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Friday, September 15, 2023

It’s hard to believe we’re talking about the end of the year already. As I write this, there are only 108 days until 2024 – and I know they’ll pass in a flash. We all get busy over the holidays, so I’m...

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

High mortgage rates can be a source of concern for homeowners and aspiring buyers alike. According to BankRate, “The last time U.S. mortgage rates were this high, Facebook had yet to be invented, Bill Clinton was...

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

If you’re a woman in the workforce, you’ve probably experienced everything from small slights at the office to more overt discrimination. But what probably frustrates you the most is what’s being deposited in your...

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Aging is inevitable, but it doesn't necessarily have to mean retirement. In fact, more and more older adults are staying in the workforce, and for good reason. Not only do they bring years of experience and knowledge to the table, but...

Monday, July 10, 2023

Having financial stability is important, but it can be difficult to think about long-term saving when we’re struggling to make ends meet right now. With increased inflation, cost of living increases, and the ups and downs in the...

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Friday, June 30, 2023

When you think of a financial advisor, do you imagine a stern-faced person who takes away all your enjoyment in life? It's time to put that stereotype to bed. Financial advisors are here to help you live your best life, not hamper it....

Monday, June 12, 2023

Finding affordable housing can be a challenging task for many people these days, whether you are a college student seeking a roommate or a senior citizen looking for a comfortable and secure living arrangement. According to Flex.com,...

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

When it comes to exposing children to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), the possible positive effects can have an amazing ripple effect.STEM subjects can offer a huge number of career opportunities later in life.STEM...

Monday, May 22, 2023

When it comes to money, it’s almost impossible to get to adulthood without some form of financial baggage.I know I have some: during my childhood, money was very tight, and we lived in financial chaos all the time. It...

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

In the Bakersfield, CA area, agriculture is at the very heart of our community. We are fortunate to be home to amazing companies that are involved in our neighborhoods and employ many of our friends and family members.I thoroughly...

Monday, March 27, 2023

It’s not uncommon for someone to come into my office and tell me they have kept their finances separate from their spouse or partner. However, what I’ve noticed is that sometimes people seem…well…embarrassed to...

Monday, March 13, 2023

If the term “donor-advised funds” is new to you, don’t worry; it's not exactly a topic that comes up in everyday conversation. But if you’re looking for a way to donate funds that could help with your overall...

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Although pensions are becoming less common, they are still used by many companies to help provide their employees with financial security in retirement. But what is a pension, exactly? And how can you make sure that you get the most...

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

The changes to the original SECURE Act that originated during the pandemic are here – all 350 pages of them. I know you’re busy and don’t have time to read through all that, so here are a few things you should be...

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Bakersfield, CA has many resources available to help the community. I was fortunate to come across Tim Kounter, Director of Placement Services with Bakersfield Senior Placement. His dedication to helping seniors and their families is...

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

The healthcare system is constantly throwing changes at us, and it can be hard to keep up. Unfortunately, some of those changes don’t always feel positive – but there are some transformations happening that might make...

Thursday, November 17, 2022

As we near the holiday season, I find myself in moments of gratitude thinking about my life and my work; I was fortunate enough to know someone who not only made a difference in my personal life, he changed my professional life as well...

Monday, October 24, 2022

With open enrollment coming up and so many companies changing their offerings, I thought it would be helpful to ask an industry professional what we should look for when it comes to our benefit selections. Colonial Benefit...

Thursday, September 29, 2022

Many times, people will sign up for benefits when they start a new job, and then they don’t think about it again until something truly life-changing happens. But the truth is, you should take a look at your benefits every year to...

Thursday, August 11, 2022

You have a spending plan in place that helps you understand what’s coming in and out so you can get out and enjoy life.You’re consistently paying down your debt, starting with the highest interest rate first.You pay...

Thursday, August 4, 2022

One of the unique aspects of the Bakersfield community is how involved the community is in bettering the lives of others – and this is certainly true of Bitwise Industries. I recently reached out to Amy Thelen, SVP of City...

Monday, June 13, 2022

During the many years I have lived in the Kern County community, it has been a privilege to meet people who make a difference in our area. While some organizations are wonderful about marketing their message and mission, I also know of...

Monday, May 30, 2022

When it comes to saving for retirement, time can be your biggest ally or your biggest enemy, depending on when you start. And for women, time is not always on our side.

Monday, May 16, 2022

Since the onset of COVID-19, more than 2.3 million women have left the labor force, compared to 1.8 million men. (Source)So, for a lot of women who are thinking about going back to work, they might feel like...

Thursday, April 28, 2022

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Friday, October 29, 2021

As I mentioned in a previous blog, Kern County Women in STEM is gearing up to do amazing things for women in our local area. In this Q&A, I interview another member of the organization, Cheryl Scott, Executive Director of the...

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Throughout the years, I’ve enjoyed helping many organizations, both locally and globally. Part of my purpose is helping and mentoring others – and the Kern County Women in STEM group has been a wonderful way for me to...

Friday, September 24, 2021

I’ve been in the financial industry for over 33 years, so I’ve seen firsthand how much of the marketing for financial planning is usually targeted at the man of the house. However, my personal experience – and the...

Thursday, September 16, 2021

If you’ve been working over the last couple of decades, you’ve likely seen a lot of changes when it comes to retirement planning options. Our parents and grandparents often had pensions that would see them through...

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Life transitions are usually never fun. But here’s the thing: they’re inevitable. Transitions feel like an abnormal disruption to life, but in fact they are a predictable and integral part of it. While each change may be...

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

It seems like just yesterday that we were all breathing a cautious sigh of relief, hoping that the worst of Covid was behind us. Unfortunately…that might not be the case. We’re all hearing about or experiencing first-hand...

Thursday, July 8, 2021

I feel like one of the “themes” that’s arisen in 2021 has been renewal. We spent a year living our lives in ways that were nothing like we’ve come to expect and through that experience we’ve learned a lot...

Monday, June 14, 2021

According to Self.com, “Finances is one of the main reasons that students drop out of college.” And that is a statement that hits close to home for me. My upbringing was one of scarcity. Starting from the age of 15, if I...

Friday, May 7, 2021

If you are or have ever been a business owner you know that it can be a lonely place to be. There are decisions that have to be made daily, often on your own, and without someone to bounce ideas off of (or even just vent to every once...

Monday, March 29, 2021

I’m just going to be frank: when it comes to aging, much of the burden falls on women. I’m not just talking about the role as a caregiver – although that is a major worry as those around us age. I’m also talking...

Friday, March 5, 2021

We are fortunate to live in a time where we have choices when it comes to our care and planning for the future. Some people take advantage of these options while others find it difficult to plan ahead.

Thursday, February 11, 2021

In our last two blogs, we’ve looked at the statistics on how the pandemic has affected women in Kern County and we’ve also taken a personal look at how this last year has affected us. Now it’s time to talk about what...

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

“(As of June 2020) Fifty-two percent of women workers have experienced one or more impacts to their employment situation as a result of the pandemic, including reduced work hours (24%), layoffs (16%), reduced salaries (13%),...

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

When it comes to women, work, and financial planning…Covid-19 was a blow we didn’t need. Pre-pandemic, the “average gender pay gap in the United States…was around 18.9%, meaning that a woman working a...

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Charpentier Wealth Strategies is not only dedicated to helping our clients with their financial futures, we’re also active in the community as well. That’s why when we find an organization that’s doing amazing things...

Monday, November 9, 2020

No matter where you stand on current issues, I think there’s one thing we can all agree on: 2020 is a year none of us will forget. Almost everyone has felt some uncertainty at some point this year – whether it’s about...

Monday, October 19, 2020

Pension Lump-sum or Annuity? from Milan Torres on Vimeo.

Friday, October 2, 2020

“Downsizing” is a word that no one likes to hear or say. If you’re the deliverer, that means your company is likely going through an economic rough patch. If you’re the receiver, you know that your lifestyle...

Thursday, August 20, 2020

We’ve all been experiencing a lot of changes lately, but questions surrounding Social Security are nothing new. In the past, the uncertainty has been about its funding (we address that in this video: CLICK HERE), but with recent...

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Is Social Security Going Broke? from Milan Torres on Vimeo.

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Finding purpose and giving back to the community is a big part of our focus at Charpentier Wealth Strategies. That’s why I’m thrilled to highlight an organization right here in Kern County: JJ’s Legacy, a non-profit...

Friday, May 29, 2020

In my last blog post, I talked about a cause that I’m passionate about. Now, it’s time to talk about YOU and what you love to do. Here’s the thing: Retirement isn’t just about the money. It’s also about...

Friday, May 1, 2020

Let’s be honest; financial advisors are not always known for letting down their guards and inviting people to get to know them personally. But I feel like if I want to have a personal relationship with my clients, the...

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

For this blog post, we asked local realtor Tami Workman how the current crisis is affecting how people buy and sell homes. For more about Tami, please read her bio at the end of this piece. The current crisis certainly affected the...

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

I was not always the financial professional you see before you. In fact, there was a time when I didn’t know a retirement plan from a checking account. I was not raised in a home where money was discussed, which made the options...

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

With the onset of the coronavirus and the uncertainty of the stock market, many investors are feeling on edge. But I have good news for you: we’ve been here before. While the details are different, a fluctuating stock market is...

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

In previous blog posts, I’ve talked about my passion for working with the organization Under His Umbrella and how the mission trips I’ve taken to Rwanda have not only affected my life, they’ve changed how I help my...

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

There are two words that strike fear into the heart of every American: tax season. And, unfortunately, I can’t sugarcoat it for you – tax season isn’t fun for anyone. What I CAN do is help you make the most of your...

Thursday, January 30, 2020

There is a HUGE misconception out there that only the rich use financial advisors. The truth is that anyone at an any age can benefit from professional financial advice and the great news is that there are many options for you to...

Monday, January 6, 2020

As a financial advisor, I’ve gotten pretty good at not only looking at the numbers but looking at life as a whole. And that’s not just something I do with my clients; I practice what I preach and find ways to make my own...

Thursday, November 7, 2019

When it comes to retirement, most people are familiar with the “planning” part and less familiar with the “spending” part. Yes, you read that correctly: Retirement spending is also a factor in retirement...

Friday, September 20, 2019

Chances are you might have heard that open enrollment is upon us; from November 1st through December 15th, you have the option of changing your benefits. Again, you might already know that. But do you really know what that means? Many...

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Women often face special challenges when planning for retirement. Because their careers may be interrupted more often to care for children or elderly parents, women may spend less time in the workforce and earn less money than men in...