Blog
What’s on our mind? You can read about it in our blog. Whether it’s ideas from the industry or emerging trends, you can read about it here. And once in a while, we may throw in a movie review or some other surprise. So keep checking in. We’re glad to have you reading along.
Volatility Continues
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.....
Read MoreTeaching Your Children the Value of Money
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.
Read MoreHow Much Life Insurance Do You Need?
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...
Read MoreRisk vs. Reward in Retirement Planning
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....
Read MoreConsideration When Buying Your First Home
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...
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How to Avoid Overspending in Retirement
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...
Read MoreReality Check on Your Retirement Savings
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...
Read MoreAn Annual Review with a Financial Professional is a Good Investment.
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...
Read MoreNo More Excuses. Start Saving Today!
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...
Read More2022 Retirement Plan Contribution Limits
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.
Read MoreMoney Well Spent
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...
Read MoreTeach Your Children Well - 10 Steps to Financial Education
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....
Read MoreManaging a Budget During your Retirement
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...
Read MoreThe Elusive Buy/Sell Strategy of Perfect Timing
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...
Read MoreMaking Sense of your ROTH 401(K)
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...
Read MoreConsideration When Purchasing Life Insurance
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...
Read MoreSeptember Is National Life Insurance Awareness Month
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...
Read MoreBegin Investing While Young
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...
Read MoreThe Basics of Financial Fitness
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...
Read MoreGone Phishing: Protecting Against Online Attacks
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...
Read MoreNeed a Life Insurance Policy Review?
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...
Read MoreHow to Manage Your 401(k) When You Switch Jobs
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...
Read MoreOil Prices on the Move
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...
Read MoreSPACs Take Center Stage
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...
Read MoreIRA 101: Know the Facts
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...
Read MoreHow to Reduce Your Credit Card Debt
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...
Read More12 Common Financial Mistakes to Avoid
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...
Read MoreFive Common Investment Mistakes When Planning for Retirement
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 --...
Read MoreSpeed Bumps & Headlines
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...
Read MoreDoes Your Portfolio Reflect Your Risk Tolerance?
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...
Read MoreRecognizing and Avoiding Online Scams
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,...
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