Blog

Best Practices for a Mid-Year Check on your Money

The dog days of Summer are a good time to check in on your finances (and hide in some air conditioning). Here are a few tips to check performance.

Happy Independence Day

Independence Day each year offers a chance for gratitude, as well as the fireworks and BBQ...

Legacy- A Fathers' Day Tribute

This Fathers' Day, I will be reflecting upon the concept of what makes a person's legacy.

The Royal Wedding: "I Do....Now What?"

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will tie the knot this Saturday in one of the most watched wedding ceremonies of all time. And then what? Couples new and old face similar financial hurdles without planning.

Summer is the Time to Teach Kids to be Smart with Money

I don’t know about your house, but we are counting down the days until summer. Ah, summer. The time of year that school and its trappings fall off the calendar, along with structure, discipline, a schedule… Hmmm. Maybe...

Small Business Week- Top Six Challenges for Entrepreneurs

I am a small business owner, so I understand that this is a week to celebrate with many of my clients who are also entrepreneurs. My clients and I know the joy and challenges of making sure employees are happy. We know the big picture...

Top 7 Things You Need to Know About the New Tax Law

Here's our latest stab at deciphering the new Tax Law: “Back Door” Roth IRA: The “back door” Roth IRA is a strategy that has been used with fingers crossed because there has never been clear acceptance of it by...

Key Financial Data for 2018

Here it is for 2018: Our Key Financial Data - information you need at your fingertips so you can make well-informed decisions about your money.

More from the Winter Games- Check Your Alignment

Both Olympians and investors need their motivations, priorities and behaviors aligned in order to achieve best results.

2018 Winter Olympic Games- Run Your Race

Success isn't the same for everyone. An honest inventory of your skills and goals is essential for making sure you're running a race you can win.

The Latest Market Report is Live

What I Learned About Life During a Year of So Much Death

Last year brought a lot of loss, and finding a good story or lesson from all of it isn't easy, but I think I'm on my way.

Nothing Quite Like Tax Legislation for the Holidays

Not enough time to finish holiday preparation AND digest the new tax bill? We’ve got you covered.

Testing Your Life Insurance Know-How

We see a lot of ‘ballpark’ life insurance coverage when we work with clients on their financial plans. They might say, “I have two times my salary at work.” Is ‘two times’ enough? Too much? Is a...

What does a Financial Planner actually do?

There is a line in one of my favorite movies, Office Space, where a consultant named Bob is grilling an employee about his role at the company. The employee keeps evading the questions and finally at his wit’s end, Bob asks the...

Identity Theft and the Equifax Breach

The recent breach of data by hackers who stole 143 million sets of personal information from Equifax is a reminder to us all that our personal information simply is not safe in the digital age.

3,125 Meals Packed for School-Aged Children…And They Still Need Your Help

Thanks to our friends and family, colleagues and clients, who joined us August 19 for the 2017 Brennan Financial Services Family Service Day.

Debra's Market Report 2Q 2017

Here's Debra's latest Market Report, providing her insight and commentary on the financial markets for the Second Quarter of 2017, as well as thoughts on the rest of the year.

Family Service Day 2017

Each year, Brennan Financial Services spends a day with the North Texas Food Bank, helping serve those most in need in our neighborhoods. Please consider joining us this year.

What I learned about leadership from a man in a feathered cap and sparkly pants

Gord Downie is the leader of the Tragically Hip, one of Canada's greatest treasures. And in his final days, he's revealing what leadership can and should be.

“Do I need a power of attorney?” ...And other stimulating ways to start a conversation

You might be right that Powers of Attorney don't make for exciting conversation. But you'd be wrong if you think that you don't need one.

Best Practices for National 529 College Savings Plan Day

Review Debra's Top 6 Best Practices for 529 College Savings Plans in honor of National 529 College Savings Plan Day. It's already on your calendar (5/29)!

Be Careful Who Your Joneses Are

It's time to reevaluate your measures of success. There's always another Jones to chase, so focus on your own goals.

The 2017 First Quarter Market Report is Live

We've added our Quarterly Market Report to the front page of www.debrabrennantagg.com, replacing the webinar series that we've held for the past several years.

A Guide to Loving Your Millennial Employee

Your workplace and potential employee pool are increasingly populated with millennials. Getting beyond the generational gap to fully benefit from this opportunity requires a fresh perspective on employee relations.

How Can I Spend Less? Save More? The MONEY Budget Explained

Budgeting is more than cutting expenses. The MONEY Budgeting system challenges users to view money as a tool, rather than a goal, to enable better saving and spending decisions.

Key Financial Data for 2017

As you review your income and taxes for last year and plan ahead for 2017, attached is our Key Financial Data update for this year. We include information for all ages and stages of life, including tax rates, deductions and exemptions,...

Join Us for the Next Market Webinar: February 1st at 3:30pm

2016 started off as the worst year in US stock market history, and ended with a surprising post-election gain in the US stock market. During this webcast we’ll tell you what happened in between, as well as how the other financial...

Long Term Care- You May Not Need a Policy, but You Need a Plan

When people imagine retirement, they tend to conjure images of themselves as being healthy, happy, and fully capable of doing what they want to do. However, as people live longer and longer, we know that sometimes our bodies start to...

How Much Can I Contribute to My 401(k)? Better Question: How Much Should I Contribute to My 401(k)?

My clients are like an extension of my family, and I focus my energy on helping them get to a place where they are confident in their plan. So when I see study after study that says that Americans aren’t saving enough to reach...

Qualified Charitable Distributions Help IRA Owners to Avoid Taxes

As we begin to wind down the year, many Americans are looking for ways to donate to charities, and their tax and financial advisors are looking for ways to lower their tax burden. IRA owners over the age of 70 ½ need to fulfill...

Protect Your Data and Yourself Around the Holidays

With the holidays on the horizon, you might be considering shopping online and traveling. We all know that hackers are on the prowl day and night these days, especially as more and more of our information is uploaded to the cloud and...

Debra's Market Report: Q3 2016

Does anyone remember how this year started in the financial markets? We began 2016 with a sharp downturn in oil and stocks – indeed it was the worst start to a calendar year that the S&P 500 has ever had. Not only have we...

Feeling Hopeless? Put in an application

Feeling hopeless about our country? Dallas Police Chief David Brown says, “Put in an application.” I am lucky to live in Dallas, a city that doesn’t sit idly by for very long when it sees an opportunity to really get...

A Favor? From the IRS?

Every now and then, the IRS does investors a favor. And every now and then, investors think about their estate. While IRS rulings and estates may seem like boring reading, anyone who is married to a spouse with a retirement account...

Why I Became a CFP® Professional after 15+ Years as a Financial Advisor

Our industry is strange and unnecessarily complex for most “consumers” (i.e. people who need help with their money) to understand what to look for when they hire a financial planner. In our industry, someone can have zero...

Get Thee to a National Park

The National Park Service turns 100 on August 25, and that is but one of the many reasons that I am talking about national parks to everyone I know these days. I wish I could say that I mandated national park visits in our annual...

Gratitude and Leadership, Where Have You Gone?

An open letter from a heartsick but hopeful Dallas citizen Gratitude: The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Leadership: A practical skill encompassing the ability of an individual or...

Brexit- A Quick Look at the Impact

Britain voted 52% to 48% to leave the European Union, which has sent global markets into temporary turmoil, and has caused the British pound to plummet. Here is what you need to know from a financial perspective: While the polling...

First Quarter Market Report - 2016

As a supplement to my Webinar last week, here's an abridged version of my analysis and reaction to the first quarter of 2016. Earnings season is upon us We are knee-deep in earnings season, and all I can think about is what a...

What We Can Learn from the Villanova Men's Basketball Team

What we can learn from the Villanova Men’s Basketball Team (Or, how to get ready for your “One Shining Moment”) As a not-so-recent graduate from Villanova, I always get vaguely interested in sports when the NCAA...

It's Consumer Protection Week- Best Practices to Protect Your Information

It may be Spring Break for many, but it’s also Consumer Protection Week, which is a great opportunity to highlight how you can protect your personal information. Our firm and our industry take information security very seriously,...

Key Financial Data for 2016

Tax season has begun, and while you look back over your financials for 2015, we would like to help you plan moving forward. Here are some highlights from our 2016 Key Financial Data, which should help as you make financial decisions...

Social Security- An Important Update for 2016

The changes that are coming for this year, and how they may affect you. Social Security has two changes on the horizon, and it is important to understand them, especially if you or your spouse is between the ages of 62 and 66 and have...

10 pallets, 300 boxes, 4,650 pounds, 3,875 meals

10 pallets, 300 boxes, 4,650 pounds, 3,875 meals packaged in only two hours! Thanks to all who joined us January 30th for the 2016 TeamDBT Brennan Financial Services Family Service Day. We put our hands to work with clients, colleagues...

Seriously? You Don’t Have a Will?

Seriously? You Don’t Have a Will? And Other Must-Haves for Executive Families I work with clients on financial planning and investment management. Unfortunately, most people think they are the same thing. Financial planning is...