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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
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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.

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
August 1, 2024
Investment Management

Midyear Check-In

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
August 1, 2024
Investment Management

Here are our investment principles and market insights for mid-2024.

Tagged: Debt, Wealth Management, Market Review, Investment Principles, Market Timing, Market Forecasting, Interest Rates, Dividends, Equities, Federal Reserve, Monetary Policy

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
July 15, 2024
Financial Planning

Should You Buy Pet Insurance? Pros and Cons

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
July 15, 2024
Financial Planning

Learn the pros and cons of pet insurance to make an informed decision for your furry friend’s health and your finances.

Tagged: Pet Insurance, Pets, Companion Animals, Premiums, Deductibles, Co-Pays, Insurance Policy, Exclusions, Hereditary Conditions

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
July 15, 2024
FRS Special Risk

[Video] Optimizing Social Security Retirement Benefits

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
July 15, 2024
FRS Special Risk
[Video] Optimizing Social Security Retirement Benefits

What to consider when figuring out your Social Security benefits age.

Tagged: Social Security, Full Retirement Age, Early Retirement, Benefits, Life Expectancy, Longevity, Spousal Benefits

Wes Crill, PhD, Senior Investment Director and Vice President, Dimensional
July 1, 2024
Investment Management

AI Tide May Lift All Boats

Wes Crill, PhD, Senior Investment Director and Vice President, Dimensional
July 1, 2024
Investment Management

AI will likely benefit more than the developers. What does that mean for investors?

Tagged: AI, Artificial Intelligence, Nvidia, Internet, Investing, Diversification

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
July 1, 2024
Retirement Planning

Will Social Security Run Out Before I Can Collect?

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
July 1, 2024
Retirement Planning

Headlines warn that Social Security funds may run out. Are the concerns valid, and what should you do? This blog discusses the future of Social Security.

Tagged: Social Security, Benefits, Insolvency, FICA, Retirement Age, Payroll Taxes

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
July 1, 2024
Estate Planning

What Estate Planning Documents Do I Need?

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
July 1, 2024
Estate Planning

Here are the documents you should have to help protect you and your estate.

Tagged: Will, Trust, HIPAA, Durable Power of Attorney, Designation of Health Care Surrogate, a HIPAA Release Authorization, Living Will

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
June 15, 2024
Retirement Planning

Medicare Basics: What You Need to Know

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
June 15, 2024
Retirement Planning

Learn the basics of Medicare, including enrollment deadlines, costs, and how IRMAA can affect higher-income individuals and couples.

Tagged: Medicare, Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Premiums, Part A, Part B, Part D, IRMAA, Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, Prescription Drug Coverage

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
June 15, 2024
FRS Special Risk

[Video] Estate Planning Documents You Should Have and How to Get Them

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
June 15, 2024
FRS Special Risk
[Video] Estate Planning Documents You Should Have and How to Get Them

What estate planning documents should you have as an FRS Special Risk participant or retiree? This video provides a rundown.

Tagged: Estate Planning, Will, Trust, Revocable Trust, HIPAA, Power of Attorney, Living Will, Designation of Health Care Surrogate

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
May 21, 2024
Investment Management

Why Most Human Investors Are Doomed from the Start

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
May 21, 2024
Investment Management

What you focus on and respond to the most will determine your long-term investment results.

Tagged: S&P 500, Returns, Volatility, Market Decline, Behavior, Emotions

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
May 21, 2024
Retirement Planning

Optimizing Social Security Retirement Benefits

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
May 21, 2024
Retirement Planning

Let’s look at some of the strategies you might consider to get the most out of your Social Security retirement benefits.

Tagged: Social Security, Full Retirement Age, Benefits, Life Expectancy

Dimensional Fund Advisors
May 21, 2024
Investment Management

3 Common Investing Mistakes

Dimensional Fund Advisors
May 21, 2024
Investment Management

Consider these three mistakes that can reduce investment returns and increase anxiety.

Tagged: Marketing Timing, Investment Mistakes, News, Performance

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
May 15, 2024
Investment Management

Understanding Hidden Fees in Your Investment Portfolio

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
May 15, 2024
Investment Management

Do you have investment fees that you don’t know about? Here are common hidden fees and tips to help reduce them.

Tagged: Hidden Fees, Mutual Fund, Front-Loaded, Fee-Only, Commissions, Brokerage, Transactions Costs, Expense Ratios, Load Fees, Proprietary Fund Fees

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
May 15, 2024
FRS Special Risk

[Video] How to Stress Test Your Retirement Plan

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
May 15, 2024
FRS Special Risk
[Video] How to Stress Test Your Retirement Plan

Can your retirement plan stand up to life's challenges? Here's how to stress-test it to help make sure it can.

Tagged: Retirement Planning, Stress Test, DROP, Pension, Investment Plan, Social Security, Expenses, Scenarios, Inflation, Standard of Living, Life Expectancy, Longevity, Investment Returns, Healthcare, Long-Term Care

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
April 30, 2024
Press Release

Northstar Financial Planners Sponsors We R.I.S.E. for Autism Golf Classic

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
April 30, 2024
Press Release
Northstar Financial Planners Sponsors We R.I.S.E. for Autism Golf Classic

Northstar Financial Planners of Plantation, FL, was a proud sponsor for the We R.I.S.E. for Autism Golf Classic on April 26, 2024, at the Jacaranda Golf Club.

Dimensional Fund Advisors
April 16, 2024
Investment Management

Staying the Course with Value Stocks

Dimensional Fund Advisors
April 16, 2024
Investment Management

Value’s average relative performance has been positive after the strongest and weakest years for the premium. Having consistent exposure can help capture long-term returns.

Tagged: Diversification, Value Stocks, Growth Stocks

Charles Thomas, MBA
April 16, 2024
Retirement Planning

Required Minimum Distributions: A Primer

Charles Thomas, MBA
April 16, 2024
Retirement Planning

Here’s what you need to know about the RMD rule requiring you to make withdrawals from your IRA and other pre-tax retirement accounts.

Tagged: RMD, IRA, 401k, Taxes, Retirement Account, Life Expectancy, Required Minimum Distributions

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
April 16, 2024
Press Release

Northstar Financial Planners Sponsors 5th Annual Autism Bike Ride

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
April 16, 2024
Press Release
Northstar Financial Planners Sponsors 5th Annual Autism Bike Ride

Northstar Financial Planners in Plantation, Fla., was proud to sponsor and participate in the fifth annual Autism Bike Ride on April 13, 2024.

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
April 15, 2024
FRS Special Risk

[Video] The #1 THREAT to Your Investment Plan; It's NOT What You Think

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
April 15, 2024
FRS Special Risk
[Video] The #1 THREAT to Your Investment Plan; It's NOT What You Think

The Florida Retirement System investment plan has some unique risks. This video covers those risks, including the #1 threat.

Tagged: Pension Plan, Investment Plan, Market Risk, Diversification, Behavior, Investment Strategy

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
April 15, 2024
Financial Planning

Helping Your Adult Child Buy a Home: Strategies for Support

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
April 15, 2024
Financial Planning

You want to make home buying easier on your adult child—but should you help them? Here are pros and cons to that decision, plus potential ways you can assist. 

Tagged: Retirement, Adult Child, Home Purchase, Co-sign, Home Loan, Down Payment

Wes Crill, PhD, Senior Investment Director and Vice President, Dimensional
March 21, 2024
Investment Management

The Next BlackBerry?

Wes Crill, PhD, Senior Investment Director and Vice President, Dimensional
March 21, 2024
Investment Management

Even the biggest companies have uncertain futures, highlighting the need for broadly diversified investments.

Tagged: Diversification, Magnificent 7, BlackBerry, Facebook

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