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How Often Should You Update Your Estate Strategy?

How Often Should You Update Your Estate Strategy?Once an estate strategy is in place, it should only require periodic reviews to check that it still reflects your wishes. However, life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths,...

Weekly Market Insights | Ceasefire News Cheers Wall Street.

Hope won out over fear last week as investors set their sights on a Middle East ceasefire holding and optimistic prospects for the Strait of Hormuz reopening.The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 3.56 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite...

A Path to Serenity and Smart Money Choices

A Path to Serenity and Smart Money ChoicesIn today's fast-paced world, financial stress has become a part of life for some. The anxiety and pressure associated with money matters can create a vicious cycle, affecting both mental and...

Weekly Market Insights | Stocks Rise on Hopes of Middle East Calm

Stocks rose over the short trading week on fresh hopes for a quick end to the Middle East conflict, while March job growth was unexpectedly strong.The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index picked up 3.36 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index...

A Decision Not Made is Still a Decision

A Decision Not Made Is Still a DecisionWhether through inertia or trepidation, investors who put off important investment decisions might consider the admonition offered by motivational speaker Brian Tracy, "Almost any decision is...

A Bucket Plan to Go with Your Bucket List

A Bucket Plan to Go with Your Bucket ListJohn 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...

Weekly Market Insights | Markets Dizzied by Rapid Reports

Another volatile week unfolded as rapid developments in the Middle East and public comments from leaders on the conflict see-sawed markets, leaving investors struggling to keep up with updates.The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index lost 1.89...

4 Elements of an Estate Strategy

4 Elements of an Estate StrategyLearn about the importance of having an estate strategy in this helpful and informative video.

Weekly Market Insights | Markets Weather Volatile Week

Stocks logged a third-straight down week as investors digested the latest news out of the Middle East, navigated more volatility, and mulled the latest economic data. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 1.60 percent, while the...

What is a Roth 401(k)

What 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...

Weekly Market Insights | Markets Weather New Middle East Conflict

Stocks fell last week as investors assessed the implications of a fresh Middle East conflict while digesting mixed reports on the jobs market.The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 2.02 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index slid 1.24...

How Income Taxes Work

How Income Taxes WorkTaxpayers and businesses spend an estimated 7.1 billion hours a year complying with tax-filing requirements, which is worth $388 billion in economic value just to comply with tax regulations.1As complex as the...

Retirement Plan Choices for Small Businesses

Retirement Plan Choices for Small BusinessesAs 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?There...

Prevent a Rift: Money Tips for Newlyweds

Prevent a Rift: Money Tips for NewlywedsOne survey found that 35% of couples attribute stress in their relationship to financial issues. This could explain why some experts say financial problems are one of the top reasons marriages...

Personal Finance Calendar

Personal 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...

What's My 2026 Tax Bracket?

Weekly Market Insights | Kevin Warsh Nominated to Fed Chair

Stocks were mixed last week as investors navigated Q4 corporate results, a widely expected Fed decision, and a handful of economic reports.The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 0.34 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index edged down 0...

New Retirement Contribution Limits for 2026

New Retirement Contribution Limits for 2026 The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released new limits for certain retirement accounts for the coming year. Keep in mind that this update is for informational purposes only, so please...

Weekly Market Insights | Markets Await Q4 Reports

Markets ended a short but eventful week slightly lower amid geopolitical tensions and fresh tariff threats. However, constructive economic news appeared to buoy spirits as the week progressed.The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 0.35...

Important Birthdays Over 50

Important 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, “and-a-half” birthdays start...

Weekly Market Insights | Powell Keeps Cool in the Hot Seat

Stocks ended last week with modest losses after a volatile five days of market-moving economic data, geopolitics, and Fed drama.The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slid 0.38 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index skidded 0.66 percent....

How to Make the Tax Code Work for You

How to Make the Tax Code Work for You By April 11, 2025, over 117 million taxpayers had dutifully filed their federal income tax returns. And they all made decisions about deductions and credits – whether or not they realized it.1 When...

Weekly Market Insights | Santa Brings Joy for the DJIA

Stocks posted solid gains in an action-packed week of market-moving economic data, geopolitical news, and bullish new year sentiment.The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.57 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index added 1.88...

Catch-Up Contributions

Catch-Up Contributions A recent survey found that 24 percent of workers are very confident about having enough money to live comfortably through their retirement years. At the same time, 33 percent are not confident.1 In 2001 congress...

Weekly Market Insights | Santa Rally in Holding Pattern

Stocks trended lower last week amid signs of year-end profit-taking and some sour investor sentiment over the Fed meeting minutes.The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1.03 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index lost 1.52 percent....

Starting a Roth IRA for a Teen

Starting 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....

Weekly Market Insights | Santa Arrives on Wall Street

Stocks delivered for investors last week as positive economic data and bullish holiday cheer powered the start of a “Santa Claus rally” past consumer bah humbug sentiment.The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.40 percent, while the...

Traditional vs. Roth IRA

Traditional vs. Roth IRA Traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), which were created in 1974, are owned by roughly 41 million U.S. households. And Roth IRAs, created as part of the Taxpayer Relief Act in 1997, are owned by...

Understanding Marginal Income Tax Brackets

Understanding Marginal Income Tax Brackets By any measure, the tax code is huge. It is over 2,000 pages long, and even longer with footnotes.1 And almost weekly, the Internal Revenue Service publishes a 10- to 50-page bulletin about...

Weekly Market Insights | Stocks Mixed; Fed Makes a Move

Stocks ended last week mixed. A widely anticipated Federal Reserve decision on interest rates and a rotation into non-tech areas helped push the Dow Industrials higher, while the broader market and technology stocks lagged behind. The...

Your Shifting Risk Tolerance

Your Shifting Risk Tolerance When 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...

Weekly Market Insights | Stocks Bumpy, Awaiting Fed Meeting

Stock prices pushed higher last week, notching multiple records along the way as employment and inflation data took center stage in anticipation of the Fed’s upcoming meeting. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 0.31 percent, while...

Your Social Security Roadmap

Weekly Market Insights | Stocks Take Flight for Holiday Week

Stocks pushed higher over the holiday week as investors' hopes for a Fed rate adjustment drove bullish sentiment. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 3.73 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rallied 4.91 percent. The Dow Jones...

Critical Estate Documents

Critical 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...

Weekly Market Insights | AI Delivers Rocky Week for Stocks

Heightened volatility was on Wall Street’s mind last week, as investors continued to focus on valuations of artificial intelligence (AI) stocks. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1.95 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index...

Asset Allocation

Asset 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 sell completely...

Weekly Market Insights | Washington D.C. Resumes Business

Stocks ended mixed after a nail-biting week for investors, who grew anxious over megacap tech valuations and interest rates as the government shutdown came to an end. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index edged up 0.08 percent, while the...

The Other Sure Thing

The Other Sure Thing A new LIMRA study shows that 40% of Americans believe the death of a primary wage earner would cause financial challenges.

Weekly Market Insights | Tough Week for Tech Stocks

Stocks hit a rough patch last week as fresh labor market data, low consumer sentiment, and the ongoing government shutdown unnerved investors. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 1.63 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index...

4 Elements of an Estate Strategy

4 Elements of an Estate Strategy Learn about the importance of having an estate strategy in this helpful and informative video.

Weekly Market Insights | Markets Rise, Fed Cautious

Stocks rose last week as trade developments, positive Q3 corporate results, and momentum in megacap tech drove another rally, despite some cautious comments from the Fed. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 0.71 percent, while the...

Glossary of Scam Terms

Weekly Market Insights | Happy Q3 Results in Upbeat Market

Stocks rose last week thanks to a full slate of upbeat third-quarter corporate results and mild inflation data, which helped soften concerns over trade tensions with China. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.92 percent, while...

Value vs. Growth Investing

Value 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...

Weekly Market Insights | Stocks Boost on Strong Q3 Results

Stocks pushed higher last week, buoyed by strong third-quarter results posted by several money center banks. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.70 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 2.14 percent. The Dow Jones...

Rebalancing Your Portfolio

Rebalancing 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...

Weekly Market Insights | Trade Concerns Halt Stock Rally

Stocks fell last week amid concerns about trade with China, following an unsteady rally to record highs over the first half of the week. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 2.43 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 2.53...

Buying a Home

Buying a Home When people talk about the American Dream and what it means to them, buying a house is often near the top of the list. However, the care and responsibilities of owning a home can sometimes be overlooked: You’re not only...

Weekly Market Insights | Stocks Advance, Despite D.C. Shutdown

Stocks rose last week, looking past the government shutdown and apparently discounting any impact it may have on the economy. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index moved up 1.08 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 1.32 percent....

Retirement Accounts When You Change Your Job

Retirement Accounts When You Change Your Job This video discusses issues related to your retirement accounts when you move on from your job.

Weekly Market Insights | Stocks React to Powell Comments, Potential Government Shutdown

Stocks fell last week, buffeted by concerns about stock price valuations and a possible government shutdown. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 0.31 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index lost 0.65 percent. The Dow Jones...

Bull and Bear Go To Market

Bull and Bear Go To Market Learn about the difference between bulls and bears—markets, that is!

Weekly Market Insights | Fed Cuts Short-Term Interest Rates

Stocks posted solid gains last week, propelled by the Fed’s decision to cut short-term interest rates. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.22 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 2.21 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial...

18 Years Worth of Days

18 Years Worth of Days The average retirement lasts for 18 years. Are you prepared to fill that many days?

Weekly Market Insights | Stocks Rise Ahead of Fed Meeting

Stocks posted a solid gain last week, riding a rally in megacap tech stocks while overcoming interest rate anxiety, a downward revision to jobs data, and mixed inflation reports. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.59 percent,...

Perception vs. Reality

Perception vs. Reality Key Takeaways Understanding the retirement savings hierarchy can help maximize your limited dollars. Many financial professionals suggest prioritizing your 401(k) first, then your Traditional IRA, and finally,...

Weekly Market Insights | Megacaps Up, Jobs Decline

Stocks made gains last week, even as megacap tech gains outweighed economic concerns. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 0.33 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 1.14 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average...

It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times

It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times Key Takeaways Diversification can help manage investment risk, but it doesn't eliminate it. The "don't put all your eggs in one basket" approach may help reduce pressure when certain...

Weekly Market Insights | Investors Step Back Ahead of Holiday Weekend

Stocks ended the week slightly lower as mixed economic data led to some profit-taking by investors ahead of the holiday weekend. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index edged down 0.10 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 0.19...

8 Financial Milestone Birthdays

Weekly Market Insights | Fed Weighs Rate Move

Stocks were mixed last week despite a powerful Friday rally sparked by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who opened the door to adjusting short-term interest rates. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index picked up 0.27 percent while the...

Navigating Retirement Pitfalls

Navigating 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...

Weekly Market Insights | Investors React to Mixed Signals

Stocks rose last week despite mixed signals on inflation as investors kept one eye on the Fed’s September meeting. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 0.94 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index added 0.81 percent. The Dow...

Understanding ETFs: Building Blocks of Modern Investing

Understanding ETFs: Building Blocks of Modern Investing Are you looking to expand your investment knowledge? Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) have revolutionized how people invest, offering simplicity, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness...

Weekly Market Insights | Stocks Rise on Earnings, Despite Tariffs

Stocks rebounded last week as investor optimism for a September rate adjustment and strong Q2 corporate results overcame the rollout of fresh tariffs. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 2.43 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index...

Preparation is the Key to Retirement

Preparation is the Key to Retirement The simplest ideas can sometimes make a massive difference over time. Enjoy this brief video to learn more.

Weekly Market Insights | Markets Retreat After Data-Heavy Week

Stocks fell last week as investors assessed progress on trade negotiations, new U.S. tariffs, and fresh data on the U.S. economy. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 2.36 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 2.17...

Pay Yourself First

Pay 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...

Weekly Market Insights | Upbeat Q2, Trade News Cheer Investors

Expectation-beating Q2 results from several companies, trade updates, and investor optimism for more trade agreements pushed market averages to solid gains. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 1.46 percent, while the Nasdaq...

Jane Bond: Scaling the Ladder

Jane Bond: Scaling the Ladder Agent Jane Bond is on the case, uncovering the mystery of bond laddering.

Weekly Market Insights | Mixed Stocks; Inflation and Consumers Adjust

Stocks were mixed last week, battling through tariff talk while responding to upbeat quarterly corporate reports and a trove of updates on the economy. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 0.59 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite...

Do Your Kids Know The Value of a Silver Spoon

Do 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? The average debt for student borrowers is $38,375. And 10.3% of new graduates...

Weekly Market Insights | This Week: T For Tariffs, T For Trillion

Stocks were slightly lower last week, while looking past news of fresh U.S. tariffs on nearly two dozen countries. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 0.31 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index edged lower by 0.08 percent. The...

Data Breach: Your Security To-Do List

Data Breach: Your Security To-Do List According to recent statistics, data breaches have become common in today’s digital world. In fact, it is estimated that more than 350 million Americans have their personal information exposed to...

Weekly Market Insights | Trade and Jobs Cheer Markets in Short Holiday Week

Trade developments and continued momentum pushed all three major averages to modest gains again for a shortened holiday trading week. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.72 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index added 1.62...

Inflation and Your Portfolio

Inflation and Your Portfolio Even low inflation rates can pose a threat to investment returns.

Weekly Market Insights | Markets Hold Broad-Based Rally

Stocks staged a broad-based rally last week on investors’ hopes for a lasting Middle East ceasefire, hitting fresh record highs along the way. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 3.44 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index added 4...

Eight Mistakes That Can Upend Your Retirement

Eight 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,...

Weekly Market Insights | Conflict Fears Rattle Markets; Fed Holds Steady

Stocks were mixed during the holiday-shortened trading week as uncertainty over conflict in the Middle East weighed on investors. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slipped by 0.15 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose by 0.21...

A Taxing Story: Capital Gains and Losses

A Taxing Story: Capital Gains and Losses Chris 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 an investment for an...

Weekly Market Insights | Market Attention Turns to Trade and Oil

Stocks fell last week as an up-and-down mix of trade progress and anxiety, economic news, and geopolitical tensions netted out. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slid 0.39 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 0.63 percent....

Tax Efficiency in Retirement

Tax 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...

Weekly Market Insights | Trade Tension Down, Economic Data Up

Stocks rallied last week as investors responded to upbeat economic data and easing trade tensions. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index added 1.50 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 2.18 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial...

16 Wall Street Cliches in 60 Seconds

16 Wall Street Cliches in 60 Seconds Pundits say a lot of things about the markets. Let's see if you can keep up.

Weekly Market Insights | Markets Cheer U.S./E.U. Trade Talks

Stocks advanced over the short trading week, bolstered by a possible trade deal with the European Union (EU) and an upbeat corporate report from a mega-cap tech company that creates semiconductors used in the creation of artificial...

What is a ROTH 401(k)

What 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...

Weekly Market Insights | Markets Cringe At Returned Tariff Talk

Stocks moved lower last week as fiscal fears and fresh tariff threats loomed over market sentiment. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 2.61 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 2.47 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial...

Inflation & Your Money

Inflation & Your Money"If the current annual inflation rate is 3 percent, why do my bills seem like they're 10 percent higher than last year?"1 Many of us ask ourselves that question, and it illustrates the importance of understanding...

Weekly Market Insights | U.S./China Tariff Truce Tames Markets

Stocks roared higher last week, powered by upbeat trade news and tame inflation reports. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 5.27 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index spiked 7.15 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 3...

Important Birthdays Over 50

Important 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...

Weekly Market Insights | Fed Talk Calms Volatility for the Week

Stocks were mixed last week as volatility dropped despite ongoing trade concerns and the Federal Reserve's update on short-term rates. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.16 percent, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index lost 0...

Starting a ROTH IRA for a Teen

Starting 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....

Weekly Market Insights | Positive Indicators Lift Stocks into May

Stocks pushed higher last week as investors cheered the White House’s constructive comments on trade, upbeat Q1 corporate reports, and an encouraging jobs report. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 2.92 percent, while the Nasdaq...

Personal Finance Calendar

Personal Finance Calendar Write 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...

Weekly Market Insights | Markets React to Positive Trade Talk

Stocks pushed higher last week, spurred by the White House's reassuring comments that progress was being made with trade talks. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 4.59 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index picked up 6.73...

Catch-Up Contributions

Catch-Up Contributions A recent survey found that 21% of workers are very confident about having enough money to live comfortably through their retirement years. At the same time, 32% are not confident.1 In 2001 congress passed a law...

Weekly Market Insights | Market Slips as Q1 Reports Arrive

U.S. stocks slipped over the shortened trading week as Q1 corporate reports started to roll in. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index dropped 1.50 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index fell 2.62 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average...

Understanding FDIC Insurance

Understanding FDIC Insurance It'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...

Weekly Market Insights | Rally Caps Volatile Week

Stocks ended the week with a strong gain as traders continued to focus on tariff talks while appearing to overlook upbeat news on inflation. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 5.70 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index gained 7...

Your Social Security Roadmap

Weekly Market Insights | Markets React to White House Tariffs

Stocks fell broadly last week as domestic and foreign markets reacted to the White House’s tariffs. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 9.08 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index fell 10.02 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial...

Navigating Retirement Pitfalls

Navigating 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...

Weekly Market Insights | Investors React to Tariff News

Stocks moved lower last week as investors swung from exuberance to disappointment on news over tariffs and inflation. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1.53 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index retreated 2.59 percent. The Dow...

How Cash Apps Work

How Cash Apps Work Peer-to-peer payment apps are one of the newest ways to send money.

What If Your Kids Decide Against College?

What If Your Kids Decide Against College? As a parent or grandparent, you may have diligently saved money in a 529 account to help fund your child's or grandchild's college education. But what happens if they decide college isn't the...

Understanding Marginal Income Tax Brackets

Understanding Marginal Income Tax Brackets By any measure, the tax code is huge. It is over 2,000 pages long, and even longer with footnotes.1 And almost weekly, the Internal Revenue Service publishes a 10- to 50-page bulletin about...

Retirement Strategy After a Job Loss

Retirement Strategy After a Job Loss Few events are more stressful and disruptive than an unexpected job loss or layoff. For many, it’s a hit not just to finances but also to confidence and sense of self. You're not alone if you’ve...

How the SECURE Act 2.0 Changed RMDs

How the SECURE Act 2.0 Changed RMDs In the final days of 2022, Congress passed the SECURE Act 2.0, a new set of rules designed to help investors who wanted to contribute to retirement plans. Many of these changes were intended to give...

Can I Create a ROTH if I'm Over the Income Limit?

Can I Create a Roth if I’m Over the Income Limit? Yes, you might be able to create a Roth individual retirement account (IRA) if you’re over the income limit. This strategy involves converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. The idea,...

Why Medicare Should Be Part of Your Retirement Strategy

Why Medicare Should Be Part of Your Retirement Strategy Medicare 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...

What's New for Social Security?

What's New for Social Security? Whether you’re applying for Social Security in the future or currently receiving benefits, there are some important changes to earnings limits, Medicare premiums, and other differences to keep in mind....

The A, B, C, & D of Medicare

The 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 your...

Social Security: Maximizing Benefits

Social 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 which...

New Retirement Contribution Limits for 2025

New Retirement Contribution Limits for 2025 The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released new limits for certain retirement accounts for the coming year. Keep in mind that this update is for informational purposes only, so please...

Important Birthdays Over 50

Important 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, “and-a-half” birthdays start...

8 Financial Milestone Birthdays

Social Security: Five Facts You Need to Know

Social 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...

Mutual Funds vs. ETFs

Mutual Funds vs. ETFs The growth of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has been explosive. In 2006, there were less than 1,000; by 2024, there over nearly 10,000 investing in a wide range of stocks, bonds, and other securities and...

Choices for Your 401(k) at a Former Employer

Choices for Your 401(k) at a Former Employer One of the common threads of a mobile workforce is that many individuals who leave their job are faced with a decision about what to do with their 401(k) account.¹ Individuals have four...

What You Need to Know About Social Security

What You Need to Know About Social Security Every so often, you'll hear about Social Security benefits running out. But is there truth to the fears, or is it all hype?

Mutual Funds vs. ETFs

Mutual Funds vs. ETFs The growth of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has been explosive. In 2006, there were less than 1,000; by 2024, there over nearly 10,000 investing in a wide range of stocks, bonds, and other securities and...

It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times

It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times All about how missing the best market days (or the worst!) might affect your portfolio.

Deciding When to Take Social Security

Deciding When to Take Social Security One of the most common questions people ask about Social Security is when they should start taking benefits. Making the right decision for you can have a meaningful impact on your financial income...

Bull and Bear Go To Market

Bull and Bear Go To Market Learn about the difference between bulls and bears—markets, that is!

How to Bake a Pie-R-A

How to Bake a Pie-R-A Roth IRAs are tax-advantaged differently from traditional IRAs. Do you know how?

When Special Care Is Needed: The Special Needs Trust

When Special Care Is Needed: The Special Needs Trust A special needs trust helps care for a special needs child when you’re gone.

Making Your Tax Bracket Work

Making Your Tax Bracket Work Have you explored all your options when it comes to managing your taxable income?

Saving for College 101

Saving for College 101 Here’s a crash course on saving for college.

How Income Taxes Work

How Income Taxes Work Taxpayers and businesses spend an estimated 6.5 billion hours a year complying with tax-filing requirements, which is worth $364 billion in economic value just to comply with tax regulations.1 As complex as the...

Top 5 Things to Tell Your Financial Pro

Top 5 Things to Tell Your Financial Pro Here are the top 5 things your team may want to hear.

What Can You Buy With 529 Distributions?

What 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...

Why Everyone Needs an Estate Strategy

Why Everyone Needs an Estate Strategy

What Do Your Taxes Pay For?

What 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. The average household spends more on taxes than on groceries, clothing, or healthcare...

How Retirement Spending Changes With Time

How Retirement Spending Changes With Time New retirees sometimes worry that they are spending too much, too soon. Should they scale back? Are they at risk of outliving their money? This concern may be legitimate. Some households "live...

Choices for Your 401(k) at a Former Employer

Choices for Your 401(k) at a Former Employer One of the common threads of a mobile workforce is that many individuals who leave their job are faced with a decision about what to do with their 401(k) account.¹ Individuals have four...

Monthly Memberships

Monthly Memberships In the last few years, we’ve become accustomed to many convenient services, many offered via subscriptions. Now, in the old days, if you had a few magazines or newspapers stacked up, you might not pay to continue...

Understanding Money Market Funds

Understanding Money Market Funds A money market fund, not to be confused with a money market account, is a type of mutual fund that invests in instruments like cash equivalents and short-term debt-based securities, which can also...

Retirement Seen Through Your Eyes

Retirement 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,...

The Anatomy of an Index

The Anatomy of an Index Did you know that an estimated $13.5 trillion in assets are indexed or benchmarked to the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index, including $5.4 trillion in index assets?1,2 The S&P 500 is ubiquitous – we see it...

Behavioral Finance

Behavioral Finance An amusing and whimsical look at behavioral finance best practices for investors.

Tax Efficiency in Retirement

Tax 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...

Pullbacks, Corrections, and Bear Markets

Pullbacks, Corrections, and Bear Markets When the market drops, some investors lose the 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...

Estate Management Checklist

Estate 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 enable you to name a guardian for your minor children. Do you have healthcare documents...

Traditional vs. ROTH IRA

Traditional vs. Roth IRA Traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), which were created in 1974, are owned by roughly 41 million U.S. households. And Roth IRAs, created as part of the Taxpayer Relief Act in 1997, are owned by...

Caring for Aging Parents

Caring 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 38% and is expected...

Asset Allocation

Asset 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 sell completely...

Steps to Protecting a Child with Disabilities

Steps to Protecting a Child with Disabilities Key Takeaways Government benefits like Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid, although helpful, may impact other aspects of your strategy. The purpose of a special-needs trust is to...

How to Make the Tax Code Work for You

How to Make the Tax Code Work for You By May 15, 2023, over 142 million taxpayers had dutifully filed their federal income tax returns. And they all made decisions about deductions and credits – whether or not they realized it.1 When...

Personal Finance Calendar

Personal Finance Calendar Write 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...

How Will the Economy React to AI?

How Will the Economy React to AI? Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are already invading every aspect of our lives. Debates are ongoing about how it will infiltrate individual industries. Governments are working to understand AI and...

Exploring Retirement Options for Small Businesses

8 Financial Milestone Birthdays

Three Key Questions to Answer Before Taking Social Security

Three 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....

Timing your Retirement

Timing Your Retirement This short video illustrates the importance of understanding sequence of returns risk.  

Four Really Good Reasons to Invest

Four Really Good Reasons to Invest Thirty-nine percent of Americans do not own any stocks or stock-related investments, according to a recent Gallup poll.¹ Individuals may cite different reasons for not investing, but with...

What's New for Social Security?

What's New for Social Security? Whether you’re applying for Social Security in the future or currently receiving benefits, there are some important changes to earnings limits, Medicare premiums, and other differences to keep in...

Getting a Head Start on College Savings

Getting a Head Start on College Savings One study estimates the average cost of raising a child to the age of 17 for a middle-income family is about $310,605. As a point of comparison, the median home price in the U.S. was $417,700 at...

Five Most Overlooked Tax Deductions

Five Most Overlooked Tax Deductions Who among us wants to pay the IRS more taxes than we have to? While few may raise their hands, Americans regularly overpay because they fail to take tax deductions for which they are eligible....

A Taxing Story: Capital Gains and Losses

A Taxing Story: Capital Gains and Losses Chris 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...

Roth IRA for Kids

Roth IRA for Kids Small business owners may find it challenging to find ways to provide additional benefits to their children who work for the company. One often overlooked choice is including a Roth individual retirement account (IRA)...

How to Bake a Pie-R-A

How to Bake a Pie-R-A Roth IRAs are tax-advantaged differently from traditional IRAs. Do you know how?

How Boomers and Millennials Differ

How Boomers and Millennials Differ We are in the midst of an unprecedented transfer of wealth, with trillions of dollars being moved from one generation to the next. This transfer challenges many commonly held notions as new values and...

What If Your Kids Decide Against College?

What If Your Kids Decide Against College? As a parent or grandparent, you may have diligently saved money in a 529 account to help fund your child's or grandchild's college education. But what happens if they decide college isn't the...

New Retirement Contributions Limits for 2024

New Retirement Contribution Limits for 2024 The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released new limits for certain retirement accounts for the coming year. Keep in mind that this update is for informational purposes only, so please...

Important Birthdays Over 50

Important 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, "and-a-half" birthdays start...

What's My 2024 Tax Bracket?

Reviewing You Life Insurance Needs

Reviewing Your Life Insurance Needs Life is an ever-evolving journey marked by significant milestones, personal growth, and unexpected changes. As life unfolds, your financial and insurance needs also shift, changing from year to year,...

A Decision Not Made Is Still a Decision

A 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 is...

Retirement Realities

Retirement 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...

And the Executor Is

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Financially Savvy at Six Figures

Financially Savvy at Six Figures Reaching six figures is no easy feat. If you’re one of the hard-working few who have made it to this milestone, give yourself a pat on the back and celebrate. It can be tempting to feel like now...

Mutual Funds vs. ETFs

Mutual Funds vs. ETFs The growth of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has been explosive. In 2006, there were less than 1,000; by 2023, there were nearly 10,000 investing in a wide range of stocks, bonds, and other securities and...

Three Key Questions to Answer Before Taking Social Security

Three 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....

Navigating Retirement Pitfalls

Navigating 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...

Choosing a Retirement Plan that Fits Your Business

Choosing a Retirement Plan that Fits Your Business If you have yet to develop a retirement plan for your business, or if you're not sure the plan you've chosen is the right one, here are some things to consider. How much can my...

Data Breach: Your Security To-Do List

Data Breach: Your Security To-Do List According to recent statistics, data breaches have become common in today's digital world. In fact, it is estimated that more than 111.7 million Americans have their personal information exposed to...

Inflation and Your Portfolio

Inflation and Your Portfolio Even low inflation rates can pose a threat to investment returns.  

Why Do Renters Have to Save More?

Deciding When to Take Social Security

Deciding When to Take Social SecurityOne of the most common questions people ask about Social Security is when they should start taking benefits. Making the right decision for you can have a meaningful impact on your financial income...

Tax Rules When Selling Your Home

Tax Rules When Selling Your HomeHow 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.Home...

Traditional vs. ROTH IRA

Traditional 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...

Why Regular Rebalancing Makes Sense

Why Regular Rebalancing Makes SenseEveryone 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...

Your Shifting Risk Tolerance

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...

SECURE Act 2.0: An Overview

SECURE 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...

New Retirement Contributions Limits for 2023

New 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...

Important Birthdays Over 50

Important 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...

Find That Lost Retirement Account

Find 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...

Emotional vs. Strategic Decisions

Emotional 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...

Creative Ways to Motivate Your Employees

Creative 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...

What Can You Buy With 529 Distributions?

What 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...

Asset Allocation

Asset 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...

Catch-Up Contributions

Catch-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...

Bull and Bear Go To Market

Bull and Bear Go To MarketLearn about the difference between bulls and bears—markets, that is!

Pullbacks, Corrections, and Bear Markets

Pullbacks, 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...

Understanding the SECURE Act 2.0

Understanding FDIC Insurance

Understanding 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...

Tax Efficiency in Retirement

Tax 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...

Starting a Roth IRA for a Teen

Starting 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...

Estate Management Checklist

Estate 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...

A Taxing Story: Capital Gains and Losses

A 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...

9 Facts About Social Security

9 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...

Capital Gains Tax When Selling Your Home

What's So Great About a Rollover?

What'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...

Rebalancing Your Portfolio

Rebalancing 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...

Does You Child Need to File a Tax Return?

Does 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...

Best-Performing Asset Classes

Best-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...

Understanding the SECURE Act 2.0

Counteracting Capital Gains with Tax-Loss Harvesting

Counteracting 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...

What's My 2023 Tax Bracket?

Traditional vs. ROTH IRA

Traditional 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...

Social Security: The 64,000 Dollar Question

Social 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...

Social Security: Five Facts You Need to Know

Social 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...

Orchestrating Your Retirement Accounts

Orchestrating 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...

SECURE Act 2.0: An Overview

SECURE 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...

What Is a 1031 Exchange?

What 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...

New Retirement Contribution Limits for 2023

New 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...

The Cost of Procrastination

The 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...

Saving Early & Letting Time Work For You

Saving 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...

Risk Perspective

Risk 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...

Problems with Probate

Problems 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...

Diversification, Patience, and Consistency

Diversification, 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...

The A, B, C, & D of Medicare

The 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...

When Should You Take Social Security

When 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...

What Can You Buy With 529 Distributions?

What 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...

Understanding Marginal Income Tax Brackets

Understanding 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...

Silver Sneakers 101

Silver 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...

Inflation and the Real Rate of Return

Inflation 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...

The Utility of Sector Investing

The 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...

Getting a Head Start on College Savings

Getting 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...

Your Shifting Risk Tolerance

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...

The SECURE Act Starts the Clock on IRAs

The 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,...

Retirement Is a Beginning

Managing 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...

Managing the Risk of Outliving Your Money

Managing 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...

Conquering Retirement Challenges for Women

Conquering 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...

Types of Stock Market Analysis

Types 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...

Retirement Realities

Retirement 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...

Global vs. International: What's The Difference?

Global 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...

Do Our Biases Affect Our Financial Choices?

Do 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...

Managing an Inheritance

Managing 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...

Estate Management Checklist

Estate 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...

Building Your Legacy

Building 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...

Building a Solid Financial Foundation

Building 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...

Why Medicare Should Be Part of Your Retirement Strategy

Why 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...

Protecting Your Home Against Flood Loss

Protecting 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...

Mutual Funds vs. ETFs

Mutual 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...

Important Birthdays Over 50

Important 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,...

Personal Finance Calendar

Personal 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...

Retirement Questions That Have Nothing to Do With Money

Retirement 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...

Asset Allocation

A Home Insurance Claim: To File or Not to File

What's My 2022 Tax Bracket?

Bull & Bear Markets: A Timeline

And the Executor Is

Retirement Seen Through Your Eyes

Understanding Marginal Income Tax Brackets

Social Security: The Elephant in the Room

Problems with Probate

How the Federal Reserve Works

4 Steps to Protecting a Child with Disabilities

Separating the Signal From the Noise

Eight Mistakes That Can Upend Your Retirement

Diversification, Patience, and Consistency

Choices for Your 401(k) at a Former Employer

Catch-Up Contributions

Budget Check Up: Tax Time Is the Right Time

Budget 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,...

Breaking Down the Parts of Medicare

Breaking 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...

A Bucket Plan to Go with Your Bucket List

A 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...

The Most Overlooked Item of Any Home Improvement

The 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...

Buying a Vacation Home? 5 Questions to Consider First

What to Look for in an Extended-Care Policy

What 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...

Why Regular Rebalancing Makes Sense

Why 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...

Rebalancing Your Portfolio

Rebalancing 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...

Inflation & Your Money

Inflation & 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...

Estate Management Checklist

Estate 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...

Starting a Roth IRA for a Teen

Starting 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....

Saving Early & Letting Time Work For You

Saving 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....

Risk Perspective

Risk 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...

Caring for Aging Parents

Caring 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...

Retirement Seen Through Your Eyes

Retirement 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,...

A Checklist for When a Spouse or Parent Passes

A 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 –...

Managing an Inheritance

Managing 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...

Managing Money as a Couple

Managing 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...

Tax Efficiency in Retirement

Tax 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...

Retirement Plan Choices for Small Businesses

Retirement 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?...

Navigating Retirement Pitfalls

Navigating 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...

Exploring the Federal Student Grant Program

Exploring 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...

Diversification, Patience, and Consistency

Diversification, 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...

Retirement Realities

Retirement 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...

Building Your Legacy

Building 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...

Understanding Homeowner's Insurance

Understanding 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...

Will Power

Will 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...

Where Will Your retirement Money Come From?

Where 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...

What's So Great About a Rollover?

What'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...

The Three Keys to a Great Password

Prevent a Rift: Money Tips for Newlyweds

Prevent 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...

Password Protection Strategies

Password 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...

Orchestrating Your Retirement Accounts

Orchestrating 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...

Mutual Funds vs. ETFs

Mutual 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...

Buying Auto Insurance for Teen Drivers

Buying 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...

The Anatomy of an index

The 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...

TIPS for Inflation

TIPS 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...

Pay Yourself First

Pay 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...

Important Birthdays Over 50

Important 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...

Value vs. Growth Investing

Value 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...

Rebalancing Your Portfolio

Rebalancing 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...

What Is a Roth 401(k)?

What 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...

Traditional vs. Roth IRA

Traditional 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...

Four Really Good Reasons to Invest

Four 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...

Estate Management Checklist

Estate 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...

Tax Rules When Selling Your Home

Tax 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....

When Should You Take Social Security

When 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...

Helpful Retirement Strategies for Women

Helpful 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...

Countering Counterfeit Currency

Countering 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...

Asset Allocation

Asset 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...

And the Executor Is

And 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...

What Is a Roth 401(k)?

What 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...

Inflation - Back to the Future

Inflation - 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,...

How the Federal Reserve Works

How 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...

Where Will Your Retirement Money Come From?

Where 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...

Problems with Probate

Problems 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...

Important Birthdays Over 50

Important 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...

Value vs. Growth Investing

Value 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...

Catch-Up Contributions

Catch-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...

Will Power

Will 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...

Social Security: Maximizing Benefits

Social 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...

When Heirs are Imperfect

When 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,...

Five Most Overlooked Tax Deductions

Five 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....

Where Will Your Retirement Money Come From?

Where 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...

Social Security: The Elephant in the Room

Social 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”...

Password Protection Strategies

Password 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...

Prescription Drug Benefits Under Medicare (Part D)

Prescription 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...

Tax Rules When Selling Your Home

Tax 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....

Orchestrating Your Retirement Accounts

Orchestrating 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...

Social Security: The $64,000 Question

Social 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...

The A, B, C, & D of Medicare

The 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...

Lesser Known Provisions of the SECURE Act

Lesser 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...

Inflation & Your Money

Inflation & 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...

Retirement Realities

Retirement 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...

Social Security: Maximizing Your Benefits

Social 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...

When Should You Take Social Security

When 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...

Countdown to College

Countdown 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...

And the Executor Is

And 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...

Three Key Questions to Answer Before Taking Social Security

Three 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....

IRA Withdrawals that Escape the 10% Tax Penalty

IRA 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...

Fallen Tree Damage- Who Pays?

Fallen 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...

Is s SEP-IRA Right for Your Business

Is 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...

Certain Uncertainties in Retirement

Certain 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...

Four Really Good Reasons to Invest

Four 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...

TIPS for Inflation

TIPS 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...

Do Your Kids Know The Value of a Silver Spoon?

Do 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...

Important Birthdays Over 50

Important 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...

How to Make the Tax Code Work for You

How 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...

Healthy Body, Healthy Pocketbook

Healthy 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...

9 Facts About Retirement

9 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...

"Dirty Dozen" Tax Scams to Watch For

“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...

Password Protection Strategies

Password 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...

Prevent a Rift: Money Tips for Newlyweds

Prevent 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...

How Women Can Prepare for Retirement

How 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...

Social Security Benefits: How Much Will I Receive

Social 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...

The Anatomy of an Index

The 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...

Mortgages in Retirement

Mortgages 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...

Rebalancing Your Portfolio

Rebalancing 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...

Pullbacks, Corrections, and Bear Markets

Pullbacks, 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....

What Do Your Taxes Pay For?

What 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,...

Creative Ways to Motivate Your Employees

Creative 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...

Budgeting After a Divorce

Budgeting After a Divorce Full Size Version Download the Worksheet

Four Reasons Millennials Need an Estate Strategy

Four 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:...

The SECURE Act

The 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...

Asset Allocation

Asset 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...

A Decision Not Made Is Still a Decision

A 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...

Budget Check Up: Tax Time is the Right Time

Budget 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,...

The Lowdown on Those Free Credit Scores

The 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...

Buying vs. Leasing a Car

Buying 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...

Four Steps to Valuing an Estate

Four 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...

A Brief Guide to Condo Insurance

A 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...

5 Benefits of Working in Retirement

5 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...

The Three Keys to a Great Password

The Three Keys to a Great Password

A Penny Saved is Two Pennies Earned

A 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...

Understanding Long-Term Care

Understanding 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...

Caring for Aging Parents

Caring 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...

Debt Stress

Debt 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...

All Muni Bonds Are Not Created Equal

All 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...

Traditional vs. Roth IRA

Traditional 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...

Financial Aid for Students 101

Financial 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...

Eight Mistakes That Can Upend Your Retirement

Eight 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,...

Critical Estate Documents

Critical 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...

Please Leave Home Without It

Please 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,...

Social Security: Five Facts You Need to Know

Social 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...

Getting a Head Start on College Savings

Getting 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...

Catch-Up Contributions

Catch-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...

A Taxing Story: Capital Gains and Losses

A 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...

A Brief History of Estate Taxes

A 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...

9 Facts About Retirement

9 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...

Why Wealth Management & Financial Advice Differs for Men and Women

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...

A Guide To Estate Planning For 2019

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...

Women Are Finally A Bigger Priority In The Financial Landscape

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...

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Financial Advisor

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...

A Summary of 2018 Tax Changes

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...

529 Plans

Started in 1996, 529 plans provide tax incentives for those saving for post-secondary education. The plan allows funds saved to be used at any eligible education institution, which typically includes colleges, universities, vocational...

Health Insurance 101

Health 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...

Informed Donating: 6 Things to Know Before Donating to Charities

The 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...

4 Credit Score Myths and Their Truths

Credit 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...

Do You Need Renter's Insurance? It's a Must!

The Importance of Having Financial Goals

Pay Yourself First - The Holy Grail of Personal Finance

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...

Business Owners’ Personal and Family Security Risks

Accumulating 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...

The Tricky Truth of Inheritance in the 21st Century

Inheritances 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...

Life Insurance and the Single Parent

The 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...

Financial Planning for Newlyweds

Congratulations 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...

What You Need to Know About the Market Sell off

In 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...

Protecting Your Intellectual Capital

Many 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...

Buy vs Lease - Tips to Stretch Your Car Budget As Far As It Can Go

Get In shape - Financial Fitness 101

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...

5 Ways to Make Your Budget Go Further

I 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,...

An Estate Planning Primer for Business Owners

As 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...

Financial Planning in Your 30s: The 3 Goals Every 30-Something Year Old Should Have

30 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...

How to Save Money, When Saving Seems Impossible

Nearly 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...

FinTech - What Apps You Should Know

Smart-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...

Financial Planning for Young Professionals

You’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...

5 Common Financial Terms - You Probably Should Know

If 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...

The Power of Compound Interest

Remember 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...

8 Tips for Finding Balance Between Work and Life

It 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...

Is 'Freedom 55' an Option Anymore?

Have 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 -...

Demystifying Auto Insurance Rates and How to Lower Them

For 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,...

Habits of a Savvy Saving Family

When 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...

Your Emergency Fund and You

Summer’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...

Game of Life: Financial Planning At Every Age

If 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...

Smart Taxes: Roth IRA

Without 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...

How to Protect Your Finances While Traveling On Vacation

Vacation 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...

Beneficiary Benefits—Keeping Designees Updated Matters Big Time

The 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...

Financial Resolutions: 6 Tips to keep you Accountable

After 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...

Financial Win-Win: Give to Charity and Avoid the Income Taxes on $100k

The 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...

6 Tips for a Cheap Valentine’s Date

Roses 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...

Finance 101: A Lesson in Helping your Student Pay for College

You 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...

When Filing for a Tax Extension Makes Sense

The 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....

Leave your Legacy through Planned Giving

There 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...

Retire to Happiness: Tips to Thrive in the Next Chapter of Life

Here’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....