A common question we are asked as financial planners is whether an individual or family should pay off their mortgage. The answer, as it is with many financial decisions, is it depends. In this article, we will walk through key factors to consider if you are thinking about accelerating your mortgage payments.
When people think about financial advice, they usually focus on credentials, experience, or investment performance. But there’s another factor that quietly influences recommendations… often more than clients realize: the financial advisor’s business model.
Most people look forward to retirement with a sense of relief: fewer deadlines, more time for travel and family, and the freedom to enjoy the life you’ve worked so hard to build. But one part of retirement often catches people off guard: taxes.
Roth conversions can be a powerful planning tool — but only when used thoughtfully. This article breaks down when Roth conversions may make sense, common tax traps to avoid, and why timing and coordination matter more than the strategy itself.
As Petra Financial enters its 50th year, our founder shares a thoughtful reflection on the firm’s journey, the principles that have shaped five decades of client relationships, and the vision guiding us into the future. His message highlights the steady values that built Petra — trust, clarity, and long-term partnership — and the continued commitment to serving families with honesty and purpose as we step into the next chapter of our story.
January 1, 2001 is the 25th anniversary of Petra Financial Advisors, Inc. So, I hope you will allow me to reminisce a little. When I started the firm January 1, 1976, it was my second attempt to establish a financial planning business.
You’re Only As Good As Your Sources Of Information. Information is power. It is one of the things that set you apart from your competitors. Carefully choose your sources of information to be sure they expand on each other and are not redundant.
Retirement success depends less on perfect math and more on whether couples enter it aligned on expectations, risk, spending, health planning, and legacy. This article outlines the five essential money conversations that prevent surprise, conflict, and regret in retirement.
Most people think better financial results come from more knowledge — but in reality, the gap between knowing and doing is usually emotional. Emotional intelligence is the skill that slows impulsive decisions, surfaces the real issues beneath money choices, and keeps people aligned with long-term goals when emotions run high.
Emotional intelligence is rarely listed as a financial skill, but in practice it drives whether people stick to plans, communicate well about money, and make wise decisions under stress. Markets test our emotions more than our math, and big money choices are usually identity choices in disguise. This article explains what EQ is and why it often determines financial outcomes more than intelligence or income alone.
Most people assume investing is a numbers game — build a strategy, run the math, and stick to it. But in reality, investors make decisions in moments filled with emotion, uncertainty, and pressure. That’s where behavioral finance comes in: the study of how psychology influences investment choices and market outcomes.
