Financial Planning, Financial Tips, Goal Planning
AnnaMarie Mock, CFP®
Q3 Crunch Time: Keep Your Financial Goals from ...

As we close out the third quarter of the year, it's a natural time to pause and take stock of your progress toward your financial goals. By this point in the year, nine months of progress, challenges, and decisions have shaped where you stand today. With three months ahead, there's time to fine-tune your approach, close gaps, and position yourself to finish the year strong.

Q3 Crunch Time: Keep Your Financial Goals from Derailing
Financial Planning, Financial Tips, Retirement Planning, Savings
Edward Leach
Employer Retirement Plan Check-up

As we approach the year's final quarter, it’s the perfect time for a retirement plan check-up. Even if you set your 401(k) contributions months ago, life has a way of shifting the numbers — salary increases, bonuses, or payroll changes can all affect how much you are actually putting away.

Employer Retirement Plan Check-up
Financial Planning, Financial Tips
Reed C. Fraasa, CFP®, AIF®, RLP®
Money Flowing Out? Your January Financial Reset ...

As we embark on a new year, there's no better time to take control of your financial future by thoroughly reviewing your cash flow. If having a vision and establishing goals is the touchstone for a financial plan, this essential financial practice sets the foundation for achieving your goals and ensuring long-term financial stability.

Money Flowing Out? Your January Financial Reset Starts Now
Divorce Planning, Newly Independent Women
Joseph Goldy, CFP®, CDFA®
Understanding the CDFA® Designation: Your ...

Anyone who has gone through a divorce knows how emotionally challenging and financially complex it can be. While attorneys handle the legal aspects, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® focuses specifically on the financial implications of divorce. This specialized designation equips professionals with the expertise to guide clients through the intricate financial aspects of divorce proceedings, ensuring better outcomes for their financial future.

Understanding the CDFA® Designation: Your Financial Ally During Divorce
Pharmaceutical Professionals, Stock Options, Financial Planning
AnnaMarie Mock, CFP®
Science Meets Finance: How The Scientific ...

Anna Marie Mock, a fee-only certified financial planner at Highland Financial Advisors, discusses the dynamic interplay between art and science in financial planning. Drawing inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci's philosophy that "everything connects to everything else," she emphasizes that financial planning is an art involving subjective goal-setting and a science-driven by objective analysis tools. In this video, Anna explains how the scientific method can be applied to financial planning, using equity compensation as a concrete example. 

Science Meets Finance: How The Scientific Method is Applied in Financial Planning | Ep. 6

Financial Planning

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Beyond Tax Filing: Building a Year-Round Tax Strategy

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Beyond Tax Filing: Building a Year-Round Tax Strategy

For many people, taxes show up once a year and are often accompanied by frustration and a scramble to gather documents. Then, just as quickly, they disappear until next April. 

Considering taxes once a year represents one critical issue - by the time you’re filing your tax return, most of the important decisions have already been made. If you’re only thinking about taxes during filing season, you’re not managing taxes - you’re reporting history. A more effective approach is to treat taxes as a year-round strategy that integrates with your broader financial plan. 

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Crisis, Chaos, War, Oil … and Baking a Cake

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Crisis, Chaos, War, Oil … and Baking a Cake

Why a well-built portfolio is the only honest answer to the question everyone is asking right now. 

I have been getting some version of the same question from clients for the past several weeks. It sounds something like this: “Reed, with everything going on — the war with Iran, oil prices spiking, inflation creeping back, AI wiping out jobs — how far is the stock market going to drop? Should I be doing something?” 

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Building More Than Homes: Highland's Habitat for Humanity Partnership

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Building More Than Homes: Highland's Habitat for Humanity Partnership

At Highland Financial Advisors, we believe that genuine financial planning goes beyond portfolios and performance reports; it’s about building a life of purpose, stability, and long-term opportunity. That philosophy extends beyond our client relationships and into the communities we serve. One of the most meaningful ways we live out that commitment is through our ongoing partnership with Passaic County Habitat for Humanity in northern New Jersey. 

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Raising Financially Confident Kids: A Guide for Every Age

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Raising Financially Confident Kids: A Guide for Every Age

As a financial advisor, I often speak with clients about building wealth, planning for retirement, and managing investments. But one question I get almost as often is: “How do I prepare my kids to handle money responsibly?” Teaching children about money is one of the most valuable gifts you can give them. The lessons you start early don’t just shape their habits—they shape their confidence and independence. 

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Understanding Volatility: Why Short-Term Swings Don't Derail Long-Term Plans

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Understanding Volatility: Why Short-Term Swings Don't Derail Long-Term Plans

Turn on financial news on any given day, and you're likely to hear words like "plunge," "surge," or "turmoil." Markets move — sometimes dramatically — and those movements can trigger a visceral emotional response, even for the most disciplined investors. But here's what decades of financial history consistently show: short-term volatility is not your enemy. In fact, it's an unavoidable feature of building long-term wealth. 

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Are Markets Overdue for a Reset?

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Are Markets Overdue for a Reset?

Every market cycle eventually raises the same uneasy question: are we overdue for a reset? I hear it often from clients right now, and honestly, I understand why. The S&P 500 is hovering near 6,950 — essentially flat year-to-date after a turbulent stretch — the VIX recently spiked above 21, and headlines have ranged from new global tariffs to uncertainty about the Federal Reserve's next chair.

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What the Federal Reserve's Latest Moves Mean for Your Finances in 2026

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What the Federal Reserve's Latest Moves Mean for Your Finances in 2026

The Federal Reserve remains front and center in financial headlines as policymakers continue navigating the delicate balance between controlling inflation and sustaining economic growth. The outcome of the Fed's most recent meeting, combined with expectations for rate decisions ahead and the potential leadership shift toward Kevin Warsh, provides important clues about what may lie ahead for borrowers and investors. 

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The Financial Freedom to Say No: How Wealth Enables Life on Your Terms

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The Financial Freedom to Say No: How Wealth Enables Life on Your Terms

We spend most of our lives saying yes. Yes to job opportunities we don't want. Yes to commitments that drain our energy. Yes to maintaining appearances and meeting others' expectations.  

But true wealth isn't measured by what you can afford to buy—it's measured by what you can afford to decline. 

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Love, Money, and Communication: Financial Planning for Couples

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Love, Money, and Communication: Financial Planning for Couples

As Valentine’s Day approaches, conversations often turn to love, commitment, and the future we envision with our partner. While flowers, cards, and dinners are thoughtful expressions of care, one of the most meaningful—and lasting—gifts couples can give each other is open and honest communication about money.  

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Your Year-End Bonus Deserves Better Than a Shopping Spree

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Your Year-End Bonus Deserves Better Than a Shopping Spree

The end of the year often brings a welcome financial boost: annual bonuses, holiday gifts from employers, or extra income from seasonal work. While it's tempting to splurge on something fun, these windfalls represent a valuable opportunity to strengthen your financial foundation and accelerate progress toward your long-term goals. 

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Economic Outlook 2026: Inflation, Growth, and Interest Rates

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Economic Outlook 2026: Inflation, Growth, and Interest Rates

As we enter 2026, investors are once again surrounded by confident forecasts from financial and social media pundits. Inflation will fall or resurge. Economic growth will either reaccelerate or stall. Interest rates will be cut or remain higher for longer.

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Why Most New Year’s Financial Resolutions Fail — And How Last Year’s Lessons Can Save Yours

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Why Most New Year’s Financial Resolutions Fail — And How Last Year’s Lessons Can Save Yours

As the calendar resets, millions of Americans sit down with renewed optimism and a fresh list of financial resolutions. Save more. Spend less. Invest smarter. Get organized. Yet by March, most of those good intentions have dissolved into the busy realities of daily life.

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Your Last Chance to Slash Your 2025 Tax Bill (Before It's Too Late)

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Your Last Chance to Slash Your 2025 Tax Bill (Before It's Too Late)

As we approach the end of 2025, now is the perfect time to review your financial situation and implement strategies that could significantly reduce your tax burden. At HIGHLAND Financial Advisors, comprehensive tax planning is a year-round endeavor; however, here are several powerful moves you can make before December 31 to improve your tax position. Here are the most impactful last-minute tax-saving opportunities to consider. 

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How to Adjust Your Investment Strategy for the New Year

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How to Adjust Your Investment Strategy for the New Year

The start of a new year is the ideal time to reassess your investment strategy. Much like reviewing your fitness goals or updating your household budget, your portfolio deserves a thoughtful check-up. Changes in tax laws, market conditions, and personal circumstances can all impact whether your investments remain aligned with your goals. 

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Three Strategies for Building Your Child's Credit

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Three Strategies for Building Your Child's Credit

As more of our clients send children off to college, a common question has come up: 

"How can we help them start building credit responsibly?" 

Many students today use debit cards linked to a parent's account, which is fine for managing spending, but it doesn't build a credit history. Establishing good credit early can help your child rent an apartment, buy a car, or even qualify for more favorable insurance rates in the future.

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