Blog
Get Ready for 2024: 9 Financial Tasks to Complete This Fall
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...
Read More4 Things You Can Do When Mortgage Rates are High
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...
Read MoreThe Gender Pay Gap and Why Women Should Invest Smarter
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...
Read MoreAge is Just a Number: 5 Benefits that Keep Older Workers on the Job
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...
Read MoreA Guide to Saving for the Future When You’re Worried About Now
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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Don't Worry, Your Financial Advisor Won't Kill Your Fun
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....
Read MoreThe Benefits of Home Sharing: A Q&A with Tracie Barmann of Sharing Spaces
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,...
Read MoreSTEMTaught: The Importance of Introducing Kids to STEM
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...
Read MoreWomen and Financial Planning: Protecting and Restoring Dignity
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...
Read MoreGetting Started: Financial Planning in the Bakersfield, CA Agricultural Community
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...
Read MoreSeparate Financial Accounts from Your Spouse? It's Okay!
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...
Read MoreDonor-Advised Funds: What They are and How to Utilize Them
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...
Read MoreNavigating a Pension Plan: A Comprehensive Guide
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...
Read MoreChanges to the SECURE Act: 3 Things You Should Know!
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...
Read MoreBakersfield Senior Placement: Finding the Right Care for Your Loved One
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...
Read MoreConcierge Medicine: The New Healthcare Trend That’s Personalizing Medicine
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...
Read MoreA Moment of Gratitude: Thank you, Rex Athan
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...
Read MoreHow Benefits Have Changed Since Covid: A Q&A with Heather Browning, MBA, CRM, CIC
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...
Read MoreHow to Make the Most of Open Enrollment: Nov. 1 thru Dec. 15
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...
Read MoreYou’re Doing a Great Job with Your Finances! Here are 5 Reasons Why
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...
Read MoreBitwise Industries: Removing Barriers Around Technology Education
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...
Read MoreKern County Women Giving Back: Cheri Ezell
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...
Read MoreLadies, Don’t Let Time be Your Enemy. Here’s How it Can Affect Your Finances.
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.
Read MoreWomen Going to Work After Covid: How to Get Back on Track Financially
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...
Read MoreSilencing Limiting Beliefs: The First Step to Achieving your Financial Goals
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Kern County Women in STEM: An Interview with Cheryl Scott
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...
Read MoreKern County Women in STEM: An Interview with Melissa Morse
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...
Read MoreMore and More Women are Handling Household Finances
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...
Read MoreRetirement Planning Isn’t Just About the 401(K)
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...
Read MoreHow Life Transitions Can Help Your Relationship with Money
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...
Read MoreCovid Isn’t Done Yet: Make Sure You Do These 3 Things
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...
Read MoreKern Leadership Alliance: Helping the Community Through Faith & Leadership
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...
Read MoreWhat Do You Wish You’d Known About Money?
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...
Read MoreCOMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: Women Leaders in Business
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...
Read MoreWomen & Long-Term Care: Are You Prepared?
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...
Read MoreLong-Term Care Insurance: Invest in Your Aging Options
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.
Read MoreThe Pandemic, Women, & Finances: Where Does Kern County Go from Here?
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...
Read MoreThe Pandemic, Women, & Finances: A Personal Look
“(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%),...
Read MoreThe Pandemic, Women, & Finances: A Look at Kern County
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...
Read MoreCOMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: Bakersfield Angels
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...
Read More5 Things to Consider Before Retiring Early
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...
Read MorePension Lump Sum or Annuity?
Pension Lump-sum or Annuity? from Milan Torres on Vimeo.
Read MoreGetting Downsized: Your Financial Options Before and After
“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...
Read MoreWhat You Should Know Before Filing for Social Security
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...
Read MoreIs Social Security Going Broke?
Is Social Security Going Broke? from Milan Torres on Vimeo.
Read MoreJJ’s Legacy: An Organization Changing Lives in Kern County
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...
Read MorePlanning for Retirement Isn’t Just About the Money
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...
Read MoreThen and Now: This Will Change Us All – I Hope
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...
Read MoreKern County’s Real Estate Market: Where Do We Stand?
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...
Read MoreHow to Kick-Start Your Retirement Savings
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...
Read MoreHere’s the Good News about Stock Market Swings
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...
Read MoreMoney Talks: My Experience Educating Families in Rwanda
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...
Read MoreThis Year’s Tax Documents Can Help You Plan for the Future
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...
Read MoreThink You Don’t Have “Enough” for Financial Planning? Think Again.
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...
Read MoreFunding Your Passion and Purpose
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...
Read MoreRetirement Spending: 6 Lifestyle Questions We Ask Our Clients
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...
Read MoreThe Possible Hidden Bonuses of the 2020 Open Enrollment Period
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...
Read MoreWomen and Retirement Planning
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...
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