Your Shifting Risk ToleranceWhen you created your investment strategy, your asset allocation should have reflected your goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk.But over time, any of those three factors may have changed, and your...
Read MoreSECURE Act 2.0: An OverviewIn the final days of 2022, Congress passed a new set of retirement rules designed to facilitate contribution to retirement plans and access to those funds earmarked for retirement.The law is called SECURE 2.0...
Read MoreNew Retirement Contribution Limits for 2023The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released new limits for certain retirement accounts for the coming year. After months of high inflation and financial uncertainty, some of these...
Read MoreImportant Birthdays Over 50Most children stop being "and-a-half" somewhere around age 12. Kids add "and-a-half" to make sure everyone knows they're closer to the next age than the last.When you are older, "and-a-half" birthdays start...
Read MoreFind That Lost Retirement AccountFind That Lost Retirement AccountDo you have a long-lost retirement account left with a former employer? Maybe it’s been so long that you can’t even remember. With over 24 million...
Read MoreEmotional vs. Strategic DecisionsInformation vs. instinct. When it comes to investing, many people believe they have a “knack” for choosing good investments. But what exactly is that “knack” based on? The...
Read MoreCreative Ways to Motivate Your EmployeesThe common thread that runs through all small businesses, from professional services to manufacturing, is that a motivated workforce is central to the business’s success.Here are some...
Read MoreWhat Can You Buy With 529 Distributions?Some of the biggest challenges many face when it comes to education are financial. Luckily, a 529 college saving plan can help. And they're not just for college anymore - added to the tuition...
Read MoreAsset AllocationIf you live in or have visited a big city, you’ve probably run into street vendors – people who sell everything from hot dogs to umbrellas – on the streets and sidewalks. Many of these entrepreneurs...
Read MoreCatch-Up ContributionsA recent survey found that 28% of workers are very confident about having enough money to live comfortably through their retirement years. At the same time, 27% are not confident.1In 2001 congress passed a law...
Read MoreBull and Bear Go To MarketLearn about the difference between bulls and bears—markets, that is!
Read MorePullbacks, Corrections, and Bear MarketsWhen the market drops, some investors lose perspective that downtrends and uptrends are part of the investing cycle. When stock prices break lower, it's a good time to review common terms that...
Read MoreUnderstanding FDIC InsuranceIt's natural to wonder exactly how a bank safeguards your money. Fortunately, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance exists for this very reason: to help protect your funds once deposited...
Read MoreTax Efficiency in RetirementWill you pay higher taxes in retirement? It’s possible. But that will largely depend on how you generate income. Will it be from working? Will it be from retirement plans? And if it does come from...
Read MoreStarting a Roth IRA for a TeenWant to give your child or grandchild a financial head start? A Roth IRA might be a choice to consider. Read on to learn more about how doing this may benefit both of you.Rules for setting up a Roth IRA...
Read MoreEstate Management ChecklistDo you have a will?A will enables you to specify who you want to inherit your property and other assets. A will also enables you to name a guardian for your minor children.Do you have healthcare documents in...
Read MoreA Taxing Story: Capital Gains and LossesChris Rock once remarked, “You don’t pay taxes – they take taxes.” That applies not only to income but also to capital gains.Capital gains result when an individual sells...
Read More9 Facts About Social SecuritySocial Security's been a fact of retirement life ever since it was established in 1935. We all think we know how it works, but how much do you really know? Here are nine things that might surprise you.The...
Read MoreWhat's So Great About a Rollover?Changing jobs can be a tumultuous experience. Even under the best of circumstances, making a career move requires a series of tough decisions, not the least of which is what to do with the funds in your...
Read MoreRebalancing Your PortfolioEveryone loves a winner. If an investment is successful, most people naturally want to stick with it. But is that the best approach?It may sound counterintuitive, but it may be possible to have too much of a...
Read MoreDoes Your Child Need to File an Income Tax Return?As parents, we encourage our children to work, so they can learn important values about work and independence. At what point, if at all, do children need to file an income tax return...
Read MoreBest-Performing Asset ClassesAccording to Yale University's Crash Confidence Index, only about 24% of investors are confident the stock market will not crash sometime during the next six months.1If fear leads investors to avoid the...
Read MoreCounteracting Capital Gains with Tax-Loss HarvestingTax-loss harvesting means taking capital losses (selling securities for less than what you initially paid for them) to offset any capital gains you may have.While this doesn't get rid...
Read MoreTraditional vs. Roth IRATraditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA), which were created in 1974, are owned by roughly 36.6 million U.S. households. And Roth IRAs, created as part of the Taxpayer Relief Act in 1997, are owned by...
Read MoreSocial Security: The 64,000 Dollar QuestionOne of the most common questions people ask about Social Security is when they should start taking benefits.This is the $64,000 question. Making the right decision for you can have a...
Read MoreSocial Security: Five Facts You Need to KnowSocial Security can be complicated, and as a result many individuals don’t have a full understanding of the choices they may have. Here are five facts about Social Security that are...
Read MoreOrchestrating Your Retirement AccountsAn orchestra is merely a collection of instruments, each creating a unique sound. It is only when a conductor leads them that they produce the beautiful music imagined by the composer.The same can...
Read MoreSECURE Act 2.0: An OverviewIn the final days of 2022, Congress passed a new set of retirement rules designed to facilitate contribution to retirement plans and access to those funds earmarked for retirement.The law is called SECURE 2.0...
Read MoreWhat Is a 1031 Exchange?If you want to add investment real estate to your portfolio, you may want to know what a 1031 Exchange is. While the rules and regulations for this tactic can get complicated, understanding the basic concepts...
Read MoreNew Retirement Contribution Limits for 2023The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released new limits for certain retirement accounts for the coming year. After months of high inflation and financial uncertainty, some of these...
Read MoreThe Cost of ProcrastinationSome of us share a common experience. You're driving along when a police cruiser pulls up behind you with its lights flashing. You pull over, the officer gets out, and your heart drops.“Are you aware...
Read MoreSaving Early & Letting Time Work For YouAs a young investor, you have a powerful ally on your side: time. When you start investing in your twenties or thirties for retirement, you can put it to work for you.The power of...
Read MoreRisk PerspectiveRisk is a factor in any investment decision that you make. Your tolerance for risk is something that you will want to consider when you make decisions alongside your trusted financial professional. Your risk tolerance...
Read MoreProblems with ProbateMany of us hope to leave something behind for our loved ones when we pass away. But the probate process is complex. To understand how to better manage potential probate fees, let’s explore what probate is and...
Read MoreDiversification, Patience, and ConsistencyRegardless of how the markets may perform, consider making the following part of your investment philosophy:Diversification. The saying “don’t put all your eggs in one...
Read MoreThe A, B, C, & D of MedicareBreaking down the basics.Whether your 65th birthday is on the horizon or decades away, understanding the different parts of Medicare is critical, as this government-sponsored program may play a role in your...
Read MoreWhen Should You Take Social SecurityThe Social Security program allows you to start receiving benefits as soon as you reach age 62. The question is, should you?Monthly payments differ substantially depending on when you start receiving...
Read MoreWhat Can You Buy With 529 Distributions?Some of the biggest challenges many face when it comes to education are financial. Luckily, a 529 college saving plan can help. And they're not just for college anymore - added to the tuition...
Read MoreUnderstanding Marginal Income Tax BracketsBy any measure, the tax code is huge. It is over 2,000 pages long, and even longer with footnotes.1And almost weekly, the Internal Revenue Service publishes a 20- to 50-page bulletin about...
Read MoreSilver Sneakers 101Once you turn 65, the world of Medicare opens to you, and you also gain access to its offshoot supplemental programs. You likely know about Part A, Part B, Medicare Advantage, and other sections, but you may not know...
Read MoreInflation and the Real Rate of ReturnThe real rate of return is an important personal finance concept to understand.It’s the rate of return on your investments after inflation. The real rate of return indicates whether you are...
Read MoreThe Utility of Sector InvestingThere is a growing popularity among individuals to broaden their investment strategy beyond conventional allocations and investment styles. Some see sector investing as a way to seek new opportunities for...
Read MoreGetting a Head Start on College SavingsThe U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates the cost of raising a child to the age of 17 for a middle-income family will be about $285,000. That's approaching the median value of a new home in...
Read MoreYour Shifting Risk ToleranceWhen you created your investment strategy, your asset allocation should have reflected your goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk.But over time, any of those three factors may have changed, and your...
Read MoreThe SECURE Act Starts the Clock on Inherited IRAsThe "Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement" Act (SECURE Act) made significant changes to IRAs inherited after January 1, 2020.For those who inherit IRAs after this date,...
Read MoreManaging the Risk of Outliving Your Money"What is your greatest retirement fear?"If you ask some pre-retirees this question, "outliving my money" may be one of the top answers. In fact, 42% of workers say they fear outliving their...
Read MoreManaging the Risk of Outliving Your Money"What is your greatest retirement fear?"If you ask some pre-retirees this question, "outliving my money" may be one of the top answers. In fact, 42% of workers say they fear outliving their...
Read MoreConquering Retirement Challenges for WomenWhen it comes to retirement, women may face unique obstacles that can make saving for retirement more challenging. Given that women typically live longer than men, retirement money for women...
Read MoreTypes of Stock Market AnalysisThere is no shortage of analysis for anyone interested in investing. A search for the term "stock market analysis" turned up over one billion results on Google and well over two billion on Yahoo.1The...
Read MoreRetirement RealitiesExpectations vs. RealityPredicting exactly what your retirement will be like is about as possible as a meteorologist predicting the weather correctly every single time. In fact, few retirees find their financial...
Read MoreGlobal vs. International: What’s The Difference?With international stock markets comprising about 44.1 percent of the world's capitalization as of 2021, a broad range of investment opportunities exist outside the borders of the U...
Read MoreDo Our Biases Affect Our Financial Choices?Investors are routinely warned about allowing their emotions to influence their decisions. However, they are not often cautioned about their preconceptions and biases that may color their...
Read MoreManaging an InheritanceInheriting wealth can be a burden and a blessing. Even if you have an inclination that a family member may remember you in their last will and testament, there are many facets to the process of inheritance...
Read MoreEstate Management ChecklistDo you have a will?A will enables you to specify who you want to inherit your property and other assets. A will also enables you to name a guardian for your minor children.Do you have healthcare documents in...
Read MoreBuilding Your LegacyCarve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.1Shannon L. AlderThe desire to leave a legacy may be the height of altruism for it is a...
Read MoreBuilding a Solid Financial FoundationWhen you read about money matters, you may see the phrase, “getting your financial house in order.” What exactly does that mean?To some, when your financial “house is in order...
Read MoreWhy Medicare Should Be Part of Your Retirement StrategyMedicare takes a little time to understand.As you approach age 65, familiarize yourself with its coverage options, costs, and limitations.Certain features of Medicare can affect...
Read MoreProtecting Your Home Against Flood LossIn 2019, the average flood claim payout from the National Flood Insurance Program was $52,000.1The financial loss that comes with flooding can be devastating. Yet, many Americans are not protected...
Read MoreMutual Funds vs. ETFsThe growth of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has been explosive. In 2005, there were less than 500; by the latter half of 2021, there were over 8,000 investing in a wide range of stocks, bonds, and other securities...
Read MoreImportant Birthdays Over 50Most children stop being “and-a-half” somewhere around age 12. Kids add “and-a-half“ to make sure everyone knows they’re closer to the next age than the last.When you are older,...
Read MorePersonal Finance CalendarWrite down the major financial events you anticipate in the next few years. That will help guide a discussion about whether your portfolio reflects your short- and long-term goals.Update your personal net worth...
Read MoreRetirement Questions That Have Nothing to Do With MoneyPreparing for retirement is not entirely financial.Your degree of happiness in your "second act" may depend on some factors that don't come with an obvious price tag. Here are some...
Read MoreBudget Check Up: Tax Time Is the Right Time Every year, about 140 million households file their federal tax returns.1 For many, the process involves digging through shoe boxes or manila folders full of receipts; gathering mortgage,...
Read MoreBreaking Down the Parts of Medicare Generally, the different parts of Medicare help cover specific services. Most beneficiaries choose to receive their Parts A and B benefits through Original Medicare, the traditional fee-for-service...
Read MoreA Bucket Plan to Go with Your Bucket List John and Mary are nearing retirement and they have a lot of items on their bucket list. Longer life expectancies mean John and Mary may need to prepare for two or even three decades of...
Read MoreThe Most Overlooked Item of Any Home Improvement If you are like most homeowners, you love selecting the fixtures, fabrics, and paint colors of your home improvement project. But there is one very important item that you may...
Read MoreWhat to Look for in an Extended-Care Policy Extended-care coverage can be complex. Here’s a list of questions to ask that may help you better understand the costs and benefits of these policies. What types of facilities are...
Read MoreWhy Regular Rebalancing Makes Sense Everyone loves a winner. If an investment is successful, most people naturally want to stick with it. But is that the best approach? It may sound counterintuitive, but it may be possible to have too...
Read MoreRebalancing Your Portfolio Everyone loves a winner. If an investment is successful, most people naturally want to stick with it. But is that the best approach? It may sound counterintuitive, but it may be possible to have too much of...
Read MoreInflation & Your Money “If the current annual inflation rate is only 1.4 percent,1 why do my bills seem like they're 10 percent higher than last year?” Many of us ask ourselves that question, and it illustrates the...
Read MoreEstate Management Checklist Do you have a will? A will enables you to specify who you want to inherit your property and other assets. A will also enables you to name a guardian for your minor children. Do you have healthcare documents...
Read MoreStarting a Roth IRA for a Teen Want to give your child or grandchild a financial head start? A Roth IRA might be a choice to consider. Read on to learn more about how doing this may benefit both of you. Rules for setting up a Roth IRA....
Read MoreSaving Early & Letting Time Work For You As a young investor, you have a powerful ally on your side: time. When you start investing in your twenties or thirties for retirement, you can put it to work for you. The power of compounding....
Read MoreRisk Perspective Risk is a factor in any investment decision that you make. Your tolerance for risk is something that you will want to consider when you make decisions alongside your trusted financial professional. Your risk tolerance...
Read MoreCaring for Aging Parents Thanks to healthier lifestyles and advances in modern medicine, the worldwide population over age 65 is growing. In the past decade, the population of Americans aged 65 and older has grown 35%, and is expected...
Read MoreRetirement Seen Through Your Eyes How do you picture your future? Some see retirement as a time to start a new career. Others see it as a time to travel. Still others plan to spend more time with family and friends. With that in mind,...
Read MoreA Checklist for When a Spouse or Parent Passes When you lose a spouse, partner, or parent, the grief can be overwhelming. In the midst of that grief, life goes on. There are arrangements to be made, things to be taken care of –...
Read MoreManaging an Inheritance Inheriting wealth can be a burden and a blessing. Even if you have an inclination that a family member may remember you in their last will and testament, there are many facets to the process of inheritance that...
Read MoreManaging Money as a Couple When you marry or simply share a household with someone, your life changes—and your approach to managing your money may change as well. The good news is it’s usually not so difficult. At some...
Read MoreTax Efficiency in Retirement Will you pay higher taxes in retirement? It’s possible. But that will largely depend on how you generate income. Will it be from working? Will it be from retirement plans? And if it does come from...
Read MoreRetirement Plan Choices for Small Businesses As a small-business owner, figuring out retirement choices can be a little intimidating. How do you pick the most appropriate retirement plan for your business as well as your employees?...
Read MoreNavigating Retirement Pitfalls Much is written about the classic financial mistakes that plague start-ups, family businesses, corporations, and charities. Some classic financial missteps have been known to plague retirees, too. Calling...
Read MoreExploring the Federal Student Grant Program You may have heard of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, if you or someone you know has plans to attend a college, career school, or university. Last year, over 60% of...
Read MoreDiversification, Patience, and Consistency Regardless of how the markets may perform, consider making the following part of your investment philosophy: Diversification. The saying “don’t put all your eggs in one...
Read MoreRetirement Realities Expectations vs. Reality Predicting exactly what your retirement will be like is about as possible as a meteorologist predicting the weather correctly every single time. In fact, few retirees find their financial...
Read MoreBuilding Your Legacy Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.1Shannon L. Alder The desire to leave a legacy may be the height of altruism for it is a...
Read MoreUnderstanding Homeowner’s Insurance Purchasing homeowner’s insurance is not only critical for protecting your home, your personal property and against any potential liability, but if you have a mortgage, your lender will...
Read MoreWill Power Only 45 percent of adults have a will or other estate documents in place, which may not be entirely surprising.1 No one wants to be reminded of their own mortality or spend too much time thinking about what might happen once...
Read MoreWhere Will Your Retirement Money Come From? For many people, retirement income may come from a variety of sources. Here’s a quick review of the six main sources: Social Security Social Security is the government-administered...
Read MoreWhat's So Great About a Rollover? Changing jobs can be a tumultuous experience. Even under the best of circumstances, making a career move requires a series of tough decisions, not the least of which is what to do with the funds in...
Read MorePrevent a Rift: Money Tips for Newlyweds Research suggests that 70% of married millennial couples argue about financial decisions more than any other topic. This could explain why some experts say financial problems are one of the top...
Read MorePassword Protection Strategies We all know that the more complicated a password is, the better. They should include a mixture of numbers, punctuation marks and symbols, and uppercase and lowercase letters. Or should they? Recent...
Read MoreOrchestrating Your Retirement Accounts An orchestra is merely a collection of instruments, each creating a unique sound. It is only when a conductor leads them that they produce the beautiful music imagined by the composer. The same...
Read MoreMutual Funds vs. ETFs The growth of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has been explosive. In 2002, there were only 102; by 2020, there were over 7,000 investing in a wide range of stocks, bonds, and other securities and instruments.1 At...
Read MoreBuying Auto Insurance For Teen Drivers Driving may be a rite of passage for teenagers, but for parents, having a teenage driver can be stressful and expensive. Your child will need auto insurance coverage as soon as they receive their...
Read MoreThe Anatomy of an Index Did you know that more than $11.2 trillion in assets are benchmarked to the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index, including $4.6 trillion in index assets?1,2 The S&P 500 is ubiquitous – we see it on...
Read MoreTIPS for Inflation In February 2018, Jerome Powell was appointed as Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. He became the 16th chair to take over the helm of the world’s most influential central bank.1...
Read MorePay Yourself First Each month, you settle down to pay bills. You pay your mortgage lender. You pay the electric company. You pay the trash collector. But do you pay yourself? One of the most-basic tenets of sound investing involves the...
Read MoreImportant Birthdays Over 50 Most children stop being “and-a-half” somewhere around age 12. Kids add “and-a-half“ to make sure everyone knows they’re closer to the next age than the last. When you are older...
Read MoreValue vs. Growth Investing Looking at their recent track records doesn’t do much to settle the debate. Over the past decade, as a whole, value stocks have not performed as well as growth stocks. But looking at a larger body of...
Read MoreRebalancing Your Portfolio Everyone loves a winner. If an investment is successful, most people naturally want to stick with it. But is that the best approach? It may sound counterintuitive, but it may be possible to have too much of a...
Read MoreWhat Is a Roth 401(k)? While many people are familiar with the benefits of traditional 401(k) plans, others are not as acquainted with Roth 401(k)s. Since January 1, 2006, employers have been allowed to offer workers access to Roth...
Read MoreTraditional vs. Roth IRA Traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA), which were created in 1974, are owned by roughly 36.1 million U.S. households. And Roth IRAs, created as part of the Taxpayer Relief Act in 1997, are owned by...
Read MoreFour Really Good Reasons to Invest Forty-six percent of Americans do not own any stocks or stock-related investments, such as mutual funds, according to a recent Gallup poll.¹ Individuals may cite different reasons for not...
Read MoreEstate Management Checklist Do you have a will? A will enables you to specify who you want to inherit your property and other assets. A will also enables you to name a guardian for your minor children. Do you have healthcare documents...
Read MoreTax Rules When Selling Your Home How the gains from the sale of a primary residence are taxed has changed in recent years. If you have recently sold your home, or are considering doing so, you may want to be aware of these new rules....
Read MoreWhen Should You Take Social Security The Social Security program allows you to start receiving benefits as soon as you reach age 62. The question is, should you? Monthly payments differ substantially depending on when you start...
Read MoreHelpful Retirement Strategies for Women Preparing for retirement can look a little different for women than it does for men. Although stereotypes are changing, women are still more likely to serve as caretakers than men are, meaning...
Read MoreCountering Counterfeit Currency Believe it or not, the agency responsible for protecting U.S. currency is the United States Secret Service. The agency was founded on July 5, 1865 as part of the Department of the Treasury to combat the...
Read MoreAsset Allocation If you live in or have visited a big city, you’ve probably run into street vendors – people who sell everything from hot dogs to umbrellas – on the streets and sidewalks. Many of these entrepreneurs...
Read MoreAnd the Executor Is U.S. Supreme Court Justice Warren Burger is famous for more than just his time on the bench. When he died in 1995, he left a 176-word will that gave no specific power to his executors.1 As a result, he reportedly...
Read MoreWhat Is a Roth 401(k)? While many people are familiar with the benefits of traditional 401(k) plans, others are not as acquainted with Roth 401(k)s. Since January 1, 2006, employers have been allowed to offer workers access to Roth...
Read MoreInflation - Back to the Future Inflation sometimes seems like one of those afflictions of an era long since passed into the history books. While it’s true that double-digit inflation has been absent for the last 30 years or more,...
Read MoreHow the Federal Reserve Works Have you ever taken a close look at paper money? Each U.S. bill has the words “Federal Reserve Note” imprinted across the top. But many individuals may not know why the bill is issued by the...
Read MoreWhere Will Your Retirement Money Come From? For many people, retirement income may come from a variety of sources. Here’s a quick review of the six main sources: Social Security Social Security is the government-administered...
Read MoreProblems with Probate Many of us hope to leave something behind for our loved ones when we pass away. But the probate process is complex. To understand how to better manage potential probate fees, let’s explore what probate is...
Read MoreImportant Birthdays Over 50 Most children stop being “and-a-half” somewhere around age 12. Kids add “and-a-half“ to make sure everyone knows they’re closer to the next age than the last. When you are older...
Read MoreValue vs. Growth Investing Looking at their recent track records doesn’t do much to settle the debate. Over the past decade, as a whole, value stocks have not performed as well as growth stocks.1 But looking at a larger body of...
Read MoreCatch-Up Contributions A recent survey found that 23% of people were very confident about having enough money to live comfortably through their retirement years. At the same time, 33% were not confident.1 Congress in 2001 passed a law...
Read MoreWill Power Only 45 percent of adults have a will or other estate documents in place, which may not be entirely surprising.1 No one wants to be reminded of their own mortality or spend too much time thinking about what might happen once...
Read MoreSocial Security: Maximizing Benefits Most understand that waiting to claim Social Security benefits can result in higher monthly payments. However, many don’t know that there are other ways to maximize their benefits, some of...
Read MoreWhen Heirs are Imperfect Passing your estate to an heir with credit problems or a gambling or alcohol addiction might not only lead to that wealth being squandered, but the inheritance could worsen the destructive behaviors. Of course,...
Read MoreFive Most Overlooked Tax Deductions Who among us wants to pay the IRS more taxes than we have to?1 While few may raise their hands, Americans regularly overpay because they fail to take tax deductions for which they are eligible....
Read MoreWhere Will Your Retirement Money Come From? For many people, retirement income may come from a variety of sources. Here’s a quick review of the six main sources: Social Security Social Security is the government-administered...
Read MoreSocial Security: The Elephant in the Room For most Americans, Social Security has represented nothing more than some unavoidable payroll deduction with the positively cryptic initials of “FICA” and “OASDI”...
Read MorePassword Protection Strategies We all know that the more complicated a password is, the better. They should include a mixture of numbers, punctuation marks and symbols, and uppercase and lowercase letters. Or should they? Recent...
Read MorePrescription Drug Benefits Under Medicare (Part D) Medicare’s prescription drug benefit (Part D) is the part of Medicare that provides outpatient drug coverage. Part D is provided only through private insurance companies that...
Read MoreTax Rules When Selling Your Home How the gains from the sale of a primary residence are taxed has changed in recent years. If you have recently sold your home, or are considering doing so, you may want to be aware of these new rules....
Read MoreOrchestrating Your Retirement Accounts An orchestra is merely a collection of instruments, each creating a unique sound. It is only when a conductor leads them that they produce the beautiful music imagined by the composer. The same...
Read MoreSocial Security: The $64,000 Question One of the most common questions people ask about Social Security is when they should start taking benefits. This is the $64,000 question. Making the right decision for you can have a meaningful...
Read MoreThe A, B, C, & D of Medicare Breaking down the basics. Whether your 65th birthday is on the horizon or decades away, understanding the different parts of Medicare is critical, as this government-sponsored program may play a role in...
Read MoreLesser Known Provisions of the SECURE Act The SECURE Act was passed into law in late 2019 and changed several aspects of retirement investing. These modifications included modifying the ability to stretch an Individual Retirement...
Read MoreInflation & Your Money “If the current annual inflation rate is only 2.3 percent,1 why do my bills seem like they're 10 percent higher than last year?” Many of us ask ourselves that question, and it illustrates the...
Read MoreRetirement Realities Expectations vs. Reality Predicting exactly what your retirement will be like is about as possible as a meteorologist predicting the weather correctly every single time. In fact, few retirees find their financial...
Read MoreSocial Security: Maximizing Benefits Most understand that waiting to claim Social Security benefits can result in higher monthly payments. However, many don’t know that there are other ways to maximize their benefits, some of...
Read MoreWhen Should You Take Social Security The Social Security program allows you to start receiving benefits as soon as you reach age 62. The question is, should you? Monthly payments differ substantially depending on when you start...
Read MoreCountdown to College As a parent, of course you want to give your child the best opportunity for success, and for many, attending the “right” university or college is that opportunity. Unfortunately, being accepted to the...
Read MoreAnd the Executor Is U.S. Supreme Court Justice Warren Burger is famous for more than just his time on the bench. When he died in 1995, he left a 176-word will that gave no specific power to his executors.1 As a result, he reportedly...
Read MoreThree Key Questions to Answer Before Taking Social Security Social Security is a critical component of the retirement financial strategy for many Americans, so before you begin taking it, you should consider three important questions....
Read MoreIRA Withdrawals that Escape the 10% Tax Penalty The reason withdrawals from an Traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA) prior to age 59½ are generally subject to a 10% tax penalty is that policymakers wanted to create a...
Read MoreFallen Tree Damage—Who Pays? As a homeowner, are you responsible for the damage caused by a tree on your property that hits your neighbor’s home or other insured structure, such as a garage or shed? In most cases, the...
Read MoreIs a SEP-IRA Right for Your Business? If you're like many small business owners, running your own business is an all-consuming endeavor. In the face of everyday demands, choosing a retirement plan for your business can become a...
Read MoreCertain Uncertainties in Retirement The uncertainties we face in retirement can erode our sense of confidence, potentially undermining our outlook during those years. Indeed, according to the 2017 Retirement Confidence Survey by the...
Read MoreFour Really Good Reasons to Invest Forty-six percent of Americans do not own any stocks or stock-related investments, such as mutual funds, according to a recent Gallup poll.¹ Individuals may cite different reasons for not...
Read MoreTIPS for Inflation In February 2018, Jerome Powell was appointed as Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. He became the 16th chair to take over the helm of the world’s most influential central bank.1...
Read MoreDo Your Kids Know The Value of a Silver Spoon? You taught them how to read and how to ride a bike, but have you taught your children how to manage money? One study households with student loan debt showed that the average amount owed...
Read MoreImportant Birthdays Over 50 Most children stop being “and-a-half” somewhere around age 12. Kids add “and-a-half“ to make sure everyone knows they’re closer to the next age than the last. When you are older...
Read MoreHow to Make the Tax Code Work for You By April 19, 2019, 137 million taxpayers had dutifully filed their federal income tax returns.1 And they all made decisions about deductions and credits – whether they realized it. When you...
Read MoreHealthy Body, Healthy Pocketbook Many people have a clear vision of what their ideal retirement looks like. Some desire vacation homes in tropical destinations, while others plan to spend quality time with their grandchildren and...
Read More9 Facts About Retirement Retirement can have many meanings. For some, it will be a time to travel and spend time with family members. For others, it will be a time to start a new business or begin a charitable endeavor. Regardless of...
Read More“Dirty Dozen” Tax Scams to Watch For Every year the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) releases its list of tax scams, spotlighting the myriad ways that people try to separate you from your money.¹ The “Dirty...
Read MorePassword Protection Strategies We all know that the more complicated a password is, the better. They should include a mixture of numbers, punctuation marks and symbols, and upper- and lower-case letters. Or should they? Recent research...
Read MorePrevent a Rift: Money Tips for Newlyweds In a recent study, 88% of millennials admitted that financial decisions are a source of tension in their relationship with a spouse or partner. This could help explain why some experts say...
Read MoreHow Women Can Prepare For Retirement When our parents retired, living to 75 amounted to a nice long life, and Social Security was often supplemented by a pension. The Social Security Administration (SSA) estimates that today’s...
Read MoreSocial Security Benefits: How Much Will I Receive Next to “When should I claim Social Security benefits?”, one of the more common questions people have is “How much will I receive?” Calculating your potential...
Read MoreThe Anatomy of an Index Did you know that more than $9.9 trillion in assets are benchmarked to the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index, including $3.4 trillion in index assets?1,2 The S&P 500 is ubiquitous – we see it on...
Read MoreMortgages in Retirement Anyone who has gone through the process of mapping out their retirement knows there can be a lot to keep in mind. Saving, investing, anticipating medical costs, and making sure you have enough tucked away for...
Read MoreRebalancing Your Portfolio Everyone loves a winner. If an investment is successful, most people naturally want to stick with it. But is that the best approach? It may sound counterintuitive, but it may be possible to have too much of a...
Read MorePullbacks, Corrections, and Bear Markets The COVID-19 outbreak has put tremendous pressure on stock prices, prompting some investors to blindly and indiscriminately sell positions at a time when the entire market is trending lower....
Read MoreWhat Do Your Taxes Pay For? Taxes are one of the biggest budget items for most taxpayers, yet many have no idea what they’re getting for their money. In 2017, as in recent years, Americans spent more on taxes than on groceries,...
Read MoreCreative Ways to Motivate Your Employees The common thread that runs through all small businesses, from professional services to manufacturing, is that a motivated workforce is central to the business’s success. Here are some...
Read MoreBudgeting After a Divorce Full Size Version Download the Worksheet
Read MoreFour Reasons Millennials Need an Estate Strategy You’re young, have little in savings, and might not have anyone relying on you, financially. So, why do you need to think about estate management?1 Here are four great reasons:...
Read MoreThe SECURE Act The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act is now law. With it, comes some of the biggest changes to retirement savings law in recent years. While the new rules don’t appear to amount to...
Read MoreAsset Allocation If you live in or have visited a big city, you’ve probably run into street vendors – people who sell everything from hot dogs to umbrellas – on the streets and sidewalks. Many of these entrepreneurs...
Read MoreA Decision Not Made Is Still a Decision Whether through inertia or trepidation, investors who put off important investment decisions might consider the admonition offered by motivational speaker Brian Tracy, “Almost any decision...
Read MoreBudget Check Up: Tax Time Is the Right Time Every year, about 140 million households file their federal tax returns.1 For many, the process involves digging through shoe boxes or manila folders full of receipts; gathering mortgage,...
Read MoreThe Lowdown on Those Free Credit Scores The Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act of 2003 provided individuals with valuable rights to the credit information that companies keep on them, but did you know the credit score provided to...
Read MoreBuying vs. Leasing a Car Some people approach buying a car like they approach marriage, “‘til death do us part.” Others prefer to keep their options open, trading in every few years for the latest make and model, the...
Read MoreFour Steps to Valuing an Estate Determining the value of an estate is a fundamental first step in estate management and a critical requirement for settling a decedent’s estate.1 How to Assess the Value of an Estate Select the...
Read MoreA Brief Guide To Condo Insurance The ownership structure of a condominium unit is different from that of a single family house. Here’s what you need to know when purchasing insurance for your condo.1 Understand the Master Policy...
Read More5 Benefits of Working in Retirement In the past, retirement has been portrayed as an ending, a grand exit from your years in the workplace. But the rules are shifting. Labor force participation among those aged 65-74 is predicted to...
Read MoreThe Three Keys to a Great Password
Read MoreA Penny Saved is Two Pennies Earned This modern twist on the Ben Franklin maxim reflects the multiplicity of taxes to which earnings are subject in today’s world.¹ Finding ways to manage expenses is one of the cornerstones...
Read MoreUnderstanding Long-Term Care Addressing the potential threat of long-term care expenses may be one of the biggest financial challenges for individuals who are developing a retirement strategy. The U.S. Department of Health and Human...
Read MoreCaring for Aging Parents Thanks to healthier lifestyles and advances in modern medicine, the worldwide population over age 60 is growing. The United Nations estimates that by 2050 the number of people aged 60 and older will have more...
Read MoreDebt Stress The average American household with debt owes $132,158. And credit card debt accounts for $15,675 of that.¹ Little wonder that money worries are a major cause of stress. The Link Between Stress and Health Humans have...
Read MoreAll Muni Bonds Are Not Created Equal The city of Detroit emerged from bankruptcy in 2014. Still, its previous inability to pay investors left some questioning their long-held assumption about the relative safety of municipal bonds...
Read MoreTraditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA), which were created in 1974, are owned by roughly 33.2 million U.S. households. And Roth IRAs, created as part of the Taxpayer Relief Act in 1997, are owned by nearly 22.5 million...
Read MoreFinancial Aid for Students 101 Preparing for college while still in high school can be difficult for even the most academically minded student. These days, you need to excel in the classroom, make sure you’re involved in...
Read MoreEight Mistakes That Can Upend Your Retirement Pursuing your retirement dreams is challenging enough without making some common, and very avoidable, mistakes. Here are eight big mistakes to steer clear of, if possible. No Strategy: Yes,...
Read MoreCritical Estate Documents Financial Documents Joint Ownership Durable Power of Attorney Living Trust What does it do? Enables you to own property jointly with another person Authorizes someone to handle legal and financial decisions if...
Read MorePlease Leave Home Without It Concerns over identity theft continue to grow, especially with the news of data breaches at major companies and financial institutions. Unfortunately, you have little control over when a company is hacked,...
Read MoreSocial Security: Five Facts You Need to Know Social Security can be complicated and, as a result, many individuals don’t have a full understanding of the choices they may have. Here are five facts about Social Security that are...
Read MoreGetting a Head Start on College Savings The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates a middle-income family with a child born today can expect to spend about $285,000 to raise that child to the age of 17.¹ That’s roughly...
Read MoreCatch-Up Contributions A recent survey found that 23% of people were very confident about having enough money to live comfortably through their retirement years. At the same time, 33% were not confident.1 Congress in 2001 passed a law...
Read MoreA Taxing Story: Capital Gains and Losses Chris Rock once remarked, “You don’t pay taxes – they take taxes.”1 That applies not only to income, but also to capital gains. Capital gains result when an individual...
Read MoreA Brief History of Estate Taxes Tip: Regardless of your net worth, it’s critical to understand your choices when developing an estate strategy. Federal estate taxes have been a source of funding for the federal government almost...
Read More9 Facts About Retirement Retirement can have many meanings. For some, it will be a time to travel and spend time with family members. For others, it will be a time to start a new business or begin a charitable endeavor. Regardless of...
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The goal of financial advising is to help your clients develop financial plans that help them meet their life goals. There is not a one-size-fits-all approach to financial planning. Financial advice and wealth management should be...
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If you’re like most everyone else, estate planning is probably nowhere to be found on your to-do list. You’re relatively young and healthy. You go to the doctor every year for your physical exam. You exercise regularly, and...
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Until recently, it seemed that the world of finance and financial advising had missed the women’s liberation movement entirely. Matters of money were still considered to be reserved for men, and women were taught to marry well...
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The good news for people who want to manage their own finance is that there is an extraordinary amount of information available online about a wide variety of investments. The bad news is that there is an extraordinary amount of...
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The Trump administration’s new tax reform bill was signed into law in December of 2017, representing the first major tax change in over 30 years. The changes are significant and are likely to affect nearly everyone in some...
Read MoreHealth insurance used to be a fairly simple process. But today, whether obtaining health insurance privately or through an employer, we’re being offered a variety of insurance plans with varying benefit levels, making the choice...
Read MoreThe U.S is considered the most generous country in the world, with two-thirds of Americans giving to charities annually. And this number continues to grow, with giving levels increasing every year since 2009. In 2016, an estimated $390...
Read MoreCredit Management in the 21st Century In today’s world, good credit is a necessity. Today, our credit score affects much more than our ability to buy a house or finance a car. Our credit score can also affect our insurance...
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Remember way back to your first paycheck. The moment you open the envelope anticipating the windfall when all your hard work pays off. Then, like a swift kick to your gut, realty hits. Your takeaway earnings are almost always way lower...
Read MoreAccumulating wealth turns out to be a double-edged sword for business owners. It certainly has its privileges, but it also comes with additional risk exposures. In a 2011 Zogby survey, 92 percent of people with a high new worth...
Read MoreInheritances are a complicated thing. Not only are there often strings attached in the eyes of the government, unexpected taxes, and complicated bequeathments, but there are also potential conflicts within families. And not to mention...
Read MoreThe decision making process for single parents begins with the traditional question of determining how much life insurance is the right amount. The simple answer to how much life insurance is enough is quite simple. It depends. So, the...
Read MoreCongratulations Newlyweds! Your fresh union symbolizes a new beginning facing the world. But before the glow of wedded bliss wears, it’s crucial to talk about finances. Financial planning for newly married couples is a must, but...
Read MoreIn light of Friday’s dramatic drop in the Dow Industrials and the other broad indices in the US many retail investors are concerned and looking for guidance. People have become very comfortable with the bull market in equities...
Read MoreMany people, who have achieved success and wealth through their business, have done so with their intellectual capital. What exactly is intellectual capital? This is the sum of the business’ hidden assets, such as its human...
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We’re all familiar with fitness fanatics, raving about life changing workouts guaranteed to get you into tip top shape. While there is a new fitness craze in the air, it’s time to exercise your wallet. Financial Fitness is...
Read MoreI don’t know about you, but for me every paycheck is like a mini Christmas that ends nearly immediately when reality sets in. Bills, rent and saving for retirement makes every payday a budgeting reality. So in these times,...
Read MoreAs if business owners didn’t have enough to contend in managing their business and personal finances, there is one particular aspect of their financial lives that is often neglected until it’s too late, and that is the...
Read More30 is a divisive number. To the young, it’s the time when you’re thrust into full blown adulthood, whether you’re ready or not. To the young at heart, 30 may be considered the early years before your true confidence...
Read MoreNearly every day, we’re told that saving is the key to financial success. But for many, living paycheck to paycheck isn’t just unavoidable but a reality faced every month. But there is hope, and there are many easy to use...
Read MoreSmart-phones are less of an option these days and more of an extension of everyday life. Your phone is there for you when you need to know the weather, connect with your friends and colleagues, and when you just have to post that...
Read MoreYou’re 25 and feeling alive. You’re settling into life after university, paying off your debts and slowly figuring how to “adult”. But with the responsibility of bills, rent, and even keeping up social...
Read MoreIf you’re just starting to take charge of your financial future, it can be stressful approaching financial planning with confidence. Do you ever talk to your bank or financial manager and think that they’re speaking a...
Read MoreRemember your mid-twenties when retirement seemed like a lifetime away, and living paycheck to paycheck was not only the norm, but your reality. ‘If only I knew then what I know now’ can be heard echoing throughout offices...
Read MoreIt is no secret that the typical American is working long hours with little respite compared to other countries with large economies. Full-time employees report an average work week of 47 hours and four out of 10 American workers say...
Read MoreHave you ever stopped to wonder why 60 is considered retirement age? Some public services - like the police force in certain countries - require you to stop working at 60. For most, retirement age, which traditionally varies from 60 -...
Read MoreFor some people, getting an auto insurance quote is a lot like spinning a roulette wheel; you don’t know what will come up, and each time you spin it (getting quotes from different companies) it’s always different. Worse,...
Read MoreWhen people warn you that having kids is expensive, it’s no joke. From diapers to food, braces to sports activities the costs add up quick. For a middle-income family in the U.S. raising a child up until age 18, costs an...
Read MoreSummer’s finally here. The sun is out, it’s warm, the days are longer, and your worries seem just a little bit further away. But, folks, I’m sorry to say, sometimes storms roll in on the sunniest of days. And if...
Read MoreIf you’ve ever played the Game of Life board game, it becomes clear that compressed into the colorful path there are various stages of life. Each stage holds its own major financial challenges as well as prospective profits in...
Read MoreWithout fail as Tax Day approaches every year, the mind whirls while you check boxes and fill in numbers about everything you could have, should have, would have done to save more money on taxes. Could you have saved more? Invested...
Read MoreVacation season is almost upon us and, for many Americans who haven’t traveled abroad in several years, their vacations have been years in planning. However, even the best laid plans can quickly come unraveled if you don’t...
Read MoreThe term beneficiary crops up every now and again. Usually you’ll see it on an insurance form or hear about it in relation to a will, but despite the nonchalance we toss the term around with, beneficiaries are incredibly...
Read MoreAfter the ball drops on New Year’s Eve, we dig up our hopes and dreams and make some resolutions. Getting back in the gym, losing weight, and eating clean, are usually at the top of the list, but what about your finances? The...
Read MoreThe tax code, with all of its hundreds of pages of regulations, stipulations, and loopholes always leave something be learned. Not only is the U.S. Internal Revenue Code massive, different write-offs and deductions occur at different...
Read MoreRoses are red, violets are blue, Valentine’s Day can be cheap, hooray for you! Right after New Year’s the red, pink, and white move in to the shopping aisles to serve as a perpetual reminder that Valentine’s Day is...
Read MoreYou think back fondly on those halcyon collegiate days--studying in the quad, late-night pizza, tailgating for the big tailgating game, dorm living, tossing your graduation cap in the air...beyond the lifelong friends and the parties...
Read MoreThere comes a point in life where you want to begin sharing or gifting all the things you’ve collected over the years—stories, wisdom, financial wealth. And unlike the Ancient Egyptians believed, you cannot take your...
Read MoreThe annual meeting is rescheduled to sometime later this quarter and the family reunion is sometime next summer, but like certain holidays and your birthday you know you can always count on a few specific dates. It’s reassuring....
Read MoreHere’s a thought: retirement doesn’t mean the end. It doesn’t mean an end of self-importance or purpose, it just means a new chapter—a paradigm shift of what life is beyond long days and meetings and bosses....
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