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Northstar Financial Planners

Home
About
How We Help
Who We Help
Pre-retirees
Florida Retirement System Special Risk Employees
Families of Children with Special Needs
Our Process
Book
Resources
Our Blog
Newsletters
Holiday Card Archive
Contact Us
Client Login
May 1, 2025
Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
One of the Best-Kept Secrets in Charitable ...

Discover how donor-advised funds offer a flexible, tax-smart way to simplify and amplify your charitable giving—without the hassle of a private foundation.

May 21, 2021
Retirement Planning
Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
The 5 Biggest FRS Retirement Mistakes

Watch this video to learn about the five biggest mistakes we see FRS Special Risk participants making.

March 24, 2021
Investment Management
Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
To Bit or Not to Bit: Investing in Crypto

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are receiving intense media coverage, prompting many investors to wonder whether these new types of electronic money deserve a place in their portfolios.

March 24, 2021
Investment Management
Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
Tales from The Crypto: Cautionary Bitcoin ...

Bitcoin and related cryptocurrencies are the subject of much debate and fascination. Given bitcoin’s dramatic price changes, it is not surprising that many are speculating about its possible role in a portfolio.

February 25, 2021
Investment Management
Steve Tepper, CFP®, MBA
Trading into Stock Frenzies: A Lesson in ...

Forget GameStop. Here’s some real-life investing lessons to learn from fictitious company LameSlop.

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
September 14, 2022
Investing

The Good and Bad of ESG Investing

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
September 14, 2022
Investing

Here are the upsides and downsides of ESG investing to help you decide whether it’s right for you.

Tagged: ESG, Environmental, Social, Governance, Sustainable Investing

Felipe Mejia, CFP®
August 16, 2022

Selling Real Estate in This Market? Here’s How the Capital Gains Work

Felipe Mejia, CFP®
August 16, 2022

If you sold your home after the pandemic began, you may have brought in a sizable profit.

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
August 15, 2022
Estate Planning

5 Big Mistakes Executors Make—and How to Avoid Them

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
August 15, 2022
Estate Planning

You can be personally responsible for mistakes you make as an estate executor. Here are five of the most common mistakes you should be aware of.

Tagged: Estate Administration, Executor, Portability

Charles Thomas, MBA
July 25, 2022

Social Media Security

Charles Thomas, MBA
July 25, 2022

A hot topic of conversation has been the many threats we face in cybersecurity. If you have fallen victim to a hacker, it is important to act in a timely manner to prevent further damage to your personal information.

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
July 25, 2022

A Rough Half-Year

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
July 25, 2022

If an economic slowdown over a few calendar quarters is what it takes to tame inflation, it would be by far the lesser of two evils.

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
July 15, 2022
Financial Planning

Does It Make Financial Sense to Buy an Electric Car?

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
July 15, 2022
Financial Planning

With gas prices going up, you might be eyeing an electric car for your next purchase. Here are the areas where EVs cost more and less than gas cars.

Tagged: Electric Car, Electricity, Utility Costs, Gasoline Prices

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
June 27, 2022

Who’s Your Successor Trustee?

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
June 27, 2022

Who you select as your successor trustee will have a lot to do with whether you achieve your objectives.

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
June 13, 2022
Education Planning

529 Plans: How You Can Use Them for More Than Just Tuition

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
June 13, 2022
Education Planning

You’re not limited to a child’s college tuition with a 529 savings plan. This article covers the broad array of uses for your 529 plan.

Tagged: 529 Plan, K-12, ABLE Account

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
May 31, 2022
FRS Special Risk

[Video] Choosing the Right Pension Payment Option—for You

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
May 31, 2022
FRS Special Risk

Which FRS pension option should you choose? This video breaks down the options so you can pick the right one for your needs.

Tagged: Pension Option, Beneficiary, DROP, Spouse

Steve Tepper, CFP®, MBA
May 26, 2022

6 New Online Scams You Need to Know About

Steve Tepper, CFP®, MBA
May 26, 2022

Here are a few newly popular illegal online schemes you should be aware of.

Steve Tepper, CFP®, MBA
May 26, 2022

Investing with the Russian Bear

Steve Tepper, CFP®, MBA
May 26, 2022

With the Russian Bear Market (copyright pending) on us, we have yet another opportunity to talk about the folly of market timing.

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
May 16, 2022
Investment Management

Why Geopolitics Shouldn’t Change Your Investment Strategy

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
May 16, 2022
Investment Management

Geopolitical events like the Russia-Ukraine war can alarm investors. But if you follow these guidelines, you have less to be concerned about.

Tagged: Ukraine, Russia, Geopolitics, Diversification

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
May 2, 2022
FRS Special Risk

[Video] What Could Be the Biggest Threat to Your FRS Investment Plan

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
May 2, 2022
FRS Special Risk

Is inflation, legislation, or the markets the biggest threat to your FRS investment plan? It’s none of them. Watch this video to learn the biggest risk.

Tagged: Investment Plan, Risk, Inflation, Legislation, Market Volatility

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
April 18, 2022

Inflation: Are Dividend Stocks the Answer?

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
April 18, 2022

It is natural to be concerned about the potential impact of high inflation and rising interest rates on portfolios. However, we believe our analysis shows there is no reason to expect dividend-paying stocks or high dividend payers to offer more protection and higher returns during these periods.

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
April 15, 2022
Financial Planning

Combat Inflation Now and in the Future: 4 Steps

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
April 15, 2022
Financial Planning

Here are four steps to help reduce inflation’s bite now and in retirement.

Tagged: Inflation

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
April 1, 2022
FRS Special Risk

[Video] Survivor Benefits for Special Risk FRS

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
April 1, 2022
FRS Special Risk

Survivor benefits for Florida Retirement System Special Risk employees based on the pension and investment plans.

Tagged: Survivor Benefits, Pension Plan, Investment Plan, Line of Duty

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
March 24, 2022

All Eyez On P: What Will Powell Do Next?

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
March 24, 2022

Against the macroeconomic backdrop of inflation, the monetary policy response of the US Federal Reserve has become the center of attention for many US and global fixed income investors.

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
March 24, 2022

War Is Sell: What Investors Get Wrong About Global Conflicts and Their Impact

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
March 24, 2022

Geopolitical events like military or economic conflicts can affect stock markets in many ways. These events are normally widely followed by investors. We believe current market prices quickly incorporate expectations about the effects of these events on economies and companies.

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
March 14, 2022
FRS Special Risk

[Video] The Most Important Question You Can Ask Your Financial Advisor

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
March 14, 2022
FRS Special Risk

Here’s one question you should ask a potential financial advisor and why this question is so critical.

Tagged: Fee-Only, Commission, Financial Planning, Fiduciary

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
March 14, 2022
Retirement Planning

3 Things to Do Before You Retire

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
March 14, 2022
Retirement Planning

Don’t just jump into retirement—you might come up short. Here are three steps to take before you retire to help create a retirement you desire.

Tagged: Retirement Income, Retirement Lifestyle, Social Security, Legacy

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This is not a solicitation for any investment product. Always read the prospectus before you invest. Past performance is no indicator of future returns. Northstar Financial Planners is a fee-only advisor and sells no investment products.

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