Hawley Personal Finance

Providing objective, practical and as-needed advice to answer your personal financial questions.

As of June 2020, I am no longer creating new content. Some details may change from year to year, but my approach takes a long view. It is my hope that the concepts and philosophy in the archives prove timeless and helpful.

A Different Take on Retirement Planning

I think it's safe to say that we all have the goal of one day reaching financial independence. That is, the point at which we have enough money in savings and investments to support ourselves for the rest of our lives. So, how much money is enough?

Most of the time that question is answered with a single big number. And it's true that in the end you're working towards a single total amount of savings and investments. But that total number is composed of many smaller numbers representing the savings you need to support each individual expense ... Read More.

The Secret Way to Make Huge Financial Gains

Most personal finance advice misses a crucial point.

Lost amongst all the calls to cut coupons and skip your morning coffee is the fact that cutting costs isn't the only way to get ahead.

In many cases, a raise can be far more powerful in helping you reach your biggest financial goals. And it may not be as hard to get as you think ... Read More.

Am I Ready to Predict the Next Stock Market Crash?

Since 2009, the stock market has pretty much gone straight up.

From a low of 676 on March 9, 2009, the S&P 500 stands at 2,090 as of June 21, 2016. That's a 209% increase over a period of just over 7 years.

And yet, things have been a little rocky so far this year ... Read More.

4 Steps to Merging Finances with Your Partner

I work with a lot of new couples who are in the midst of merging their financial lives for the very first time. In fact, my fiance and I are in the process of doing it ourselves too.

It's not an easy thing to figure out. There are logistics to handle, habits to change, emotions to manage, and often it feels like there is never enough time in the day for any of it ... Read More.

How to be Mindful About Costs When Planning a Wedding

I’m in the middle of wedding planning right now, and it has opened my eyes to just how incredibly expensive this whole thing can be!

I’m a frugal person at heart so the idea of spending a ton of money on one day seems a little silly to me. But it’s hard not to get caught up in all of it, and I’m finding that the costs are adding up quickly.

So, how do you have a wedding you love without spending more than you can afford? ... Read More.

The Hypocritical Financial Planner

As a financial planner, my job is to help people make smart financial decisions. That means planning ahead for big purchases, making rational spend vs. save decisions, and generally being purposeful and thoughtful with your money.

It’s a noble endeavor, but the truth is that we’re all human and we all make less-than-optimal decisions from time to time. Myself included ... Read More.