Blog
Retirement Security Starts With Visualizing Your Future
Planning for your financial future and retirement looks much different now than in previous years. Some people must supplement their Social Security to have enough to maintain their desired lifestyle. This means financial planning is...
Read MoreEstate Planning and Asset Protection: Are They The Same?
You may sometimes hear the terms "estate planning" and "asset protection" used interchangeably. They actually have different meanings, and it's important to incorporate both strategies into future financial plans. Below, we discuss key...
Read MoreWhy Financial Preparedness Is a Smart Investment
During turbulent financial times, having a financial emergency plan might provide you with a proverbial life preserver. Whether it is an emergency fund to help you tackle an unplanned expense, insurance to cover an unexpected accident...
Read MoreRegain Confidence and Restore Your Retirement
Sectors hit include air travel, insurance, oil production and entertainment The path to retirement can often seem daunting, with the end goal appearing distant and difficult to reach. This sentiment has only grown in recent years, as...
Read MoreFour Financial Planning Essentials to Ease Your Retirement Fears
When it comes to planning for retirement, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Putting together a financial strategy can be complicated at any time of life, what with changing regulations, ups and downs in the market, and disagreements...
Read MoreShow All
Understanding the Estate Planning Process
A well-structured estate plan can be invaluable to you and your family It is common for people to put off planning their estates. After all, no one wants to anticipate their death. In addition, many may believe that only the wealthy...
Read MoreTypes of Insurance
Each day, you face a variety of risks--risks to your life, your health, and your property. Although you can't eliminate many of these risks, you can take steps to guard against resulting financial losses. That's where insurance comes...
Read MoreRetirement Planning Does Not Stop in Retirement
Five easy pointers to help you plan during all of your retirement years If you’re retired, there’s good news in that you’ll probably live longer and perhaps better than your parents and grandparents did. The bad news:...
Read MoreWellness in Retirement: The Benefits of Social Wellness for Retirees
Social isolation makes people more susceptible to illness and death.1 While retirement is a time for relaxation and enjoyment from a lifetime of work, it may lead to a lack of purpose if you have depended on work for...
Read MoreThe Ultimate Downsizing Checklist Before Retiring
By focusing on goals and priorities, you can create a new, simplified lifestyle As retirement approaches, many older adults consider downsizing their home as a way to simplify their lives, reduce expenses, and focus on what truly...
Read MoreAn Introduction to Estate Planning for the Sandwich Generation
For members of the "Sandwich Generation"—those currently in their 40s and 50s who are caring for children and their parents who are over 65-years old—estate planning may seem like a low priority. After all, when you're...
Read MoreGenerational Wealth and the Gift of Financial Freedom
Those who receive an inheritance with the passing of a loved one are potentially given the gift of financial freedom if they choose to manage the wealth carefully.
Read MoreThe Pros and Cons of Investing in Permanent Life Insurance
Investing in life insurance may not be the first option that comes to mind for people when deciding where to put their money. However, it is one that, for some people, could be a beneficial strategy for diversifying their portfolio as...
Read More3 Ways Planning For Retirement is Like Planning For Summer Break
For kids, teens, and college students, summer break often represents freedom from schedules, responsibilities, and all those other drains on your time. Retirement actually can provide a similar level of freedom, but only if you've...
Read More5 Homeowner Estate Planning Tips to Consider
Estate planning helps disperse your assets according to your wishes. The effort may seem daunting at first, but estate planning does not have to be overly complicated. With the proper planning, you may find yourself resting a little...
Read MoreUnderstanding the Retirement Bucket Strategy
An investment approach that can help you work towards a confident retirement Retirement is a significant milestone in one's life, which requires careful planning and foresight to pursue a confident and stress-free transition. One...
Read More529 Plans: The Ins and Outs of Contributions and Withdrawals
529 plans can be powerful college savings tools, but you need to understand how your plan works before you can take full advantage of it. Among other things, this means becoming familiar with the finer points of contributions and...
Read MoreStrategies Using Life Insurance
What is it?Life insurance is not only about protecting your survivors in the event of your death. Depending upon the type of policy you purchase, it can also enable you to meet specific life goals: retiring comfortably, paying for your...
Read MoreWhy 401(k)s Often Fare Better than IRAs
Especially during times of challenging markets, 401(k)s might fare better Despite the challenging market conditions, 401(k) balances often fare better than IRAs, providing a little more hope for retirement investors.Here are 5 reasons...
Read More3 Tips for Preserving Wealth in Your Golden Years
After spending so much of your life saving for retirement, it may be challenging to transition from depositing funds to withdrawing them. You may wonder whether there is any way to maintain your lifestyle and preserve your wealth to...
Read More6 Money Myths That Are Limiting Your Wealth
When people think of “myths,” they often think of such stories as Pandora’s Box (the woman who took the lid off of a jar releasing all of the world’s ills upon the world, were taxes one of them?), or the Tale of...
Read MoreFive Ways SECURE 2.0 Changes the Required Minimum Distribution Rules
The SECURE 2.0 legislation included in the $1.7 trillion appropriations bill passed late last year builds on changes established by the original Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE 1.0) enacted in 2019....
Read MoreEmergency Savings or Your Retirement Goals?
Deciding which one comes first so you know where to focus your efforts When it comes to personal finance, there are a number of competing priorities that can make it difficult to determine where to focus your efforts. For many people,...
Read MoreFrom Riches To Rags In Three Generations: Managing Generational Wealth Checklist
When discussing multigenerational wealth it is common to come across proverbs that acknowledge the fact that generational wealth typically won’t make it past the third generation. In the United States the saying goes, “from...
Read MoreDon't Let Your Retirement Savings Goal Get You Down
As a retirement savings plan participant, you know that setting an accumulation goal is an important part of your overall strategy. In fact, over decades of conducting its annual Retirement Confidence Survey, the Employee Benefit...
Read MoreSpring Has Sprung: Time to Refresh Your Retirement Plan
Spring can be a fantastic time to refresh your retirement plan and savings habits. With 2023 bringing increased limits for 401(k)s, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and other tax-advantaged...
Read More6 Essential Tips for Retirement Planning
Retirement planning is all about the future, your future. Whether you are classified as a millennial, Gen Xers, women, or you are in your 40s-50s, retirement planning is a must. The key to successful retirement planning is starting...
Read MoreUnderstanding Social Security Strategies
As you age, the question of when to collect Social Security (SS) retirement benefits will likely come to mind. There is no one size fits all age; your unique circumstances and goals will dictate the appropriate time for you to take...
Read MoreSectors to Consider if Inflation Continues to Rise
The beaten-down sectors from 2022 might be worth another look in 2023 In general terms, the bond market will rally when increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) (inflation) are small and the bond market will fall when increases in...
Read MoreDeveloping a Spending Plan
What is a spending plan?Your spending plan is your active strategy for getting where you want to go. Think of your spending plan as a road map that helps you reach your goals, as well as give you a sense of direction. Your spending...
Read MorePlanning for Earned Income in Retirement
What is it?If you're like a lot of people, retirement won't be the world of gardening, golfing, traveling, and tennis you once envisioned. Rather, retirement will mean relaxing and working. Maybe you've retired from your "regular" job...
Read MorePlanning for Earned Income in Retirement
What is it?If you're like a lot of people, retirement won't be the world of gardening, golfing, traveling, and tennis you once envisioned. Rather, retirement will mean relaxing and working. Maybe you've retired from your "regular" job...
Read MoreAll You Need To Know About Trusts
Set up trusts to minimize estate taxes, avoid probate, and seamlessly transfer your assets to your heirs.Simply put: A trust is a legal arrangement in which a certain amount of property or assets is held by a person or entity (e.g...
Read MoreTax Planning for Business Owners
What is business tax planning?When starting a business, you must consider a number of tax-related issues. Although business tax planning is a complicated area, it is essential to understand three major topics: tax consequences when the...
Read MoreAll You Need To Know About Trusts
Set up trusts to minimize estate taxes, avoid probate, and seamlessly transfer your assets to your heirs.Simply put: A trust is a legal arrangement in which a certain amount of property or assets is held by a person or entity (e.g...
Read MoreUnderstanding Capital Gains Tax as an Investor
As an investor, you may be impacted by capital gains if you sell your investment – whether at a gain or loss. Understanding capital gains may help with your overall investment strategy and the potential to preserve your...
Read MoreThe Importance of Financial Wellness
Financial wellness, like physical wellness, isn’t something you should ignore. Instead, it's a critical concept for anyone who wants to be knowledgeable and confident about their finances, and in fact, financial wellness is...
Read MoreDon't Miss Out on These 5 Commonly Overlooked Tax Deductions
When you own a business, you get to deduct business expenses from your business income. This general rule applies, subject to certain limitations, whether you are a sole proprietor with employees or a self-employed freelancer...
Read MoreTax Prep Checklist: Everything You Need to Be Ready for Tax Season
Regardless of whether you prepare your taxes yourself or use a professional's services, it's a good idea to gather the information and documentation you need well in advance of your actual tax filing date. Below, we've listed some key...
Read MoreCommon Factors Affecting Retirement Income
When it comes to planning for your retirement income, it's easy to overlook some of the common factors that can affect how much you'll have available to spend. If you don't consider how your retirement income can be impacted by...
Read MoreUnderstanding the Estate Planning Process
A well-structured estate plan can be invaluable to you and your familyIt is common for people to put off planning their estates. After all, no one wants to anticipate their death. In addition, many may believe that only the wealthy...
Read MoreComprehensive Key Numbers
Click Here For Comprehensive Key Numbers
Read MoreTop Year-End Investment Tips
Just what you need, right? One more time-consuming task to be taken care of between now and the end of the year. But taking a little time out from the holiday chores to make some strategic saving and investing decisions before December...
Read More4 Reasons to Do Your Shopping on Small Business Saturday
When Thanksgiving rolls around, the holiday shopping season comes into full swing. While many people prepare their strategy for Black Friday shopping, a lot of them forget about the second shopping holiday that weekend: Small Business...
Read MoreA Year-End Wealth Planning Guide
As we approach the end of the year, you may want to review areas that may impact your wealth and estate planning next year. In this year-end planning guide, we examine four critical areas to consider that may affect your finances:...
Read MoreA Guide to Incorporating Philanthropy into Your Financial Planning
If you're considering giving back to society or a cause as part of your financial planning, there are many ways you can do so. You can make an impact while receiving tax benefits by including philanthropic giving as part of a holistic...
Read More5 Expensive Long-Term Care Planning Mistakes to Avoid
The vast majority of Americans need long-term care. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 70% of people over age 65 may need some long-term care during their lives.1 Unfortunately, planning for long-term care...
Read More3 Financial Planning Steps
Organization, efficiency and discipline can be considered as three primary steps of financial planning. Organization is knowing where your money comes and goes. An efficient portfolio means working towards a better chance of profits,...
Read MoreYour Long Term Care Action Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide
Those turning 65 this year have a 7 in 10 chance of needing long-term care (LTC) at some point.1 With the cost of a private room in a nursing home now topping $100,000 per year, the thought of paying this — or for a loved...
Read MoreKey Estate Planning Documents You Need
There are five estate planning documents you may need, regardless of your age, health, or wealth:Durable power of attorneyAdvance medical directivesWillLetter of instructionLiving trustThe last document, a living trust, isn't always...
Read MoreTips to Avoid Common Estate Planning Mistakes
With a few simple actions, you can ensure your estate planning is effective Whether your estate plan is simple or complex, there are many details, which are often overlooked, that can undermine your plan’s effectiveness. Are you...
Read MoreTen Things You Must Know About Medicare
Heading into your retirement years brings a slew of new topics to grapple with, and one of the most maddening may be Medicare. Figuring out when to enroll, what to enroll in and what coverage will be best for you can be daunting. To...
Read More5 Tips For Budgeting Like A Boss
When it comes to creating your own monthly budget, sometimes planning is easier than the practice. Keeping track of finances can be tricky, but, with a few guidelines and time, you can take charge of your bank account once and for all...
Read MoreAll About Financial Planning
No matter where you are in life, you may have at least a few financial goals. Perhaps you want to buy a house, save for your child’s college education, or retire early. Regardless of what your goals are, financial planning can...
Read More529 College Savings Plans
529 savings plans are tax-advantaged education savings vehicles and one of the most popular ways to save for college today. They can also be used to save for K-12 tuition. Much like the way 401(k) plans changed the world of retirement...
Read MoreFinancial Survival After a Job Loss
You may have lost your job already, or it's something you're concerned about. Either way, the keys to surviving a job loss financially are to plan ahead, take stock of your income, and cut your expenses.Plan aheadIf you haven't been...
Read MoreGetting Jobs Market Back into Balance
Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell reiterated his warning that getting inflation under control will require some pain. Powell is likely making these warnings based on the arcane, clunky relationship between inflation and unemployment....
Read More5 Tips for Navigating Medicare in Retirement
One of the main concerns about retirement is health care. As healthcare costs continue to rise, medical bills may quickly derail your retirement plan. The good news is when you turn 65, you will be able to apply for Medicare, which...
Read MoreLife Insurance and Estate Planning
Life insurance has come a long way since the days when it was known as burial insurance and used mainly to pay for funeral expenses. Today, life insurance is a crucial part of many estate plans. You can use it to leave much-needed...
Read MoreSeptember’s Calendar Cruelty for Stocks
The difficult 2022 for stocks may not get much easier because as we now wait for better news on the inflation front, we have to contend with a seasonally weak month of September. While we got some welcome news in Friday’s jobs...
Read MoreFiguring Out a 401(k) Strategy That Works for You
Matching your tolerance for risk with your investment objectives Everyone wants a comfortable retirement, but the road you take there will depend on your specific situation. When you invest, you assume a certain level of risk (but like...
Read More3 Ways To Improve Your Finances for Self-Improvement Month
September is self-improvement month and a great time to work on your financial health. When you think of self-improvement, you likely think of your health or career but may pay little attention to your finances. Getting your financial...
Read More