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| | Spring has arrived, at least on paper anyway. Despite the weekly weather gyrations, new life is emerging all around us. We hope you’ll get a chance to enjoy the beauty Spring brings, in between showers of course. | |
- ARE YOU PREPARED FOR A DISASTER?
On May 6th, we are hosting a complimentary community event focused on helping you prepare for the unexpected. Join us for an engaging evening with a panel of industry experts who will share practical insights on preparing for the physical, mental, and financial impacts of natural disasters.
Tuesday, May 6th 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
McKinley Field Park
Urlin Room
1661 Goodale Blvd.
Grandview Hts, OH 43212
Click here for more details or to RSVP!
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THE WOMEN'S $ CIRCLE – Thank you so much to everyone that attended the inaugural gathering of the Women's $ Circle. Our next quarterly gathering will be held on Thursday, June 19th. Please save the date and stay tuned for more details. We're looking forward to seeing you all again (and hopefully some new faces as well)!
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Click below to read our April 2025 Blog edition.
Eight Tips for Digital Document Filing
We would enjoy receiving your feedback on our Blog. Please share any comments or suggestions for future topics with us via email.
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I have been singing my way through April. Between the evening practices for both choirs and then two concerts on the same day, it’s hard not to. If you have some time and want to take in our Spring concert performance, you can click here to watch.
Twenty-one years ago, I went on a mission trip to Montaña de Luz in Honduras. It is an orphanage for children with AIDS. This is the 25th year of their fundraiser called Fiesta, and one of the kids who was 4 when I was there spoke at the event. So amazing to see the work of many, and what a difference it has made for kids like Wendy.
I’ve also spent a bit more time with my 4 grandsons coloring Easter eggs and playing at the park this month. I really do enjoy hanging out with my guys. This past Tuesday, we went to the opening of “A Beautiful Noise”. What an amazing performance at the Ohio Theater! I have been singing Neil Diamond songs ever since.
| | | | | We’ve enjoyed the beginning of Spring, like I’m sure many of you have. We’ve been busy planting flowers, plants and seeds, trying to bring the lawn back to life, and getting the deck and patio ready for some outdoor time. It’s hard to believe that the school year is already coming to an end in the next few weeks. We’ve also been busy making summer plans and looking forward to spending time together this summer. | | | | | We hosted a small family gathering for Easter dinner and are blessed to have the opportunity to connect. Now we are on to the chores that accompany the arrival of Spring. The next two months will be busy. Andy begins with preparing our screened porch for enjoyment. We complete this task first so we can break here while finishing up other outdoor work. When the yard work is done and the tree buds have fallen, we bring the RV home to prepare for travel. Fortunately, Cayleigh will be home soon for summer. She helps us to get the work done so we can manage additional obligations that arise this time of year. | | | | | |
I was out of the office most of last week with jury duty. It was my first time being summoned, and it was an eye-opening experience. I was summoned by the Franklin County Municipal Court, which handles all misdemeanor crimes in Franklin County. There is an agreement in place between all the local governments in the county to send qualifying crimes and civil cases to the Municipal Court and, as such, it is the only Municipal Court system in all of Franklin County.
We were informed during orientation that somewhere around 95% – 98% of cases in the Municipal Court system reach a plea agreement without trial and that they end up averaging about 3-5 jury trials per week. There only ended up being one jury trial all week, and due to the Easter holiday, the remaining members of the jury pool were dismissed on Wednesday afternoon. I didn’t end up serving on the trial, but my experience made me aware that movies and TV had completely warped my view of the jury process. Ultimately, I ended up sitting in a room reading for three days with fifty other people before I was dismissed.
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Current Economic and Investment Information | | |
TOP-HEAVY POPULATION – 2025 is expected to be the first year in US history where the percentage of the US population over age 54 (30.4%) will exceed the percentage of those under age 25. By 2033, annual deaths in the US are forecast to exceed births, meaning the US population will shrink without immigration. (Source: Congressional Budget Office)
FINANCIAL LITERACY MONTH – April is Financial Literacy Month, but a recent poll from Pew Research found that 67% of adults age 65 and older know a fair amount about personal finances. For those between ages 18 – 29, the percentage is just 41%. (Source: Pew Research)
RENTING OVER BUYING – According to Realtor.com's monthly rental report, the monthly cost of buying a starter home in all 50 largest US metro areas was 60.1% ($1,027) more than the cost of renting. The metro areas where renting has the biggest advantage over buying include Austin, Seattle, and Phoenix. (Source: Realtor.com)
HAVE YOU FILED? – The most recent version of the US Federal tax code (as of 4/12/23) totals 4,138,788 words. That's over five times longer than the King James Bible and more than seven times longer than War and Peace. Even the entire Harry Potter series comes in a slightly more than a million words. (Sources: National Taxpayers Union Foundation; Tax Foundation)
| | The graph below shows how a hypothetical $100,000 investment in stocks would have been affected by missing the market's top-performing days over the 20-year period from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2024. For example, an individual who remained invested for the entire time period would have accumulated $717,046, while an investor who missed just five of the top-performing days during that period would have accumulated only $452,884. | | |
Financial Illiteracy and Its Impact on Your Wallet
By Clara Haverstic
Source: MarketWatch
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April is Financial Literacy Month, and becoming less fearful about money can open doors to financial freedom. You’re not alone if finances feel overwhelming—many people feel the same way. But becoming financially confident doesn’t mean mastering the stock market. Even small steps, like switching to a savings account with better interest, can help your money grow and give you more peace of mind.
Click here to read this article.
| | Let's Talk About That Big Tax Refund | | |
Why Your Tax Refund is Nothing to Celebrate
By Zoe Callaway
Source: Tax Foundation
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We love seeing the joy a big refund brings—but here’s something to consider: that money was yours all along. It’s just been sitting with the government, interest-free.
As tax season wraps up, it’s a great time to check your withholdings. With a few simple adjustments, you could see more in your paycheck each month—money you can save, invest, or use however you need.
We’re here to help. If you’d like to review things together, just let us know. You don’t have to figure it out alone.
Click here to read this article.
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Do you know someone who can benefit from FINANCIAL PLANNING?
At Alexander Financial Planning, we are passionate about financial life planning. We also know that it is not just about the numbers. While numbers are important, they are there to support your hopes, dreams, and desires. When we can put all the components of financial planning together, (cash flow, insurance, investing, taxation, and estate planning) your unique picture of a path forward comes into view. For 27+ years, we have been helping individuals and families develop their plan and navigate the twists and turns each year.
Whether you’re planning for retirement, becoming an empty nester, or navigating how to take retirement distributions, we are your thinking partner. We are here to make sense of it all, one step at a time. If now is the time for you or someone you know to get serious about your financial future, contact us. We’d love to be of service.
WHAT SETS US APART
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“When you come to the end of your rope,
tie a knot and hang on.”
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
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Alexander Financial Planning | |
3600 Olentangy River Rd, Ste. C2
Columbus, OH 43214
614-538-1600
Office Hours:
Monday–Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Registered Investment Advisor
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This material is distributed by Alexander Financial Planning, Inc., (AFPI) and is for information purposes only. Although information has been obtained from sources we believe to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy. It is provided with the understanding that no fiduciary relationship exists because of this report. Opinions expressed in this report are not necessarily the opinions of AFPI and are subject to change without notice. AFPI assumes no liability for the interpretation or use of this report. Financial planning, investment conclusions, and strategies suggested in this report may not be suitable for all investors and consultation with a qualified advisor is recommended prior to executing any investment strategy. No portion of this writing should be construed as legal or accounting advice. All rights reserved. | | |
© Alexander Financial Planning, Inc. | |
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