April is the perfect time to spring clean our personal finances and budgets as well as our homes. Given what we have learned since last spring, what should our spring cleaning look like this year when it comes to our household finances?
 
In addition, tax season is here. April is Financial Literacy Month. Money Smart Week also occurs in April, and so does Earth Day. There are so many great reasons to be talking about money, taxes and investing right now – and Impact Communications has the sources you need to get your stories and segments done with professional insights from certified professionals including CPAs, EAs, CFPs, ChFCs, CPWAs, CIMA, CFAs, JDs and more.

Research and timing are crucial when starting a new company. No doubt, anyone with a crystal ball would not have planned to open a new restaurant or bar in 2020. But no amount of research could have pinpointed exactly when a pandemic would strike nor the extent of its fallout.

​Art Haws, CPWA®, CFP® and Cam Goodwin, CFP®, CPFA know a little something about launching an unlikely business during unprecedented times.

​It feels negligent to write about the state of the economy or the investment markets without first pausing to acknowledge the current state of discord in the United States, says the Stearns Financial Group in a letter to clients.

Here are some excerpts, followed by some of their Top 10 2021 Predictions:

The chaos we experienced at our nation’s capital in early January along with the ongoing threats of armed protests around the country leading up to the inauguration are rivaled only by a second impeachment trial for our sitting president – the first in our history. As with the thwarted kidnapping plot surrounding the governor of Michigan last year, it seemed only a matter of time before something went (yet again) too far and shocked us all. Putting things into perspective, we know it is only an extremist subset of our population that are breaking the law. It is not “us.” And yet, this handful of people represent the state of affairs in our country and accordingly, injure us all. We hope and pray these unprecedented events will ultimately lead to a stronger democracy, a more civil society, and one in which the rule of law once again prevails.

Intercontinental Wealth Advisors’ 2020 Market Review and 2021 Outlook, compiled by Senior Investment Analyst Juan Pablo Villamarin, CFA, CAIA, is available now. This message from the executive team precedes the market commentary:
​
“As we turn the page over for what has been one of the most challenging years for the human population as a whole, we want to take the opportunity to sincerely thank all of our clients for the trust and partnership they have bestowed upon us over the years. We mourn with all of you the human and financial hardship that this pandemic has caused many individuals and families around the world, and we welcome and hope for a quick transition to post-COVID life.”

​Mark Clure, CFP® is a bestselling author who brings over 26 years of experience to his work as a principal at Enso Wealth Management, a large RIA, managing over $1Billion in assets (FT 300 List, etc.).

​Author of the best-selling book, True Wealth, The GUIDE Process for Finding and Financing Your Ideal Life, Clure can provide insight on several topics.

Buckingham Advisors is an Ohio-based comprehensive financial services firm with world-class expertise. As one of the area’s top financial advisory and tax strategy firms, Buckingham understands from first hand experience what keeps investors, family stewards and business owners up at night.

The team of professionals at Buckingham Advisors work together to create professional and personal financial success for their clients. Buckingham’s professionals are fiduciaries, putting their clients’ needs ahead of their own. If you are looking  for a  team  of professionals who can comment  on  the CARES Act,  PPP loans, financial and tax moves to make  prior to  year-end, managing money, investing, and  more, this team is a great resource. They also  have a wealth of  information (recorded webinars of timely topics) on their  website.

The Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACP), is a community of approximately 200 tax-focused financial planners who provide comprehensive planning strategies for their clients on a fee-only (commission-free) retainer basis. ACP members are required to maintain the CFP® or CPA/PFS (or equivalent) designation, complete ACP’s rigorous training program, and meet some of the highest continuing education requirements in the industry. This diverse group can address anything and everything as it pertains to personal financial  planning and tax strategies. There  are some real brainiacs  in this group and it would be difficult to stump this professional think tank!

​Last week, the Vatican put out communications urging Catholics and the private sector to "progressively and without delay" divest from fossil fuel producers and other entities that perpetuate climate change. The pope called on Catholics to avoid "support for companies harmful to human or social ecology," such as weapon makers and abortion providers, as well as the fossil fuel industry.

Last month, more that 40 faith organizations from around the world, more than half of them Catholic, pledged to divest from fossil fuel companies. 
​
But what do professional financial advisors and investment managers say?

Download the PDF below to see how the investment professionals, Mark Pearson and Chuck Etzweiler, at Nepsis, Inc., an SEC Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), use the "5 C's of Post Covid-19 Opportunity" as a lens for selecting investments for their clients today. They also provide some foundational ideas for an article you might want to develop further, with their help, of course, on "5 Essentials for Smart Investing" and  "Reasons To Be Hopeful During this Corona Crisis."

Financial advisor Tony D'Amico, host of the "Wealth and Life Podcast" is always speaking with interesting guests and exploring important topics. Recent episodes:
​​

• Retirement planning today
• Bootstrapping a business plan
• Estate planning with a focus on family harmony
• Building a dream career
• Insurance policies and how to ensure you get the coverage you need as your situation in life changes​