Lakes Consulting Firm

Allen A. Albrecht CLU, CFP

Welcome to our Web site, where you’ll find a wealth of information in the form of newsletter articles, calculators, and research reports.

We hope your visit will help you understand the opportunities and potential rewards that are available when you take a proactive approach to your personal financial situation. We have created this Web site to help you gain a better understanding of the financial concepts behind insurance, investing, retirement, estate planning, and wealth preservation. Most important, we hope you see the value of working with skilled professionals to pursue your financial goals.

We’re here to help educate you about the basic concepts of financial management; to help you learn more about who we are; and to give you fast, easy access to market performance data. We hope you take advantage of this resource and visit us often. Be sure to add our site to your list of "favorites" in your Internet browser. We frequently update our information, and we wouldn’t want you to miss any developments in the area of personal finance.

Lifetime Earnings

This calculator is designed to help you attach a dollar figure to your life’s work.

Taxable Equivalent Yield

Calculate the rate of return you would have to receive from a taxable investment to realize an equivalent tax-exempt yield.

College Funding

Use this calculator to estimate the cost of your child’s education, based on the variables you input.

Home Affordability

Estimate of the maximum amount of financing you can expect to get when you begin house hunting.

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Put It in Writing

A high level of job satisfaction is fairly typical of business owners, but it can also be a hindrance if it keeps them from thinking about a planned exit strategy. A written exit plan could help you avoid surprises.

Where There's a Will, There's a Way

Only 35% of Americans have a will, yet it's a relatively simple legal document that every adult should have, regardless of wealth or age. Dying without a will can lead to unwanted outcomes and potential problems for heirs. This article discusses the importance of a will and other estate conservation documents.

Lessons from a Perilous Year

In retrospect, 2011 was a formidable year for catastrophes. Small businesses can be hit hard when extreme weather or a natural disaster causes damage or forces a temporary closure. This article considers the importance of adequate insurance protection and ways to help reduce uninsured losses.

Protection from a Range of Liability Claims

It's projected that American companies will face $183 billion in tort costs in 2011, and $152 billion of that will land on the books of small businesses. Fortunately, there are several forms of business liability insurance that can help offset these unforeseen costs.

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