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$100 is on the table, and you have a choice. You can choose to receive $50 or flip a coin. If you choose the coin toss and get heads, you get $100. If it’s tails, you get nothing. What do you do? If you’re like most folks, you’re probably going to take the $50. It’s a sure thing. Now, what if this were a game of losses? What if you stood to lose $50 out of the gate? And what if the coin toss meant losing $100 with heads or losing nothing with tails? What would you do then? Here, most folks choose to flip the coin. And even though they’re making a different decision — flipping the coin and taking the risk, instead of going with the known option — their reasoning hasn’t really changed. In both cases, the choice is largely based on fear, the fear of losses.

How much do you need to save to retire comfortably? What would you need to put away today to retire on $100K a year without touching your principal? Those are heavy questions that can overwhelm any of us, especially if we don’t know how the big numbers really break down. And if you’re like most folks, navigating the maze of retirement planning can feel daunting. Here’s the good news. You’re not alone. It’s not too late to get your retirement goals on (or back on) track, and you don’t need a complicated plan to do it. The key isn't necessarily a complex strategy; it's about having a clear understanding of the numbers and what they mean. With the right knowledge and planning, you can build a retirement fund that will allow you to live comfortably—without potentially depleting your nest egg. Click here to read our Visual Insights Newsletter, where we'll

Talent, a high IQ, or self-control? Which matters more to success in life? Which matters more to happiness? Believe it or not, it's NOT talent or a high IQ. It’s self-control. In fact, our success and our happiness depend far more on our self-control and our willpower than our talent or our IQ. And no matter how intelligent, wealthy, attractive, or talented any of us may be, our willpower is like our energy — it’s limited. Each of us only has so much willpower. And that willpower WILL run out at some point. When it does, the willpower gap can trip us up. The willpower gap is when excuses, low motivation, and poor choices can get in the way of our goals. And it can happen whenever we spend too much of our willpower. But it doesn’t have to. We can close that willpower gap, and any one of us can

Let’s imagine you’re standing in front of two doors. You have two options. Open Door 1 and get an ELECTRIC SHOCK. Or choose the mystery behind Door 2. Door 2 could be better or worse than Door 1, but you won't find out until you open it. What do you choose? Which door would you open? Most folks would open Door 1. That's because most of us would rather have certain pain than gambling with the unknown. And that's true even if we have a 50-50 shot at getting something better, not worse, with Door 2. Why? Because we crave certainty. We're calmer when we know what to expect — even if it's certain pain — because we can prepare for it. With uncertainty, we're hyper-vigilant to the possibility of pain. We're constantly on edge, waiting for the ball to drop. That's stressful and exhausting up until the moment we get certainty. And that waiting and worrying creates its own pain, no matter

How do you make investment decisions? Do you look at all the data? Search for an interesting opportunity? Surprisingly, most folks don’t look at the facts or data to make these choices. They prefer a good story. Maybe it’s not so surprising. A good story can worm its way into our subconscious faster than any facts can. That’s because research shows good stories appeal to our emotions and our values. They help make sense of the world, and they can be a powerful learning tool at any age. But that doesn’t always make stories a good foundation for investment decisions. Why? Because the stories we tell ourselves can cloud the facts. And if those stories are rooted in common myths about investing, anyone — even the smartest folks — can have a much harder time making sound investment decisions. So, what stories could be interfering with your financial choices? What

What would make your life better? A new house or car? A bigger paycheck or bank account? It’s easy to want more when you think of being happier and living better and there’s little doubt that money can buy some (more) happiness. But the happiness we get from money is fundamentally limited. It leaves us wanting more, and it’s not enough on its own to enjoy a truly satisfying life. The reality is a lot of the things that can make us happy and enrich our lives have nothing to do with money. The following are 7 little upgrades that can make life better in big ways: Go outside Say no to things that drain you Practice gratitude daily Prioritize self-care Don't let negativity take over Volunteer Nurture your relationships Living better doesn’t mean we have to make radical changes. And we don’t have to wait for some benchmark or

A million dollars used to be the ultimate target for retirement portfolios. Retiring as a millionaire brought status and confidence that you could live comfortably during your golden years. If you retired with $1 million in 1970, you probably didn’t have to worry about your nest egg running out, even with a lavish lifestyle. It would be like retiring with $6.9 million today. Retire with $1 million in the ’80s, and it would have been like retiring with $3.35 million in 2021. And in 1990? A cool $1 million would have gone twice as far as it does these days. Clearly, $1 million doesn’t go as far as it used to. Just how far could it go these days? The answer depends on how and where you live. In retirement, as in real estate, location is everything (or, at least, it’s a lot). Click here to see a map that

Forbes recently released their rankings for 2021’s Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, spotlighting more than 5,000 outstanding wealth advisors across the country. Baron Silver Stevens Financial Advisors, LLC’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael J. Silver, CFP®, AEP®, CLU, was named amongst those standout wealth advisors. Michael ranked 21st  in South Florida, marking a distinguished acknowledgement for his years of experience, proficiency, and focus on making a positive impact on his clients’ lives. Those nominated for the prestigious Best-In-State recognition were researched, interviewed, and then given a ranking within their particular states. Michael’s inclusion in 2021’s Best-In-State Wealth Advisors highlights his dedication to his clientele, his more than 20 years of experience in the field, and his commitment to making an impact in the comprehensive wealth management industry. The selection process was based on an algorithm of both quantitative and qualitative criteria including components such as in-person interviews, compliance records, industry experience, revenue produced,

Bear Markets Are Inevitable. Here's How To Keep Your Cool. Bear markets come and go. They are a natural part of the market cycle. But we never know when they'll happen or what exactly will trigger them. While we can't predict when or why bear markets happen, what we do know is that bear markets commonly make people emotional and irrational. They can even breed a crowd mentality that causes paranoia and panic. Want my advice? Stop watching what others are doing. Focus on your own needs, portfolio, and risk tolerance. It's nearly impossible to know what other investors are thinking and doing in real time, just like it's impossible to know what the "bottom" is in a bear market. So, try to keep a level head and long-term view. And try to stay realistic. Remember, all bear markets eventually pass! You'll never get to enjoy a market upswing if you

Reaching retirement and relishing in a ceremonial mortgage-burning party was a twentieth-century custom recognized by many Americans. At that time, there was no better reason to celebrate than rejoicing in the liberty that comes with paying off your mortgage. Fast-forward to 2018, where mortgage-burning parties rarely, if ever, occur. Why? Well for starters, etiquette experts strongly disagree with the custom. But beyond that, financial advisors are now pushing baby boomers to reevaluate whether or not paying off mortgage debt makes sense. A recent survey from American Financing, a national mortgage banker, revealed that 44 percent of Americans ages 60-70 still have a mortgage upon retirement. Baby boomers seem to be much less debt-averse than the previous generation of Depression-affected retirees, pushing them to reconsider the benefits of paying off their mortgages. As such, retirees will look to a financial advisor to conduct a strategic analysis of an individual’s financial situation, revealing