you have an upcoming member guest or are considering joining a local four-ball league this summer? Turns out picking a golf partner is a lot like...

You can learn a lot from those who have come before you. For individuals interested in investing, especially those new to it, learning and applying the wisdom from people that have found techniques that worked for them is a great...

One recent development that has stirred conversations among investors and advisors alike is the issuance of the IRS Revenue Ruling 2023-2.This ruling has presented a unique set of challenges and opportunities for estate planning,...

As professionals, managing our own finances can be a challenge. However, one area that we often overlook, yet is vitally important, is understanding and navigating our aging parents' finances. As they move into retirement and beyond,...

In late May 2023, Congress sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel saying that it will introduce legislation to correct several technical errors in the SECURE 2.0 Act. The letter, signed...

While the future seems brighter than ever for women entrepreneurs, a myriad of financial challenges continue to cast shadows over their journey. The increasing presence and contributions of women-owned businesses to the American...

While fixed annuities are generally considered to be conservative instruments, variable annuities are investments with the growth potential necessary to outpace inflation, but generally carry a higher degree of risk.

Corporate wellness programs have been key tools in improving productivity, employee retention, and creating a more desirable corporate culture. While many companies have put a strong focus on physical wellness plans, many are just...

529 plans are designed for saving for education and are beneficial since contributions accumulate and grow tax-free as long as withdrawals are used for qualified education expenses.

Life insurance is essential in providing for beneficiaries upon your death, but it can also offer other tax advantages you may not know.

Teaching children about financial wellness should start at an early age. Learning how making money, saving, and spending is related and the first step in teaching your child how to understand the value of money. Children learn from...

Most people know that once they approach retirement age, their reward for years of work comes from Social Security payments they put money towards during their employment. Deciding when to file for your Social Security payments is likely...

While retirement is a time to enjoy the things you have worked hard for in life, the next chapter may leave some a little anxious. Retirement doesn't mean you have to retire from the excitement in life.

March is Women’s History Month, a month-long celebration of female empowerment1. This effort includes advocating for better representation in the workforce, pay parity and improved work-life balance. There are some specific steps that women

With the signing of the Omnibus Appropriations package into law, both employees and employers can take advantage of more than 90 new provisions aimed at creating opportunities to create or modify workplace retirement plans and strategies. W

Take some time this month to learn about the contributions of black businesses, inventors, and activists throughout America's history. Some of the most powerful statements can be made by aligning your finances with your values. Do some of

February is American Heart Month and the perfect time to get serious about your heart health. Heart disease is the number one killer of Americans and a disease that may be prevented and treated with proper health and screening.

Improving return by minimizing taxesAlthough we are all obligated to pay our fair share of taxes, few of us would be pleased to pay taxes unnecessarily. Because taxes lower the actual return on your investments, you should be...

Bank of America's Workplace Benefits Report recently revealed that a whopping 19 in 20 surveyed employers felt responsible for their employees' financial wellness.1 But because financial wellness is such a holistic concept,...

Points to think about as you contemplate giving to others and causes. Any endeavor worth undertaking, especially one that may affect others, deserves our careful consideration before we begin. When contemplating charitable giving,...

You don't need to wait until the end of the year to look for ways to minimize your tax liability. Tax planning should take place throughout the year to have you prepared well ahead of tax season. Here are six ways to minimize your tax...

If you're considering giving back to society or a cause as part of your financial planning, there are many ways you can do so. You can make an impact while receiving tax benefits by including philanthropic giving as part of a holistic...

As we approach the end of the year, you may want to review areas that may impact your wealth and estate planning next year. In this year-end planning guide, we examine four critical areas to consider that may affect your finances

As you near age 65, you may start to think about Medicare. How do you sort through your coverage options? When (and how) do you enroll? And what if you have other health insurance? Here is some information to help you...

Financial planning is an important part of securing your current lifestyle as well as preparing yourself for what you wish to do in your eventual retirement. And while this importance may look different during each stage of...

One of the main reasons we buy life insurance is so that when we die, our loved ones will have enough money to pay off our remaining debts and final expenses. We also purchase life insurance to provide for our loved ones' future living...

Each year, the U.S. Department of Education distributes more than $150 billion in grants, loans, and work-study awards to millions of college students. With these financial aid programs, tuition, room and board, books, and other...

During their lives, many individuals make donations to favorite charitable causes to address social ills or support certain institutions. For some, altruistic motives predominate. Many technological, medical, and educational advances...

The tech industry has been rocked by recent economic woes. While once thought of as close to recession proof, companies from Netflix to Meta are suddenly experiencing serious financial setbacks. As the Washington Post reported last...

If you’re in search of a way to reduce your tax bill and give back to the community, a donor advised fund may be worth considering. Also known as a DAF, a donor advised fund is a charitable investment strategy you can use to...

Young adults starting out in life, especially newlyweds, need insurance. But what kind? As a start, a good term life policy likely is a smart move. Other types of insurance may not be. And as they age, what other varieties of coverage...

Baby Boomers — those born between 1946 and 1964 — hold about $20 trillion in wealth.1 Over the next few decades, many Boomers may transfer this wealth to their Gen X, millennial, and Gen Z children, perhaps incurring a...

Most types of financial accounts allow you to designate a beneficiary, from checking and savings accounts to life insurance policies, 401(k)s, IRAs, pensions, and trusts. But when was the last time you looked at your beneficiary...

What is it?Caring for your aging parents is something you hope you can handle when the time comes, but something you probably hope you never have to do. Caring for your aging parents means helping them plan for the future, and this can...

If you’re retired, there’s good news in that you’ll probably live longer and perhaps better than your parents and grandparents did. The bad news: You’ll live a longer and perhaps more expensive life, too.You...

A roof over your head and gas in your tank cost more than ever. But prices for these essentials color your view of investing. What do your nest egg, retirement planning and personal finances share with the overall American economy?...

Five things that economists know, but sound wrong to most other people

Erik S. Davis, CFP®

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Economists have shaped the modern world in many ways. Governments make policy choices in response to the data that we produce about things like GDP and inflation. Social media companies use our insights about human behavior to create...

Financial Planning and Living Globally

Carlo Panaccione, CFP®

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

The past 100 years have seen changes in how people plan for their financial futures and how they live. Borders no longer restrict people from living in one country; their profession often takes them to parts of the world they never...

High Net-Worth Individuals: Are You Missing Opportunities in Your Financial Planning?

Erik S. Davis, CFP®

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

High Net-Worth executives and those that have been self-employed, can experience common problems in their financial planning journey. Often, they have missed opportunities in their financial planning because they haven’t planned...

Certified Financial Planner Proposes Six Steps for a Richer, Happier Marriage

Erik S. Davis, CFP®

Monday, June 13, 2022

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Saying “I do” can be a risky investment: nearly half of all marriages end in divorce, and statistics show that the biggest source of breakup stress is money.  Couples fight more about finances than...

How Delaying Retirement Can Affect Longevity and Health

Erik S. Davis, CFP®

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Delaying retirement appears to increase longevity among men in particular, but it does not seem to have any significant impact on the likelihood of developing health problems like diabetes and depression, a study published in 2018 by...

Navigation Group welcomed Kathleen Pritchard* for a dynamic and engaging discussion on the realities of Aging With Dignity. Ms. Pritchard , who has collaborated with The Center of Innovative Care in Aging at the John Hopkins University...

Navigation Group hosted our 3rd Shred Party in May as part of our ongoing effort to help clients declutter and organize their lives! In addition to good company and food, we safely disposed of several tons of old documents that our...

Julie* and Carlo Panaccione were excited to be able to lend a hand and support the Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative (BAWSI) annual fund raiser. BAWSI is a non-profit founded by women’s sports legends Brandi Chastain,...

The Friendship Day 2016 car show, sponsored by Navigation Group and the Mid-Peninsula Old Time Auto Club, was a great success! With great weather and more than 460 cars and hundreds in attendance, a good time was had by all, and all...

Over the past year we have had the unique opportunity to take small groups of Navigation Group clients on private tours of the state-of-the-art Tesla Factory in Fremont!

In support of Saint Francis High School, Carlo and Julie* Panaccione and other Saint Francis High School Water Polo Team Parents hosted another fun Tuscan themed auction party. Based on the empty plates and empty bottles we think we...

A living legend in our backyard! Can you believe it, Paul Simon! Thank you Paul for a great performance. You are so very gracious!! Our family was so fortunate to have you perform at our home for The Life You Can Save this evening.

Paul Simon is mobbed by admirers following his Los Altos Hills performance. The pop music legend signed autographs and posed for selfies with guests. He started with the sound of silence and ended with more “lie-la-lies” than anyone