2005 Press Coverage / Media Interest

NAPFA Advisor, December 2005 – In "Planning His Way,” Steve Thalheimer, CFP®, MA, Garrett Member of Silver Spring, Maryland was featured in a practice profile for the monthly professional magazine of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. Thalheimer described how his background and training in international economic development prepared him for working with America’s middle income clients on a fee-only, hourly, as-needed basis, and how he operates his business efficiently using technology.

The Ann Arbor News, December 2005 – In an article that explored the effects of the ailing local economy on retirees, Garrett Planning Network Member, Rob Oliver, MBA of Ann Arbor, Michigan was quoted regarding the spending habits of retirees. Oliver advised that statistics show that spending for most people declines during retirement, and that most financial planners project increased spending during the retirement years. He added, however, that health care and long term care costs are the wild cards when estimating retirement living expenses.

Money Magazine, November 2005 – Garrett Member Suzanne Fails, CPA, CFP® of Stafford, Texas helped a Houston family rebalance their investment portfolio in a portfolio makeover column, “Fix My Mix.” With four children, the family faces the challenge of balancing retirement savings goals with their desire to fund their children’s college expenses. Fails suggested using a Roth IRA which would offer the flexibility of using the money for college funding or for additional retirement savings. She also discussed the dangers of investing too much in a single company stock and suggested rebalancing their portfolio with a mix of equity and bond mutual funds.

Investment News, November 7, 2005 – In “Tax reform plans seen as too tame,” Columnist Sara Hansard found that some financial advisors were disappointed that the President’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform didn’t go further than it did in advocating sweeping reforms to our tax system. Garrett Member M. Shannon Lunsford, CFP®, president of Lunsford Financial Planning, Inc. in Louisville, Colorado said, “I was hoping for something even larger – a proposal for a flat income tax or the national sales tax route. This is a minor simplification.”

Morningstar Advisor, November 2005 – Columnist Marie Swift provided financial advisors with great ideas for holiday remembrances for clients. One of the tools she recommends is The Prosperity for Life Financial Organizer designed by Garrett Member Suzanne Fails, CPA, CFP® of Stafford, Texas. This three-ring binder is filled with tabs, checklists, and worksheets that help clients accumulate and store vital personal and financial information and includes a CD to help keep worksheets current. There is also coaching on how to calculate net worth and monitor cash flow as well as financial planning ideas to help you live your financial life on purpose.

The Pantagraph, October 30, 2005 – The feature story in the MONEY section entitled “New Options” compared the features and benefits of the new Tax-free Roth 401(k) with the typical 401(k) employers have been offering. The story acknowledged that it’s uncertain if Twin City employers will offer the [new] plan. Garrett Member, Carol Burroughs, CFP®, founder of Forward Financial Planning, LLC in Normal, IL stated that if an employer has to monitor two separate accounts it many cost [them] more money. “That may be a stumbling block for some employers,” Burroughs said.

Asheville Citizen-Times, October 24, 2005 – The cover story of the WNC Business section featured Garrett Member Joel Kelley, manager of Woodstone Financial, LLC in Asheville, North Carolina. Kelley was quoted in the article titled “Generation in Transition,” regarding how “baby boomers are reshaping the idea of retirement age with many creating new career paths for themselves.” The article describes an innovative workshop series for boomers called Transitions offered by The Center for Creative Retirement at the University of North Carolina-Asheville. Workshop participants can explore new careers, health and fitness, life changes, or financial planning, which is taught by Kelley.

The Pantagraph, October 23, 2005 – A story titled “Christmas bills are coming – Planning ahead can reduce holiday debt” quoted Certified Financial Planner™ professional and Garrett Member, Carol Burroughs, CFP®, of Forward Financial Planning, LLC in Illinois. “We all get more generous at the holidays. Whether it’s spending on gifts or partying, it can really get out of hand.” One of the options Burroughs offered is to slash discretionary spending a couple of months before holidays. “I think people underestimate what they can accumulate cutting those small things.”

Chicago Tribune, October 9, 2005 – Columnist Janet Kidd Steward enlisted Garrett Member Warren McIntyre, CFP® to help a St. Joseph, Michigan couple with some common and some not-so common retirement planning issues. Perched on the retirement threshold, the couple faces a quandary as their portfolio and home both need major work. McIntyre prescribed a total restructuring of the portfolio to eliminate their high cost investments and to reduce risk. He also evaluated several scenarios to renovate their combination three-flat residence and rental property which they are relying on for additional retirement income. In addition to overhauling their home and investments, McIntyre helped the pre-retirees with questions regarding when to take social security and how to deal with other critical issues affecting their golden years.

Nashua Telegraph, September 29, 2005 – Garrett Member Sherrill St. Germain, MBA, founder of New Means Financial Planning of Hollis, New Hampshire, participated in the Nashua Public Library’s “Meet the Author” event in September 2005. St. Germain is a contributor to the book “Just Give Me the Answer$” by Sheryl Garrett, CFP®, with Marie Swift and the Garrett Planning Network. For the “Meet the Author” evening, St. Germain and other local authors were on hand to sign, sell, and raffle off their books, as well as talk about how they came to write and publish their works.

MSN Money, September 29, 2005 – To fill the gaps in your portfolio, columnist Timothy Middleton highlights five funds that cover areas often overlooked by investors. Many financial advisors like broad exposure to the debt of developed or developing countries. “At any point in time, there are (other) countries with higher yields than U.S. bonds, so it doesn’t make sense to ignore a huge segment of the global market,” says Garrett Member Warren McIntyre, CFP®, principal of VisionQuest Financial Planning in Troy, Michigan. McIntyre suggested the Loomis Sayles Global Bond Fund to get exposure to international bonds as a building block to a complete portfolio.

Birmingham News, September 27, 2005 – In “Planning for Disaster Given New Emphasis,” Garrett Member Joe Bedingfield, CFP®, president of Bedingfield Financial Planning in Birmingham, Alabama says, “A lot of people think it won’t happen to them, but these two hurricanes hit close to home. People here have friends and relatives that live on the Gulf Coast, as well as New Orleans and Houston." Disasters are an inevitable fact of life, Bedingfield said. “Just as you might protect your house and personal belongings from disasters, so too you must prepare your personal and financial information.”

The Pantagraph, September 18, 2005 – In a story titled “Education right on the money?”, Garrett Member, Carol Burroughs, CFP®, principal of Forward Financial Planning, LLC in Normal, IL commented that to create good spending habits, children need to make their own choices and learn from their mistakes. “It is important for a child to have some money that is their own so they can make their own choices,” she said. “While stashing all their money away for college is a noble task, it doesn’t allow them to see any reward for their actions now.” They will learn from their mistakes and realize that they need to save for what they really want. Some tips were offered to parents to help children grow into financially responsible adults.

Wall Street Journal, September 18, 2005 – In "For Unmarried Partners, Planning Is Key," Los Angeles based Garrett Member Derek Lenington, CFP®, founder of The Financial Planning Place, discusses property ownership issues unmarried couples must face or otherwise risk unintended and unwelcome inheritance problems. Andrew Blackman’s article highlights estate, property and tax issues unmarried couples can successfully address with good financial planning.

The Pantagraph, August 25, 2005 – The Personal Finance Extra section featured “A balancing act,” a story that addresses the fact that one in four Americans admits to living paycheck to paycheck, with little or no savings. Garrett Member Carol Burroughs, CFP®, of Forward Financial Planning in Illinois, noted that without an emergency fund, “People are relying too much on credit and saying ‘If something comes up, I’ll put it on the card’, which is really kind of sad.” The story also reported that the payday loan business is growing each year. Burroughs suggested that people keep track of their spending habits and make cuts in discretionary spending. She concluded that “It’s kind of like dieting. People have to want to make a change in their lives.”

Baltimore Sun, August 21, 2005 – Jim Ludwick, CFP®, from Odenton, Maryland, with offices also in Santa Barbara, California, was quoted in an Eileen Ambrose column published in several Tribune Company newspapers including the Baltimore Sun, Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune. Ludwick was quoted on his experiences with Equity Indexed Annuities, an increasingly popular insurance product that gives the appearance of enjoying potential stock market like index returns, without downside risk. The article is titled “Annuities tied to indexes are drawing fire for their hype.”

MSN Money, August 2, 2005 – Garrett Member Paul Winter, MBA, of Holladay, Utah, was quoted in an article warning investors about the potential pitfalls of relying on stockbrokers for mutual fund advice. In “5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Broker,” journalist Tim Middleton outlined a variety of circumstances that might lead to conflicts of interest which taint the advice brokers give their clients. At the very least, Winter suggested that investors check the background of any broker or securities firm with the NASD or state regulators before doing business with them.

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, August 2005 – In a popular portfolio makeover series, “Portfolio Doctor – A Pre-Retiree Prices Your Mexican Dream,” Garrett member Eve Kaplan, CFP® of Kaplan Financial Advisors in New Jersey, analyzed plans by a pre-retirement couple regarding the best way to design a future retirement in Mexico. Kaplan noted that “Americans tend to overestimate the savings of living abroad and underestimate the cost of visiting the U.S. for health or family reasons.” She adds “How will they [the retirees featured] pay to relocate to the U.S.” (if they tire of Mexico)?

Chicago Tribune, July 31, 2005 – Can money actually save a marriage? “We may fight over it incessantly, but research suggests money is a tie that binds us together, for better or worse,” writes Journalist Janet Kidd Stewart. And as we loosen those financial ties, marriage is taking a hit. “As financial dependence decreases, it removes a bedrock in people's minds, perhaps making them more prone to walk away from relationships when things get tough,” said Sherri Joubert, a Garrett Member in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The article is titled “Money binds couples, which isn’t always a good idea.”

South Carolina Business Review, July 14, 2005 – In a radio interview by Mike Switzer, Holly Wiegreffe, Ph.D., co-founder with Diane Blackwelder CFP® of Atlantic Planning Partners in South Carolina, was asked why financial planning is important to middle income individuals and families. “We spend a lot of time and energy maintaining our cars, because we want them to be of value to us at some point in the future,” she said. “Financial planning is a lot like car maintenance. If we want our personal finances to have value for us in the future, we need to do some planning. This is true for people from all walks of life, not just the wealthy.”

The Pantagraph, July 8, 2005 – In an article highlighting what effects the recent bomb attacks in London might have on the world economy, twin city financial experts agreed that market fears are unwarranted particularly for those conservatively saving for retirement. Garrett Member Carol Burroughs, CFP®, of Forward Financial Planning in Illinois, noted that, “A knee-jerk reaction is not the answer.” She went on to say that, “I would advise my clients not to make any drastic changes based on something like this.” The consensus was that investors should maintain their previous investment practices and ride out the storm.

MSN Money, July 5, 2005 – In “8 Ways to Check for 401(k) Plan Abuse,” Joe Bedingfield, CFP®, a Garrett Planning Network member in Birmingham, Alabama, advises, “Pay attention to changes you see around you at work. Red flags could be unexplained or poorly explained management and staff changes, which may include unusual turnover or reassignments.” He adds, “Problems with a company’s retirement plan will most likely be due to issues in the underlying business of the company.”

KYW-TV, 3 On Your Side, July 5, 2005 – Alan M. Schapire, CFP®, CPA/PFS, principal of Libra Financial Planning in Pennsylvania and member of the Garrett Network, was featured in a KYW-TV (Philadelphia) "3 On Your Side" segment about financial planning. The segment, also featuring Chuck Bryant, a Libra Financial Planning client, and Kim Lankford of Kiplinger.com, discussed finding a financial planner using the Internet and the affordability of financial planning services. Schapire stated that "approximately 65% of my clients have found me through the Internet." Lankford also noted that a trend has developed in which many planners now charge by the hour. Schapire employs this methodology, espoused by Sheryl Garrett, CFP®, founder of the Garrett Planning Network.

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, July 2005 – In “New Missions for Army Pilot,” Kent Grealish, CFP®, Garrett Network Member, of San Bruno, California, and Sheryl Garrett, CFP®, founder of the Garrett Planning Network, advised a young warrant officer and his wife on buying a house, starting a family and funding retirement.

Birmingham Parent, July 2005 – In “Watching Out for Your Family: The Importance of Wills,” Garrett member Joe Bedingfield, CFP® of Bedingfield Financial Planning in Birmingham, Alabama, recommends that even if you use a computer program to draft your will, an estate attorney should still review it. “If you own your own business, have a special needs child, are in a second or later marriage or estimate your estate to exceed $1.5 million, you should have an attorney who specializes in estate planning draft the document.”

Financial Planning Magazine, July 2005 – Garrett Member Eve Kaplan, CFP® of Kaplan Financial Advisors in New Jersey, was interviewed for a detailed look at international bond investing in an article titled “Foreign Indebtedness". Kaplan noted that she recommends some global bond funds because “many of the good international bond funds close quickly, and many that remain open have high – e.g., $1 million – minimums.” Kaplan also noted that she would “welcome an international bond ETF” to broaden investment choices.

Birmingham Parent, July 2005 – In “Watching Out for Your Family: The Importance of Wills,” Garrett Member Joe Bedingfield, CFP® of Bedingfield Financial Planning LLC in Alabama, recommends that even if you use a computer program to draft your will, an estate planning attorney should still review it. “If you own your own business, have a special needs child, are in a second or later marriage or estimate your estate to exceed $1.5 million, you should have an attorney who specializes in estate planning draft the document.”

Dallas Morning News, June 20, 2005 – The oldest Baby Boomers are now starting to turn 60 this year. Bryan Clintsman, CFP®, founder of Clintsman Financial Planning in Texas, was quoted in an article entitled “Cracking the Nest Egg,” regarding some of the decisions boomers are starting to make regarding taking distributions from their retirement plans.

Birmingham News, June 17, 2005 – In “Planners Weigh Pros and Cons of State’s Prepaid Tuition Plan,” Garrett Planning Network member Joe Bedingfield, CFP® of Bedingfield Financial Planning, LLC in Alabama, noted that due to lower investment returns and enrollment the program faces a current funding deficit of $51.8 million. “This has caused the program to increase the cost of the PACT plan at a rate almost twice the increase in college inflation,” Bedingfield said. He prefers other programs like 529 plans and Coverdell savings accounts.

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, June 2005 – Garrett Members Barbara Camaglia, CFP®, CPA of Legacy Financial Advisors LLC in Ohio and Helga Cuthbert of Touchstone Financial Guidance in Georgia, helped create a financial plan with Jeffrey Kosnett of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. The article, titled “Jewel of An Investment Plan,” helped set a woman on a course designed to achieve her goal of a secure retirement. The article can be found on page 26 of the June 2005 issue.

Kansas City Star, June 5, 2005 – George Syata, MBA, CFP® of Practical Planning in the Kansas City metropolitan area was featured in the Money Wise column of the Kansas City Star. Syata prepared a “Money Makeover” for an individual selected to be featured in the article. He recommended that the individual begin making annual Roth IRA contributions and to purchase rental insurance since he was an apartment dweller. Syata also made investment recommendations to help prepare the client for retirement.

Boomer Market Advisor, June 2005 – In “Knowledge Is Power: Getting to Know Boomers Is The First Step in Helping Them Plan for Retirement,” Christine Falvello, CFP® of Navigate Financial Planning in Pennsylvania, said that boomers have an urgency for retirement planning advice that other clients lack and want to know when they can retire and what their retirement will look like.

Advising Boomers Magazine, May 2005 – In this new publication geared to the special issues of the Baby Boom generation, Freelance Writer Susan Weiner outlines both sides of the debate between financial advisors regarding the use of tax deferred annuities as a retirement planning alternative. Coming down strongly on the side against variable annuities, Warren McIntyre, CFP® of VisionQuest Financial Planning in Michigan, lists the disadvantages which make them a poor investment vehicle. “The popular equity-indexed annuities, which purport to offer downside protection while allowing the investor to enjoy the gains of the stock market, are a good idea in theory, but are too complicated, inflexible and expensive,” he says. “You give up much of the potential upside because there are various mechanisms to cap what you earn, such as the participation rate whereby the contract holder only participates in a percentage of the growth in the index.”

Detroit News, May, 16, 2005 – In a popular Money Makeover series, Garrett member, Warren McIntyre, consulted with a young couple to help them achieve a variety of financial and lifestyle goals including retirement for themselves and a college education for their daughter. McIntyre explained that fully funding retirement accounts should take priority over contributing to specific college savings accounts as there are many ways to deal with college costs, including low-cost student loans, but “nobody will lend you money for retirement.”

Deseret Morning News, May 15, 2005 – In an article entitled “Oh, the Ins and Outs of Saving the 401(k) Way,” journalist Greg Kratz addressed reader questions about 401(k) plans. Garrett Member Paul Winter, MBA, principal of Five Seasons Financial Planning in Holladay, Utah, provided a list of eight steps 401(k) plan participants can take to help protect their contributions and get the most benefit from these plans.

Northeastern Pennsylvania Business Weekly, May 8, 2005 – Christine Falvello, CFP® of Navigate Financial Planning in Pennsylvania was interviewed regarding whether or not some homeowners should sell their homes now at the tail end of a hot market in an article titled, “Is Now The Right Time To Sell? That all Depends.”

MSN Money, April 26, 2005 – In an article highlighting seven highly effective ways to weather today’s volatile market, Warren F. McIntyre of VisionQuest Financial Planning in Troy, MI noted that many people have too much money in one stock – especially their own company stock. “To reduce the discomfort of making a large change at one time, I recommend that they average out of the stock by moving a little bit at a time,” he says. The ultimate goal of the article’s seven-step program is to reduce the exposure to stocks in the portfolio, but with the exact proportions determined by factors such as age and risk tolerance.

Fidelity.com, April 20, 2005 – In “Are You on Track to reach your Retirement Goals,” Garrett member, Buz Livingston of Santa Rosa Beach, FL, points out that people often make two terrible decisions regarding their retirement. First they try to time the market. “No one knows where the market is going to go, but you do know where you want to go, and the best way to get there is to stick to your plan,” advises Livingston. Next there is so much information out there that people do nothing for fear of making the wrong decision. “But even doing nothing is a decision,” says Livingston. “It’s a decision to surrender control of your future, and that’s never a good idea.”

The Pantagraph, April 17, 2005 – Carol Burroughs, CFP®, Principal of Forward Financial Planning in Normal, IL, and member of the Garrett Planning Network, offered some tips on how to begin examining your personal finances in “Money Plan”. “If you don’t have a goal you want to achieve, you don’t have a reason to save,” said Burroughs. “It’s easy to let it slip away.” Burroughs suggested that people do outside reading and research to become more savvy about their money. “You need to have enough information to ask the right questions and be a little skeptical”, said Burroughs.
Deseret Morning News, March 6, 2005 – Paul Winter, MBA, Principal of Five Seasons Financial Planning in Holladay, UT, and member of the Garrett Planning Network, provided advice to a reader looking for a credit card with a lower interest rate. Winter, a fee-only financial planner, outlined several steps to accomplish this objective and recommended some helpful consumer resources. He concluded with this warning: "We're addicted to credit. . . . but you really do want to try to use it just when necessary and not as a habit that you reach for automatically."

Financial Advisor Magazine, March 2005 – In an article by Karen DeMasters entitled "A Passion for Values,” Garrett member Paul Winter outlined some of the difficulties encountered in constructing portfolios for clients with socially responsible preferences. "Sometimes it is a lack of education on the client's part about the availability of funds that keeps people from asking" [about socially responsible investing (SRI)], Winter said. In other cases, the lack of socially responsible investment options in various asset classes makes the process more involved, he added. As an example, Winter continued, "one of the weaknesses currently of SRI is the lack of international funds to invest in."

Financial Planning magazine, March 2005 – Garrett member Paul Winter contributed to an article entitled "Not Dead Yet" that described the current state of fixed income markets and how advisors are positioning client portfolios in this environment. Winter remarked that, in spite of repeated tightening by the Fed and all the hoopla about a rising interest rate environment, longer term rates have held steady or moved lower in the past two years. In the interview he went on to say that he is recommending allocations to floating rate bond funds, Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) and international bonds for his clients.

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, February 2005 – Garrett member Randall R. Cooper, CFP®, of Life Transition Planning in Tampa, FL, assisted with a “money makeover” in the "Perfect Your Portfolio" section of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. One common quandary the family in this article faces is whether they should scramble to catch up with college savings or put aside what they can for retirement. The answer as Cooper points out: "Retirement should come first." There are numerous programs to fund college Cooper advises, such as "scholarships, loans and work-study programs."

InvestmentNews, February 14, 2005 – Garrett member Paul Winter, MBA, was quoted in an article on a new form of variable annuity that offers exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as investment options. Winter, Principal of Five Seasons Financial Planning in Holladay, Utah, opined that this new product feature should benefit clients by lowering ongoing management fees within the annuity structure.

Chicago Tribune, February 13, 2005 – In an article titled “Love, Marriage and Money: Bring them all together,” Kim Jones, a CFP® practitioner and GPN member in Denver, CO was interviewed regarding newlywed planning for long-term financial goals. “Like any goal we have, it’s more likely to get done if it’s written down,” says Jones. Carolyn Bigda’s article states that when you’re ready to commit, you should discuss your finances in detail. “Bring everything to the table,” says Elizabeth Potts Weinstein, another GPN member and attorney in San Jose, CA. Bigda also writes that engaged couples may have some assets that each individual may want to keep under their own control. Weinstein warns, “Once you get married, a whole bunch of automatic rules apply.” A prenuptial agreement drafted with an attorney’s help can override these laws, concludes Bigda.

Business Week, February 7, 2005 – Ellen Hoffman takes on variable annuity salespeople in her article “Annuities: Don’t Believe the Hype.” The article describes the aggressive sales practices used to sell these high cost products and how a consumer can respond to them. Variable annuities “are tax inefficient, difficult if not impossible to understand, and have high costs,” says Warren McIntyre, a financial planner and GPN member in Troy, MI. In the end, Hoffman concludes, you still might want a variable annuity, but make that decision after careful consideration of the product and alternative solutions – not because you were pressured into it.

The Pantagraph, January 30, 2005 – Carol Burroughs, CFP® of Forward Financial Planning in Normal, IL, was quoted as part of a trio of experts for a feature article entitled, “It’s time to enter A TAX MODE.” “To get an idea of what to expect this year, people should take a look at their last tax return,” Burroughs points out, adding that “this will make it easer to determine if they need to track down documents before the April15th filing deadline. People who have changed jobs in 2004 need to make sure they have a W2 form from each employer.” All envelopes arriving in the mail with the notation “Important Tax Information Enclosed” contain just that – critical documents people need as they prepare their tax return."

Deseret Morning News, January 23, 2005 – Paul Winter, MBA, principal of Five Seasons Financial Planning in Holladay, UT, provided potential solutions for a reader concerned with re-financing his credit card debt. Paul, a fee-only financial planner, suggested alternative sources of funds to repay the high-interest debt such as borrowing against retirement plan assets or home equity or liquidating taxable investments. “People need to do their homework before trying such solutions,” he stressed.

Standard & Poor’s AdvisorInsight.com, January 21, 2005 – If a portfolio of individual municipal bonds has to be liquidated before maturity, "transaction costs in the form of bid/ask spreads can be punishing," said Paul Winter, Principal of Five Seasons Financial Planning in Holladay, UT. The article entitled “Tax Breaks Make Muni Bonds Look Good,” compares the benefits of investing in municipal bond funds versus individual tax-free bonds.

Kiplinger's Personal Finance, January 2005 – Kristine McKinley, CFP®, CPA, principal of Beacon Financial Advisors, LLC in Blue Springs, MO was interviewed on finding the right financial planner in an article called “Finding the Right Pro.” The writer of the article, Anne Kates Smith, guides readers through the maze of credentials financial advisors can have, the different services offered, the cost of advice and questions to ask when interviewing financial planners. Like her fellow GPN Members, McKinley is one of a new breed of planners who offers affordable advice to middle-income Americans.

InvestmentNews, January 17, 2005 – Paul Winter, MBA, was quoted in an article on recommendations that financial advisers are giving clients to start the new year on the right track. Winter, principal of Five Seasons Financial Planning in Holladay, UT stressed that now is an opportune time of the year to re-balance portfolios. In particular clients should ensure that their portfolios haven’t become overweighted in historically volatile asset classes. Winter adds, "To the extent that asset re-allocations create taxable capital gains, by acting early, clients have the rest of 2005 to offset them by harvesting tax losses."

Dallas Morning News January 10, 2005 – Bob Stowe, CFP®, CPA, of Plano TX, was chosen by the Dallas Fort Worth chapter of the Financial Planning Association to put together a financial plan for a client retiring with a troubled pension who had volunteered for the newspaper’s money makeover. The retired flight attendant, Ms. Uritz, praised Stowe for the planning effort. After seeing Stowe's recommendations, Ms. Uritz said that she now has a good roadmap to reach her financial goals. "I feel a little bit more assured that I have some starting point as to how much money to save and where to put it," she said.

Detroit News, January 3, 2005 – As the guest financial expert, Warren McIntyre, CFP®, of Troy, MI helps a savvy youngster fire up her financial future in a Money Makeover series. In this installment, the barely twenty-something participant hopes to pay down credit card debt and start saving for a house down payment. McIntyre advises that she has youth on her side and should be able to accomplish her goals – so she doesn’t have to scrimp too much. “It’s important to both live for today and save for tomorrow,” said McIntyre.