Financial Advice & Consulting, LLC

Congratulations to Crystal Bowles, CFP® on being named Hoover's Best Financial Advisor for 2026 by Hoover's Magazine for the second year in a row!!!

For over 25 years Crystal has helped clients navigate retirement, career changes, the loss of a spouse, and other major life transitions. We are proud to see her receive this recognition again and grateful to have her as part of our team.

Congratulations, Crystal!

Good financial advice includes paying attention to cybersecurity.

We pay close attention to industry developments like FINRA’s new Financial Intelligence Fusion Center because protecting clients is not just about managing money well. It is also about staying alert to the evolving ways bad actors try to exploit people and institutions.

A few basics worth remembering:
• Use unique passwords
• Enable multi-factor authentication
• Do not trust unexpected links or attachments
• Always verify unusual financial requests before acting

Smart habits still matter.

FINRA Launches Financial Intelligence Fusion Center to Combat Cybersecurity and Fraud Threats | FINRA.org WASHINGTON—FINRA announced today the launch of the Financial Intelligence Fusion Center (FIFC), a secure portal for FINRA and its member firms to share timely intelligence about cybersecurity and fraud threats and coordinate responses.

Crystal Bowles has a new blog post up. She brings a good perspective with some great advice for women on practical ways to feel more in control of their finances.

5 Smart Financial Steps Women Can Take Now to Feel More in Control — Financial Advice & Consulting, LLC Feeling overwhelmed by money decisions? These five practical financial steps help women get organized, build an emergency fund, review insurance, understand investments, and plan ahead with confidence.

DON'T LOSE YOUR MONEY MOMENTUM

Every January, people start strong: eating at home, going to the gym, cancelling subscriptions, etc... Then February hits and it’s “welp, back to normal.”

But here’s the thing: motivation may fade but that's where discipline kicks in to keep the momentum up.

However, discipline is only going to get you so far if the task ahead looks impossible, so here's some quick tips to make things seem less daunting:

✅ Pick a “minimum viable win.”
Don’t aim for perfection. Aim for repeatable.
It can be as simple as deleting your food delivery app. You aren't saying you can't get food, you just have to actually "go get" your food instead of paying double for it to get delivered.

✅ Automate the stuff that matters.
If it depends on willpower, it’s going to fall apart when you’re tired.
Auto-transfer to savings. Auto-extra payment on debt. Auto-increase retirement contributions when you get a raise.

✅ Plug the leaks before you “budget harder.”
Most people don’t have an income problem — they have a slow-drip spending problem. Subscriptions you forgot, food delivery creeping up, random Amazon buys, “free trials,” etc.

✅ Build guardrails for the same traps that get you every year.
YOU CAN ADD FUN THINGS TO YOUR BUDGET. If you find yourself overspending on the same categories year after year after year then that's a pretty good indicator that you should increase that line item. Maybe something else needs to come down or maybe you just need to admit this is something you spend money on, but continuing to pretend it's not gonna happen isn't helping anyone.

✅ Do a 10-minute weekly money huddle.
Once a week: check balances, look at upcoming bills, pick ONE action. You don't even have to "do" anything, often most people get in trouble because they simply aren't aware of when to stop spending, just pay a little bit closer attention.

The goal isn’t perfection. The goal should be an enjoyable lifestyle that doesn't put you in a financial bind.

If you’re trying to get your plan steady this year, we can help.

Merry Christmas!

It starts with Black Friday… then Cyber Monday… then Cyber Week… and suddenly it’s six straight weeks of “lowest price of the year” 🙃

Here’s the thing:
A lot of these “deals” aren’t real savings. They’re just regular prices in a Santa hat. If you wouldn’t be excited to buy it in March, it’s probably not a smart “deal” in November or December.

Quick tips to keep it in check:

-Make your list before you see the ads.

-Set a total dollar amount you’re willing to spend.

-Stick to the list, no “just one more thing” at checkout.

More peace, less regret, and a January credit card bill that doesn’t make you choke.

www.financialac.com

🐶🐱🐦 How much do we really spend on our pets? Spoiler: a LOT.

🌎 Globally, the pet care market is worth $259 billion today… and it’s on track to hit nearly $500 billion by 2030. That’s half a trillion dollars of kibble, squeaky toys, and catnip.

🇺🇸 Here in the U.S., we dropped $147 billion in 2023 alone on our furry (and scaly and feathery) friends. The breakdown looks like this:

$67.8 billion → Food & treats (yes, gourmet salmon bites count)

$41.4 billion → Vet care & medicine (because “free puppy” is never really free)

$34.3 billion → Supplies, toys, and “impulse buys” we swore we wouldn’t get

So if your bank account feels empty… blame the dog bed shaped like a racecar. 🐕💸

www.financialac.com

Crystal Bowles just sent her oldest off to College. She's written a helpful blog post discussing her experience and 5 solid takeaways for any parent facing this reality in the near future.

Our Oldest Is Off to College: 5 Practical College Planning Tips for Parents — Financial Advice & Consulting, LLC College costs have skyrocketed in a generation. Here are five college planning tips every parent should know—covering saving strategies, financial guardrails, and key documents before move-in day.

Nothing really lasts forever—not even ‘lifetime’ payments. The folks who depended on those Publisher’s Clearing House checks are learning that the hard way. If you ever find yourself with a sudden windfall—lottery, inheritance, settlement—don't just start spending it immediately.

Make a plan with a financial advisor so the money works for you long after the excitement fades.

www.financialac.com