Do You Give Wisely?

A primary goal of our family is giving back to our community and non-profit organizations that help the less fortunate, sick and the environment.

When considering the average household income in America is $52,000, my family is incredibly rich in wealth and health. A primary goal of mine is giving back to my community and to non-profit organizations that help the less fortunate, sick and the environment.

Give Wisely!

When giving, I use Givewell to ensure that my giving goes as far as possible. Givewell is a nonprofit dedicated to finding outstanding giving opportunities through in-depth analysis. They use a data driven approach based on 4 criteria: evidence of cost effectiveness, cost effectiveness, transparency, room for more funding. They publish all of the data.

When considering the average household income in America is $52,000, my family is incredibly rich in wealth and health.

If none of Givewell’s suggestions resonate with you, there are a number of places like Givewell that can help you determine the right place to put your money. A short list of charities that I’ve vetted and give to are Heifer International, the American Cancer Society and Altamaha Riverkeepers.

How much should you give?

It’s a personal decision. I work with clients who tithe 10% of their income and others who don’t give much money but are generous volunteering their time and talents. I encourage you to think about giving as a means to help other people and less about a tax deduction. However, if you care about medical care, and rural GA, this is a nice program that is also good for your tax bill.

An interesting bonus to giving??

And an added bonus to giving, you’ll feel smarter if you give, and people may think you are smarter!! So go ahead, give, let everybody know how smart you are!

I have been having really productive goal setting sessions with clients. Now is the time to lay out a plan for next year. Schedule a planning session with me in January!! Can you afford to wait another year to start pursuing your goals?

Josh's Splurge Worthy Holiday Gift Guide

Whether it’s investments, real estate or my clothing, I’m all about value. So when it comes to gifts, I give quality gifts that people can use and enjoy daily. I also love supporting fellow small businesses who focus on quality and make a difference in a community. Assuming that you are following a holiday budget (as per my end of year financial checklist), here’s some holiday gift ideas for those on your Christmas list, that will have as great an impact on a company as they will have on the recipient.

Holiday Getaways

Our family tradition is to go on a Christmas trip, rather than buy a bunch of stuff. Experiences, in my book, are the best gifts. In Georgia we are within a 6 hour drive of a great B&B in Savannah, a house on the beach near Charleston, the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, an amazing old train station in Nashville, Little St. Simons on St. Simons Island and the best beaches in Florida.

Christmas Gifts for Women

These are all gifts I’ve gotten my wife over the last year or two. They’ve proven to be her favorites and great quality.

Greats $143

Timeless Shinola Watch $650

Brooklinen Luxe Sheets $100

Marine Layer Comfy T’s $39

Le Labo $80

2018 Holiday spending

“On average, shoppers expect to spend $1,007.24.
-The Balance

Holiday Gifts for Guys

These are a few of my favorite things.

Big Green Egg

Filson Weekend Duffle $395

Amour Lux Slippers $50

Tommy John Underwear $32

Goorin Brothers Flatcap $60

Purchases at U.S. web retailers rose 23 percent over last year's holiday period

-Bloomberg

Holiday Home Gifts

For my fellow foodies and more

A case of wine from Garagiste.com $125

Fairbault Mills Wool Throw Blanket $160+

Smithy Ironware Cast Iron Skillet $160

Instapot for fast rice and deliciousness $100

Bloodrot Blades Chef Knife - a work of art

This is my wish for you: peace of mind, prosperity through the year, happiness that multiplies, health for you and yours, fun around every corner, energy to chase your dreams, joy to fill your holidays!
- D.M. Dellinger

So, go forth and spend some of your hard earned money … wisely. Let it be on something that they will love and will last for years! And this year, give yourself the priceless gift of security and peace of mind: schedule a meeting with a financial planner. I can create your financial plan and keep you accountable so you reach your goals.

Tata and Josh's Surprising Connection

Tata Built a winning team

In Atlanta, the big sports phenomenon is the Atlanta United soccer team, an expansion team in the MLS. The team is headlined by an internationally renowned head coach “Tata” Martino, who built the team from the ground up, using young, and generally untested players. Led by the dynamic duo: striker Josef Martinez and midfielder Miguel Almiron. The team beat NY Red Bulls (NYRBs) last week to proceed into the championship match this Saturday against the Portland Timbers.

Tata Always has a strategic plan

A friend of mine described the playoff game as “pretty ugly”. Given that the United had won the first of 2 legs 3 - 0, the onus was on the NYRBs to come out and score more than 3 goals. With that in mind, Tata, created a game plan around strong defense, with counter striking possibilities to Martinez and Almiron. This meant, in all likelihood that the NYRBs would possess the ball, have more passes and attempt more shots. While the United would abide the onslaught and use meager chances to create tremendous upside, sending individuals on runs to the goal, essentially unassisted. During much of the game, it did look, “ugly”. However, the plan unfolded exactly as Tata foresaw. This “ugly” plan yielded the opportunity for Atlanta United to proceed to the next round of the playoffs.

For each game— and the season— Tata had a strategic plan, created around his players strengths, working towards “goals”. It allowed individual players the freedom of play and expression, but directs them towards the “win”. Rather than the players descending into ball hogging, fruitless passes and being frustrated by playing hard but not bringing home a win.

Here is an interesting article on entropy, and reminds me that a system left unfettered, will descend into chaos.

How’s your financial plan and track record?

Like Tata, I enjoy working with professionals and families that are at the beginning stages of their financial game but have potential and the commitment to follow a smart plan. Do you want a strategic plan tailored to meet your short and long term goals? Do you want a coach that will keep you accountable so you reach those goals? If so, I want to help you plan and grow your wealth so you can live better.

Contact me if you are interested in learning more.

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End of Year Financial Planning Checklist

With the holidays upon us, it can be difficult to make time to get your finances in order. Many people push out closing their year until well into the next year (ever scramble in April to get all your tax work completed?). But there are several time sensitive financial moves you should consider now, in order to successfully close out 2018.

1. Review your open enrollment options and optimize your selections

   Make sure that you and your spouse are coordinated on health care and dependent spending and 401k and Roth saving goals.

2. Adjust your tax withholdings

   If you have had a child in 2017, been through a divorce, changed jobs or had a change in income, you will likely need to adjust your withholdings.

3. Fund long term savings vehicles (401k, Roth IRA, IRA, SEP IRA, 529s).

   Contribution limits for your 401k is $18,000 and IRA is $5,500. Beware that there are limits on IRAs depending on your income. If you are self employed, take the time to fund a SEP IRA, which has much higher limits than a standard IRA or 401k.

4. Check your health and dependent care flexible spending plans

   Track down your receipts and enter them now. I like to use this wind fall to fund Christmas. If you have not used all of your money, its time to do it now. Also, if you have hit your health care deductible, it may make sense to hit the doctor one more time to take care of anything you have been putting off.

5. Set an end of year budget.

   There is a lot going on: gifts, travel, family events, parties, family pictures. Start to think, at the very least, about some guard rails that you want to set.

6. Start Planning for Next Year

   Set up a meeting with your financial planner. Now is the time to start setting some longer term goals for next year and help secure your retirement for tomorrow. Let me guide you through the process and monitor your progress.

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My 18 Photos of Gratitude

When reflecting on the year and looking at my photos, I am reminded of my accomplishments and how thankful I am for my friends, family and clients that have helped make this year so memorable.

Grateful for achieving my short term goals, while building on my long term, in 2018.

Hosting my family for Thanksgiving and cousin’s camp. Coaching my son’s sports teams. Skiing with my friends and family in Colorado. Flying private to NYC to see Hamilton with my friends. Sending my boys to summer camp. Seeing Atlanta United win. It has been a great year.

I am incredibly grateful to do what I love for a living: working with families to manifest their financial success and goals, so they are free to focus on their vocation and vacation. I am grateful and deeply humbled, that many of my clients refer me to their friends and colleagues. If you are ready to make 2019 an even better year, contact me. Let’s create your financial plan, that will allow you to enjoy today while building for tomorrow. Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving, Josh.

2018 in Pictures

View fullsize

A BIG thank you to my wife and Chief Marketing Officer, who very patiently walks with me through life.

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Why Thanksgiving is My Favorite Holiday

Thanksgiving is almost here! It’s my favorite holiday and features all my favorite things: Cooking, family, relaxing, wine, blazing fires, card games, pies, football and kids running and playing! No gift giving expectations, the weather allows plenty of outside time, and it’s a time to recognize the meaning that your friends and family bring to your life. Thanksgiving! I love every minute of it.

A big added bonus, for me, is that our family tradition is to host. My family comes in from Lake Ocononee and Rome, GA. My in-laws come in from Florida and Connecticut. And I savor the 3 or 4 days of the year that we are all together.

Did I mention that I love to cook and I’m head chef for ~20 people during our Thanksgiving visit? Yes, I cook 3-4 days for 20 people and I still have time to enjoy and savor the time with my family. What’s my secret? Planning. Yes, It’s all about creating a plan that fits our family’s needs, then following through with some hard work, while enjoying the process.

Josh Chamberlain’s Thanksgiving Plan

Saturday/Sunday

• Finalize the menu for the week

• Grocery shop at the YDFM

• Buy beer, wine and bourbon

Monday

• Audrey (my mother-in-law and sous chef) and I check for missing ingredients

• Make another run to the farmers market

• Start the pie dough

• Drink wine and relax

Tuesday

• Brine turkey

• Make pies

• Cook black eyed peas

• Drink wine

Wednesday

• Bake mac & cheese

• Cook greens

• Bake potatoes

• Roast brussel sprouts

• Audrey and I each make a soup for our yearly “Soup Off” (she normally wins)

• Attend neighbors pre-Thanksgiving party

Thursday

• Fry turkey

• Prime rib

• Roast Carrots

• Bake rolls

• Make the gravy

• Make Salad

• Savor the feast

• Watch football

• Drink wine

The kids love to help make whipped cream.

Friday

• Enjoy Leftovers

• Family hike

• Family pictures with Cathy Davis

Saturday

The weekend is only just beginning!!

It’s a plan with lots of room for a wonderful week with family and friends.

*Does anyone see the parallels to financial planning? If you want to talk turkey, contact me.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

What The Hell Is Financial Planning?

I have recently been asked: “Josh, What exactly is this financial planning thing you keep talking about?” Is it something you do one time? Is it creating a budget? Is it just getting assets into a brokerage account and then figuring out how to invest those assets?

Financial planning isn’t a budget or getting life insurance or something you do once, set it and forget it. Financial planning is an ongoing process to help you make sensible decisions that can help you achieve your goals in life.

Financial planning: An ongoing process:

1. Developing a set of family goals and objectives

2. Creating a strategy for reaching those goals

3. Implementing the tactics that will enable the strategy

4. Monitoring the plan to ensure goals are being reached

5. Adjusting the plan as new variables become known

An Example (aka Free Financial Advice)

Here’s an example of how financial planning works. I’ll use a family goal that we can all relate to. Consider this free financial advice. The specifics below might be slightly different for your situation but you will be able to see yourself in this scenario. Feel free to bookmark this page ;)

Family Goal: Safeguarding you and your family from the unexpected

If things go sideways (e.g. the roof blows off the house, you unexpectedly need a new car or there is no salary for several months) you and your family can continue to maintain your current lifestyle without worrying about your day-to-day expenses.

2. Strategy to reach this goal:

• Disability insurance

• Monthly budget for “things that come up”

• Rainy day fund

3. Implement the following Tactics:

• Sign up for your company’s disability insurance covering x% of salary.

• Factor in an additional $500 into the monthly budget for “things that come up”

• Build a rainy day fund equivalent to 3 months of expenses

4. Monitoring:

• Is the paycheck reflecting disability insurance getting paid?

• Is the monthly budget getting funded an additional $500 each month?

• How is the rainy day fund progressing towards 3 month’s of expenses?

5. Adjust:

Once the rainy day fund is fully funded, its time to start diverting money to another longer term goal.

ThIS planning thing seems like a major undertaking!

It is a serious undertaking. Understanding your goals, from securing your future, to living life to it’s fullest today and tomorrow, takes a lot of planning and commitment. My passion is helping families dream big, make a plan to get there and then monitor them and their assets to ensure they succeed. We each get one life to live and we need a plan to make sure we make the most of it: Work hard, have fun, and love our friends and family.

A Chamberlain Financial Advisors Financial plan will cover:

• Understanding your long term goals.

• Looking at insurance and risk mitigation.

• Understanding streams of income.

• Understanding streams of expenditures.

• How to fund various investment vehicles that will be used to your fund goals.

• Selecting low-cost ETFs that match your risk profile.

• Retirement planning - how will you live when working less.

• Estate planning - what will happen after you turn into a rainbow in the sky.

Are you ready to start the process that will ensure you live your life to the fullest and help you reach your long term success? Let me help!

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