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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...

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...

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....

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....