Blog

There are a number of different life insurance products and features to consider when evaluating plans.Discussing the importance of owning life insurance can be a sensitive topic — after all, few people like to talk about death....

There are important steps you can take to help your aging parents find health care and living assistance, and to secure financing for the cost of the care.Many adults have aging parents who are in need of health-care and living...

If you’re expecting your first child, establishing a budget that includes your growing list of expenses is important for helping you manage your finances.Starting a family is one of life’s most rewarding experiences....

Retirement savings isn’t the only financial goal you should consider in your lifetime. There are other milestones that you ought to take into account as well.When it comes to financial stability, people tend to focus on paying...

The mentors in our lives haven’t always gone by that title, but we’ve all had one. Whether it’s been a friend, coach, teacher, sibling, parent, co-worker, or boss, we’ve benefited from the guidance and...

Looking To Teach a Child Some Important Money Lessons? Consider a Roth Custodial IRA.You started early and have saved hard in your 401(k). You’ve also paid close attention to your investing strategy over the years. And you...

Practicing Mindfulness With Money Can Help Boost Your Financial Wellness Many people practice mindfulness through yoga, tai chi or other forms of movement, often incorporating breathing exercises. Others rely on their smart watch or...

Learn how to protect loved ones—and yourself—from fraud.Face it. We’re all getting older. And, while age comes with wisdom, it can also come with vulnerability. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) reports that scams...

Do you have a financial plan that will help you send your kids to college, take the trips you’ve dreamed about, and enjoy your golden years? If not, you may want to start planning now.Creating a financial plan may help you avoid...

Knowledge is Retirement Power Looking to see more of the world during retirement? Some countries have created visa policies designed specifically for retirees. These retirement visa programs may also provide special benefits and...

Keep Your Money Safe With These Online Shopping Security Tips - The 2022 holiday gift season is now in the rear-view mirror. If you’re like many other people, chances are you did a good amount of shopping online. After all, online...

An executor administers a deceased person’s estate, i.e., the person’s net worth at the time of death. Choose an executor you trust to carry out your directives honestly and fairly.

In the final days of 2022, Congress passed a new set of retirement rules designed to make it easier to contribute to retirement plans and access those funds earmarked for retirement.The law is called SECURE 2.0, and it's a follow-up to...

About two out of three Americans do not have a will.1 The implications are worth exploring. When you die without a will, a state court judge can decide who gets what, even when it doesn’t accord to your wishes.

Self-care is more than a new-age mantra being thrown around. It’s a very real need in terms of physical, mental, or emotional health. The more consistently you care for yourself, the better your work will be, too.

Why Going Back to School After Retirement Isn’t Such a Crazy Idea. As you peek into the future to see what retirement might look like for you, have you considered the possibility of returning to school?

Many folks depend on the internet for work, social contact, information, and entertainment. The more you use the internet, the more you should defend your privacy from outside attacks.

Most people don’t spend too much time thinking about end-of-life planning on a daily basis. But you may have loved ones who will soon face those issues. While it’s not pleasant to think about, you may be the one who ends up having.......

Retirement savings isn’t the only financial goal you might want to consider in a lifetime. There are other considerable milestones that you want to take into account as well.When it comes to financial stability, people tend to...

We all look for healthier ways to eat from time to time, or just expand our food horizons. If you’re looking to shake things up a bit, consider incorporating some of these healthy eating habits from other cultures around the world.

Like most people, you’re likely to change jobs several times during your working life. And you’ll likely have a 401(k) account through your former employer to deal with. Here are the four options for what to do with an old 401(k) account.

Market swings causing you some anxiety? These four money mantras can help you overcome it.Whether it’s the continuing presence of the COVID-19 pandemic, a sudden boost in prices related to gas, food, housing and other essentials,...

Tips and resources that everyone can use - Knowledge Is Retirement Power

The Power of Compound Interest - You earn interest when you put money into a savings account. Through compounding your interest grows faster. The sooner you start saving, the more compound interest you’ll earn. Compound interest is...

How to Maximize Your Earning Potential - Career goals give purpose and direction to your professional development. They also can help you build the wealth you will need to improve your lifestyle and provide for a comfortable retirement.

It’s Never Too Late to Start Saving for Retirement. Even if your retirement savings feel a bit light, there’s no reason for gloom and doom. You can take steps right now to help put your savings back on track.

Looking for Some New Family Fun Options? Are you having a hard time coming up with new ways to spend a free day together that everyone can get excited about? Here are some ideas for family adventures you can have in a single day...

It’s essential to revisit your will, and indeed your entire estate plan, every three to five years and after significant life events. Failure to do so could easily lead to undesirable outcomes.

Get Your Goals Back on Track with some Mid-Year Resolutions - The middle of the year is a perfect opportunity to set goals (or to revisit the goals you set at the beginning of the year). Get out of the rut of routine and give yourself a...

Managing your money is central to meeting your financial goals. The problem is many folks have hectic lives that leave them short on time. A few simple tips can streamline your money management process.

Financial planning addresses a person’s current circumstances and long-term wealth objectives, along with ways to work toward those objectives. Learn what a financial plan contains and why it can be important.

Get a Handle on Your Finances Before You Leave College. As graduation approaches, it’s time to start thinking about your finances for the day after they hand you a diploma.

2022 has been a challenging year for investors so far. The S&P 500 Index just had one of its worst Aprils in decades, and May is off to a rocky start. Bond investors have not fared much better as rising interest rates have pushed down.....

Here are some positive tips to help parents teach their children about responsibly using money to help achieve their goals. Only 17 states require high school students take a personal finance class.

Determining How Much Life Insurance You Need. You should consider having sufficient life insurance to realistically support your family’s lifestyle without spending too much on insurance premiums. Should the worst happen, the...

A Financial Professional Can Help Determine Your Risk Tolerance Risk tolerance is a measure of the amount of market risk you are willing to assume. That is, it expresses how sensitive you are to the markets’ ups and downs....

Purchasing your first home is a tremendous financial commitment. There are a number of factors to consider before signing off on that long-term mortgage. So, you’re looking to purchase your first home. Congratulations! It’s...

Retirement Leaves You with a Finite Amount of Money. Be Smart and Make a Plan. It requires preparation and discipline to live within your means during retirement. You would be wise to plan out your retirement expenses and income so...

Whether you’re 23 or 35, it’s important to know whether you are saving enough for your retirement. There is no time like the present to ensure you are allocating enough funds to your retirement account.With folks routinely...

Even in the best of times, life is constantly changing. New jobs, marriage, kids, your first home – all require a fresh look at your financial plans. During uncertain periods, an annual review with a financial planner becomes...

Small Steps You Can Take to Save for Retirement Saving for retirement can seem impossible when you are saddled with so many daily expenses: student loans, mortgage/rent, car payments, childcare, and more. But there is nothing wrong...

Preparing for retirement just got a little more financial wiggle room. For workplace retirement accounts (i.e. 401(k), 403(b), amongst others), the contribution limit rises $1,000 to $20,500.

A fresh approach to spending can help put some sizzle in your retirement savings. Despite all the budgeting and cash flow tracking apps available, many people still struggle to manage their spending habits on a daily basis. What if...

Teaching your children to be financially responsible is one of life’s critical lessons. As your children mature, you will have many opportunities to teach them about good financial management, from kindergarten to adulthood....

Unless you have accumulated substantial wealth where money is not a concern, you face a critical task when you reach retirement to make sure that your assets will support you through your lifetime. When you retire and no longer earn an...

Buying low or selling high is a prudent strategy for most investors, an effort to maximize returns. But buying lowest or selling highest is an elusive strategy, one that is difficult to execute and that may lead to lower returns and...

The Roth 401(k) has become an attractive investment account, with investors attracted to their qualified tax-free withdrawals and contributions which receive after-tax treatment. But like other 401(k) plans, the Roth 401(k) carries...

Discussing the importance of owning life insurance can be a sensitive topic — after all, few people like to talk about death. However, if others depend on your support, or if you have substantial assets that you wish to transfer...

It’s time for your life insurance checkup.September is National Life Insurance Awareness Month, so it’s a great time to review your coverage.1If you don’t have any life insurance, you’re not alone. Life...

You’re never too young to begin building an investment portfolio. There’s a simple word that has profound implications for savings and investing: compounding. Like a snowball that grows as it rolls down a hill, compounding...

There’s a subjective uncertainty associated with financial wellness. Are you financially fit? And if so, how fit are you? While there is no clearly defined threshold for answering affirmatively, much less grading your level of...

Identity theft is a growing concern that impacts millions of Americans every year. According to a recent study1, more than 14 million Americans fell victim to online theft in 2018, with 23% of of those incurring unreimbursed personal...

Life changes quickly; that’s why it’s important to periodically evaluate your financial and life insurance needs. When was the last time you looked at your life insurance policies? How long ago were they purchased? Have...

In the past, boomers and generation Xers often held on to jobs for 10 or more years. Some professionals stayed with the same company for most of their working lives. The Great Recession changed this for many. Now, people have become...

At this time last year, it was still unknown that a deadly global pandemic was on the rise, eventually stalling economic growth and sending crude oil prices into negative territory. But recently, oil prices have surged, with crude...

The acronym “SPAC” is showing up more often these days because there is some big money behind the revitalized investment approach.SPAC stands for Special Purpose Acquisition Company, and they are sometimes referred to as...

Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are one of the most common assets people rely on to save and invest for retirement. In fact, more than a third of households in America own an IRA. If you’re thinking of opening an IRA for...

Credit card debt can be an all-consuming matter that should be addressed sooner, rather than later in life. This article outlines steps to get started. As of 2020, the average credit card balance has reached over $6,200. It is not...

Just as to-do lists can be a key part of planning, do-not-do lists can be helpful reminders to avoid mistakes that others have made. 1. Impulse investing. Avoid investing based on a whim or a tip. Don’t invest a certain way just...

Only about 23% of American workers say they are "very confident" they will have enough money to live comfortably throughout retirement.1 To help reduce such uncertainty in your life, consider these five common investment pitfalls --...

As an investor, it can be tempting to get caught up in daily news headlines. Consider how news about the election and COVID-19 vaccines have moved the markets over the past several weeks. But having a financial strategy can help you...

When it comes to investing, many people associate risk with losing money. But investing entails different types of risk. Understanding each type -- and the potential return associated with your retirement portfolio -- can help you...

According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, the annual number of records exposed rose 126% in 2018, even while the annual number of data breaches fell by 23%. The business sector experienced 46% of the data breaches in 2018,...