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Take a moment and think about every major goal you want to achieve in your life.

That list might include events and milestones like sending your kids to college, traveling the world, or retiring to your favorite town that you can currently only vacation to once a year.

Conversations around life insurance are fraught with emotions. Most salespeople know this, and the worst of them will try to play on those emotions to scare people and parents into purchasing policies.

Global stocks hit two milestones in 2017. First, international stocks outperformed US stocks (S&P 500) for the first time since 2012. Second, international stocks did not have a single down month this entire year. This was the first time in the history of the index that it happened. 2017 was quite a year!

2017 was a remarkable year for investors. The final quarter of the year looked very similar to the prior three. It saw stocks steadily move higher with minimal volatility. The S&P 500 had only two trading days this year where stocks gained or declined more than 1.5%. This is the lowest volatility seen looking back at over 30 years of market history.

2017 was the most popular year for our blog with almost 50,000 people visiting! Our goal is to write articles that our clients and friends find informative around their financial life. We are grateful for our readers and as always if you have suggestions for topics please feel free to email us.

I am always looking for a great book to read. Reading helps me relax, but it also helps build my mental lattice. I set a goal each year to read a certain number of books. This year I came up short of my goal, but the books I did read were all great. No throwaways so far!

Here is my list of favorite books 2017.

Knowledge is power, and one of the easiest, most accessible ways to increase your knowledge is to pick up a book and read.

The more you understand about the ins and outs of money, the more you’ll feel empowered to make smart choices and create good habits. Your financial success can depend on your financial literacy.

Most couples don’t expect getting pregnant to be fraught with difficulty or months of trying to add to their family with no luck. It can be an emotionally exhausting process -- and if you choose to turn to fertility treatments, trying for a baby can be financially exhausting, too.

If you’re on top of your financial planning, you likely know the importance of an estate plan. Having the right legal documents in place protects your stuff, your assets, and most importantly, your loved ones that you may leave behind.

What happens when you realize college is right around the corner for your teenager -- but you haven’t been saving to cover the hefty price tag?

The cost of college has been a financial issue most families grapple with at some point or another. And with no sign of college tuition going down in the future, a degree is becoming increasingly difficult to afford.