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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.
December 21, 2020

COVID Exposes Risk of Dividend Strategy

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
December 21, 2020

Did your dividends get cut during the coronavirus pandemic? Here's what history shows about changes to dividend policy.

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
December 21, 2020

The Ups and Downs of Credit Cards

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
December 21, 2020

One of the easiest ways to get in big financial trouble is to fund your lifestyle on credit—by running up big balances on your credit cards, up to maxing them out.

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
November 25, 2020
Financial Planning

A Special, Expanded Year-End Financial Checklist

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
November 25, 2020
Financial Planning

In 2020, there are many more reasons to review your financial status, cash flows, and goals given the changes to the tax code and other legislation.

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
November 16, 2020
Financial Planning

Is Buying a Vacation Home a Good Investment in Retirement?

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
November 16, 2020
Financial Planning

You’re hankering for a second home in retirement. Whether you see it as your home away from home or as another source of income, here are points to consider before you buy a vacation home.

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
October 28, 2020

Pundit Season

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
October 28, 2020

Have you been hearing the “experts” discuss how the markets will respond to the 2020 election? Here’s why you shouldn’t listen to them.

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
October 28, 2020

An Exceptional Value Premium

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
October 28, 2020

Read this article to understand why recent value-stock underperformance represents an extreme outlier.

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
October 15, 2020
Financial Planning

Should You Refinance Your Miami/Fort Lauderdale/West Palm Beach Home?

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
October 15, 2020
Financial Planning

Considering refinancing your home in a Florida city like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach? Here are 8 questions to ask yourself.

Tagged: Retirement Planning, Refinancing, Interest Rates, Mortgage Loans

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
September 24, 2020

Is the Stock Market Divorced from Reality?

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
September 24, 2020

How can stock prices flirt with new highs while the news is so discouraging?

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
September 24, 2020

The Dangers of Chasing Big Stocks

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
September 24, 2020

The rich get richer, so they say. Does that mean big companies are a better bet in general than smaller ones?

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
September 22, 2020

How To Get The Most From Your Financial Advisor

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
September 22, 2020

I’m going to show you the 3 biggest things you can start doing right now to get the most out of your financial advisor.

Tagged: FRS

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
September 14, 2020
Financial Planning

The Commissioned Fiduciary (and Other Oxymorons)

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
September 14, 2020
Financial Planning

A commissioned fiduciary is an oxymoron—and not understanding that could end up costing you.

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
August 21, 2020

The Truth About Bulls and Bears

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
August 21, 2020

If you had to guess, would you say there have been more bull markets (stretches of time the S&P 500 rose more than 20%) or bear markets (times when stock prices fell 20% or more)?

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
August 21, 2020

Lump Sum Investing vs. Dollar Cost Averaging

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
August 21, 2020

Some investors favor a dollar-cost averaging approach to deploying their investment capital. Unlike lump-sum investing, in which the full amount of available capital is invested up front, DCA spreads out investment contributions using installments over time.

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
August 14, 2020
Financial Planning

Love Paying Extra Taxes? Take Out a Deferred Comp Loan

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
August 14, 2020
Financial Planning

Florida Retirement System special risk employees: If you are considering taking out a deferred compensation loan, it can cost you in extra taxes. Here’s why.

Tagged: Special Risk, FRS, Florida Retirement System, Deferred Compensation

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
August 3, 2020

Three Reasons The Investment Plan Might Be For You

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
August 3, 2020

Investment plan or pension plan? There’s probably no bigger decision involving your FRS Retirement than that.

Tagged: FRS

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
July 23, 2020

Alert: COVID Scams

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
July 23, 2020

It should come as a surprise to no one, given the fear and uncertainty surrounding the global pandemic, we are experiencing a triple play of scam opportunities.

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
July 23, 2020

Large and in Charge

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
July 23, 2020

A top-heavy stock market with the largest 10 stocks accounting for over 20% of market capitalization and a marquee technology firm perched at No. 1? This may sound like a description of the current U.S. stock market, but it is actually a reference to 1967.

Kristen Luke
July 23, 2020

Value vs. Growth: 92 Years of History

Kristen Luke
July 23, 2020

Historically, value stocks have outperformed growth stocks in the US, though recently that hasn’t been the case.

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
July 15, 2020
Retirement Planning

How to Choose the Best FRS Pension Option

Northstar Financial Planners Inc.
July 15, 2020
Retirement Planning

Florida Retirement System (FRS) public safety employees: Read this blog to understand why pension Option 1 may not be the best choice if you’re married.

Tagged: Couples planning, FRS, Florida Retirement System, public safety officers, DROP

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
June 30, 2020

The 3 Things You Must Know BEFORE You Pick Option 1

Allen Giese, ChFC®, CLU®
June 30, 2020

Imagine making a mistake that costs your family, the people you love the most, A LOT of money. Choosing Option 1 and not really understanding it can be that kind of mistake. Don’t take this one lightly.

Tagged: FRS

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