Stonecreek Blog

How to Make Good Habits Stick

You’ve probably heard the saying, “If you keep doing the right things, you’ll eventually get the results you want.” This wise advice applies to situations where you’re putting in a lot of effort but not yet seeing much result. It could be anything from golfing to parenting to working in

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How to Learn From Other People’s Retirement Mistakes

Did you ever watch America’s Funniest Home Videos?  It was a great way to laugh together as a family. But secondly, the show illustrated a lot of practical wisdom. For example, you could see why you should never jump off your roof onto a trampoline while holding a giant bouncy

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The Economic Roots of the American Revolution

It can sound cynical to say that the American Revolution had a financial motivation. After all, the writings of the Founders and the personal consequences most of them suffered because of the rebellion seem to belie the idea that they wanted independence just to make money.1 However, it’s also correct

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The Five Stages of Retirement (And How to Avoid The Last Three)

Even if you’ve never heard of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, you’re probably familiar with her Five Stages of Grief.1 These are phases that we naturally go through after experiencing a significant loss: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. People tend to go through these stages in the order given, not because they

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Why You Should Always Be Planning Your Next Trip

In the 1970s Heinz Ketchup ran a series of TV commercials which highlighted an attribute of their product that many people saw as a frustration: It took a long time to pour their ketchup out of the bottle. Heinz, however, flipped this seeming negative into a defining positive. While you

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Putting All Your Eggs in One Basket: A Cautionary Tale

“Hitch your wagon to a star,” wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson.1 Many people take this famous metaphor to mean simply “aim high.” But Emerson possibly had more in mind. Your wagon (your life prospects) needs something to pull it. He was suggesting that rather than settling for the usual plodding horse,

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When Should You Start Claiming Your Social Security Benefits?

If you want to start a lively discussion among a group of retirement experts, just casually toss out the question, “What’s the best age to start taking Social Security?” The reason the answer to that question is so debatable isn’t because Social Security benefits are some vague mystery. Studies have

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Love Means Not Leaving Your Heirs in Confusion

One of the most famous movie lines of the past sixty years comes from the 1970 release Love Story. Ryan O’Neal’s character apologizes for an angry outburst at his romantic partner, played by Ali MacGraw. Her character replies, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”1 The line is famous

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Four Big Truths that Can Bring Clarity to Your Investing

Whitewater rafting can be exhilarating—the wilderness setting, the unique view you can only get from the river, and the thrill of feeling yourself propelled along by the roaring water. However, even with an experienced guide, you can find yourself feeling out of control as your raft is bounced and spun

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