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.
A COLA With Your Social Security?
A COLA With Your Social Security? Preliminary estimates call for a 4.7% cost-of-living increase.1 If there is a "silver lining" to all the inflation talk, it may be that Social Security benefits are expected to see a larger-than-normal...
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Baseball’s $300 Million Players
Baseball’s $300 Million Players Even ballplayers prepare for the future. The San Diego Padres signed infielder Fernando Tatis, Jr., to a 14-year, $340 million contract roughly one year after the Los Angeles Dodgers inked...
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Tax & Estate Strategies for Married LGBTQ+ Couples
Tax & Estate Strategies for Married LGBTQ+ Couples In this age of marriage equality, there are new possibilities. The 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision streamlined tax and estate strategizing for married LGBTQ+ couples....
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Cyberattack – CPI Hit In The Wallet
Cyberattack – CPI Hit In The Wallet Long lines and closed gas stations in many regions. A cyberattack shut down a major gas and energy pipeline supplying the East Coast of the United States for several days. The actual pipelines...
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2021 Retirement Confidence Survey
2021 Retirement Confidence Survey A deep dive into workers' expectations in retirement versus actual income sources. Will your retirement dreams match your reality? That's perhaps the most critical question to ask people who are...
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What in the World Are NFTs?
What in the World Are NFTs? A Look at Non-Fungible Tokens. Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, have been the recipient of the latest buzz. NFTs are digital files attached to blockchain codes. If you know anything about digital currencies,...
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"Green Shoots" in the Economy
“Green Shoots” in the Economy Some examples to consider. Investors looking for "green shoots" to confirm that the economy is on the mend have seen plenty of examples in recent weeks. Retail sales rose 9.8% in March, the...
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Life Insurance with Extended-Care Riders
Life Insurance with Extended-Care Riders As conventional extended-care policies grow costlier, alternatives have emerged. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed extended-care policies. While the specific policy information varies from...
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The Shred Party
The Shred Party What should you get rid of and hold on to? When and why? If a shred party happens to spring up in your area, you may want to mark your calendar. For many years, shred parties, where a business or organization hosts...
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Are Americans Savings Too Much?
Are Americans Saving Too Much? American spending habits have taken a clear direction. Among the many changes arising from the pandemic, one of the most noticeable was a change in American spending habits. A survey released in March...
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Guarding Against Identity Theft
Guarding Against Identity Theft Take steps so criminals won’t take vital information from you. America is enduring a data breach problem. As many workers traded in the office for remote work, data security has been a focus for...
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The Many Forms of Fixed Income
The Many Forms of Fixed Income Looking for yield? Treasuries aren’t your only choice.You want to draw some income while preserving some of your capital. So, you decide to take a look at fixed-income investments. A little research shows...
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The Emergence of ESG Investing
The Emergence of ESG Investing How generational and societal change is influencing companies and the markets. ESG: what does that acronym stand for? Those three letters stand for "Environmental, Social, and Governance" and signify an...
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Understanding Extended Care
Understanding Extended Care The important question: are you prepared? Addressing the potential threat of extended care expenses may be one of the biggest financial challenges for individuals who are developing a retirement strategy....
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Tax Efficiency in Retirement
Tax Efficiency in Retirement What role should taxes play in your investment decisions? Will you pay higher taxes in retirement? Do you have a 401(k) or a traditional IRA? If so, you will receive income from both after age 72. However,...
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The New Inherited IRA Rules
The New Inherited IRA Rules Do you know what has changed for IRA beneficiaries? New inherited IRA rules took effect on January 1, 2020. The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act became law on that day,...
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Should You Consider Refinancing Your Mortgage?
Should You Consider Refinancing Your Mortgage? What to consider. Are you considering refinancing your mortgage? Perhaps you want to shorten the term of your home loan. Maybe you have an adjustable-rate mortgage now and want to refi...
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Retirement Seen Through Your Eyes
Retirement Seen Through Your Eyes After you leave work, what will your life look like? How do you picture your future? If you are like many contemplating retirement, your view is likely pragmatic compared to that of your parents. That...
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Retirement Questions That Have Nothing to Do With Money
Retirement Questions That Have Nothing to Do With Money Think about these factors before you leave work for the last time. Retirement planning is not entirely financial. Your degree of happiness in your “second act” may...
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Tax Filing Season Is a Little Later This Year
Tax Filing Season Is a Little Later This Year What to know and dates to remember Recently, the Internal Revenue Service (I.R.S.) announced that tax season will start a little later than usual. This year the I.R.S. will begin accepting...
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1099 Forms
1099 Forms Explaining the many types of 1099 forms and their uses. What is a 1099 form? This is a record of payment from an individual or entity, showing a payment, generated for your records. The individual/entity sends a copy to both...
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2021 Off to a Fast Start
2021 Off to a Fast Start Market volatility continues into the new year. The first week of 2021 has already had many ups and downs. Just because it’s a new year doesn’t mean that the 2020 issues go away, and so far, 2021 has...
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Do Our Biases Affect Our Financial Choices?
Do Our Biases Affect Our Financial Choices? Even the most seasoned investors are prone to their influence. Investors are routinely warned about allowing their emotions to influence their decisions. However, they are less routinely...
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Group Life Insurance for a Growing Business?
Group Life Insurance for a Growing Business? Companies adding employee benefits may want to consider it. As companies grow and add employees, they also add employee benefits. Retirement and medical plans can be provided, but what about...
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2020 IRA Deadlines Are Approaching
2020 IRA Deadlines Are Approaching Here is what you need to know. Financially, many of us associate April with taxes – but we should also associate April with important IRA deadlines. April 15, 2021 is the deadline to take your...
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Building a Healthy Financial Foundation
Building a Healthy Financial Foundation How many pieces do you have in place? When you read about money matters, you will sometimes see the phrase, “getting your financial house in order.” What exactly does that mean? When...
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Retirement Blindspots
Retirement Blindspots Some life and financial factors that can sometimes be overlooked. We all have our “blue sky” visions of the way retirement should be, yet our futures may unfold in ways we do not predict. So, as you...
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Cash Balance Plans
Cash Balance Plans Should professional practices look into them? In corporate America, pension plans may be fading away. Only 14% of Fortune 500 companies offered them to full-time employees in 2019. In contrast, legal, medical,...
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What Do I Do With All This Money?
What Do I Do With All of This Money? Just because it’s a nice problem, doesn’t mean it’s not still a problem. Here’s a scenario for you: You pick up what appears to be a lottery ticket. You check the numbers for...
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Interest Rates and Your Mortgage
Interest Rates and Your Mortgage What you need to know. With the Federal Reserve keeping interest rates at or near zero, you may wonder about your mortgage. Is it a good time to refinance or even pay off the debt entirely? After all,...
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2021 Limits for IRAs, 401(k)s and More
2021 Limits for IRAs, 401(k)s and More Numbers to know for the new year. On October 26, the Treasury Department released the 2021 adjusted figures for retirement account savings. Although these adjustments won’t bring any major...
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How and When to Sign Up for Medicare
How and When to Sign Up for Medicare Breaking down the enrollment periods and eligibility. Medicare enrollment is automatic for some. For those receiving Social Security benefits, the coverage starts on the first day of the month you...
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Managing Money As A Couple
Managing Money as a Couple What are the keys to prepare to grow wealthy together? When you marry or simply share a household with someone, your financial life changes—and your approach to managing your money may change as well....
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The Social Security Administration Announces 2021 COLA
The Social Security Administration Announces 2021 COLA What you should know about the most recent cost-of-living adjustment. On October 13, 2020, the Social Security Administration (SSA) officially announced that Social Security...
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Year-End Estate Strategies
Year-End Estate Strategies What you need to know to get ready for the end of the year. With one year ending and a new one on the cusp of starting, many people will consider their resolutions—not their estate strategy. But the end...
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Managing Drug Costs
Managing Drug Costs How can households meet the challenge? Are prescription drug costs burdening your finances? Some people find it a challenge to manage the cost of prescription drugs. Americans pay an average of $1,200 per year for...
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End-of-the-Year Money Moves
End-of-the-Year Money Moves Here are some things you might consider before saying goodbye to 2020. What has changed for you in 2020? For many, this year has been as complicated as learning a new dance. Did you start a new job or leave...
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Annual Financial To-Do List
Annual Financial To-Do List Things you can do for your future as the year unfolds. What financial, business, or life priorities do you need to address for the coming year? Now is an excellent time to think about the investing, saving,...
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Dow 30 Changes Its Starting Lineup
Dow 30 Changes Its Starting Lineup What you should know about the change. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), one of the most widely followed stock market indices, has made some key changes to its starting lineup. Salesforce.com,...
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How Much Do You Really Know About Extended Care?
How Much Do You Really Know About Extended Care? Separating some eldercare facts from eldercare myths. How much does eldercare cost, and how do you arrange it when it is needed? The average person might have difficulty answering those...
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Taxable Events in Retirement Accounts
Taxable Events in Retirement Accounts What triggers a tax liability for an individual or a trust? When you distribute, sell, or receive assets from a retirement account, taxes usually follow. It is true for individuals; it is true for...
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Get Your FAFSA Ready
Get Your FAFSA Ready The application window for federal student loans opens on October 1. Mark this date on your calendar: October 1. That is the day when current and future traditional college students can start submitting the Free...
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What Are Stock Splits?
What Are Stock Splits? Here's what you need to know... Two high-profile companies—Apple and Tesla—have announced stock splits in the past few weeks, which makes it a great time to discuss what’s involved when a...
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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...
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Strategic vs. Tactical Investing
Strategic vs. Tactical Investing How do these investment approaches differ? Ever heard the term “strategic investing”? How about “tactical investing”? At a glance, you might assume that both these phrases...
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Starting a Roth IRA for a Teen
Starting a Roth IRA for a Teen This early financial decision could prove helpful over time. Want to give your child or grandchild a great financial start? A Roth IRA might be a choice to consider. There are many reasons why starting a...
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30-year Home Loans Fall to Historic Lows
30-year Home Loans Fall to Historic Lows Investors and homebuyers take note. Lately, it can feel like each day brings a new headline about fluctuating market behavior. But amid the ups and downs of 2020, there may be some potential...
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Keep Your Life Insurance When You Retire
Keep Your Life Insurance When You Retire Some good reasons to retain it. Do you need a life insurance policy in retirement? One school of thought says no. The kids are grown, and the need to financially insulate the household against...
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Making a Charitable Contribution
Making a Charitable Contribution There are benefits and limitations when you decide to donate stock. Why sell shares when you can gift them? If you have appreciated stocks in your portfolio, you might want to consider donating those...
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A Stock Market Lesson to Remember
A Stock Market Lesson to Remember Confidence can quickly erode, but it can also quickly emerge. Undeniably, spring 2020 has tried the patience of investors. An 11-year bull market ended. Key economic indicators went haywire. Household...
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What Determines Car Insurance Rates?
What Determines Car Insurance Rates? Driver history is just one factor; there are many others. Your auto insurance premium is based on more than your driving history. The amount you pay for auto insurance is determined by a complicated...
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Before You Claim Social Security...
Before You Claim Social Security... A few things you may want to think about before filing for benefits. Whether you want to leave work at 62, 67, or 72, claiming the retirement benefits you are entitled to by federal law is no casual...
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Retirement Plan Options for Small Businesses
Retirement Plan Options for Small Businesses The SECURE Act and CARES Act may complicate the decision. As a small-business owner, figuring out retirement choices can be a little intimidating. How do you pick the most appropriate...
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Who Is Your Trusted Contact?
Who Is Your Trusted Contact? This vital investment account question should be answered sooner rather than later. Investment firms have a new client service requirement. They must now ask you if you would like to provide the name and...
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Eldercare Choices in the COVID-19 Era
Eldercare Choices in the COVID-19 Era Exploring your extended care options may be wise at this time. Given the threat of COVID-19, seniors today may be considering their extended care alternatives with extra caution.1 In addition to...
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Details on the Tax Deadline Extension
Details on the Tax Deadline Extension The I.R.S. is giving you three additional months to file and pay. The Internal Revenue Service knows that many taxpayers have had a stressful spring. So, it has reset the federal tax deadline. You...
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The Pros and Cons of Early Retirement Plan Rollovers
The Pros and Cons of Early Retirement Plan Rollovers Should you withdraw and reinvest your retirement plan money while you are still on the job? Did you know you might be able to take some or all of the money in your 401(k), 403(b), or...
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May Is Disability Insurance Awareness Month
May is Disability Insurance Month What it is...and why it's important. Did you know that May is Disability Insurance Awareness Month? First started in 2007, the month of May was the first time that information about disability...
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FAQs About the 2020 Stimulus Checks
FAQs About the 2020 Stimulus Checks Answers to some frequently asked questions. The federal government is providing a little economic relief to many taxpayers. The Internal Revenue Service is sending millions of Economic Impact...
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The Solo 401(k)
The Solo 401(k) A retirement investment vehicle designed for small. Do you work for yourself? Then you may want to consider the solo 401(k), which marries a traditional employee retirement savings account to a small-business,...
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The Federal Reserve’s Unprecedented Moves
The Federal Reserve’s Unprecedented Moves What they are. How they help. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, almost every state in America is under some sort of stay-at-home order. This unprecedented time has also led many...
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Roth IRA Conversion in the Era of COVID-19
Roth IRA Conversion in the Era of COVID-19 Is it right for you? The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken up nearly every aspect of American life. To say it’s been a difficult time would be an understatement. However, difficult times may...
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Health Care Costs Are Cutting into Retirement Preparations
Health Care Costs Are Cutting into Retirement Preparations This is happening in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. You may have seen this statistic before or one resembling it: the average 65-year-old retiring couple can now expect to pay...
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Key Provisions of the CARES Act
Key Provisions of the CARES Act Distributions can be waived in 2020 for Inherited Accounts, 401(k)s, and IRAs. Recently, the $2 trillion “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security” (“CARES”) Act was signed...
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Pullbacks, Corrections, and Bear Markets
Pullbacks, Corrections, and Bear Markets What’s the difference? What do these terms mean for you? The COVID-19 outbreak has put tremendous pressure on stock prices, prompting some investors to blindly and indiscriminately sell...
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Should You Care What the Financial Markets Do Each Day?
Should You Care What the Financial Markets Do Each Day? Focusing on Your Strategy During Turbulent Times. Investors are people, and people are often impatient. No one likes to wait in line or wait longer than they have to for something...
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Coronavirus & More...
Coronavirus & More... The 24-Hour News Cycle moves from Impeachment to COVID-19 to the Primaries – What’s next? In recent weeks, we’ve seen several major stories in the news. On the political front, in addition to the...
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Lesser Known Provisions of the SECURE Act
Lesser Known Provisions of the SECURE Act What younger investors need to know. The SECURE Act passed into law in late 2019 and changed several aspects of retirement investing. These modifications included modifying the ability to...
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Coping with an Inheritance
Coping with an Inheritance A windfall from a loved one can be both rewarding and complicated. 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...
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Retirement is a Beginning
Retirement Is a Beginning See if you are prepared to begin your retirement by answering four key questions. How do you know you are psychologically ready to retire? As a start, ask yourself four questions. One, is your work meaningful?...
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Insurance Needs for Empty Nesters and Retirees
Insurance Needs for Empty Nesters and Retirees Thinking about coverage as you enter a new phase. With the children now out of the house, financial priorities become more focused on preparing for retirement. At this stage, you may very...
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What's the Cost of Procrastination?
The Cost of Procrastination Don't let procrastination keep you from pursuing your financial goals. Some of us share a common experience. You’re driving along when a police cruiser pulls up behind you with its lights flashing. You...
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2019 IRA Deadlines Are Approaching
2019 IRA Deadlines Are Approaching Here is what you need to know. Financially, many of us associate April with taxes – but we should also associate April with important IRA deadlines. April 1, 2020 is the deadline to take your...
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What is the Secure Act?
The SECURE Act Long-established retirement account rules change. 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....
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Reducing the Risk of Outliving Your Money
Reducing the Risk of Outliving Your Money What steps might help you sustain and grow your retirement savings? “What is your greatest retirement fear?” If you ask any group of retirees and pre-retirees this question,...
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Does Your Vision of Retirement Align with the Facts?
A Retirement Fact Sheet Here are some noteworthy financial and lifestyle facts about life after 50 that might surprise you. Does your vision of retirement align with the facts? Up to 85% of a retiree’s Social Security income can...
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How Do You Establish Good Credit In College?
How Do You Establish Good Credit in College? After you get that first card, how can you manage your FICO score? Good credit may open doors. It is vital to securing a loan, a business loan, or buying a home. When you establish and...
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Debunking Common Retirement Assumptions
Debunking Common Retirement Assumptions Don’t fall for these misconceptions. Financial generalizations are as old as time. Some have been around for decades, while others have only recently joined their ranks. Let’s examine...
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What Do You Need to Know About The First RMD From Your IRA?
What Do You Need to Know About The First RMD From Your IRA? What you need to know. When you reach age 70½, the Internal Revenue Service instructs you to start making withdrawals from your traditional IRA(s). These withdrawals...
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Spotting Credit Trouble
Spotting Credit Trouble How to check for problems. Americans aged 45 to 54, who have credit card balances, carry an average debt of $9,096 per individual.1 The wise use of credit is a critical skill in today’s world. Used...
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What End-of-Year Money Moves Should You Consider?
What End-of-the-Year Money Moves Should You Consider? Here are some things you might consider before saying goodbye to 2019. What has changed for you in 2019? Did you start a new job or leave a job behind? Did you retire? Did you start...
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Your Changing Definition of Risk in Retirement
Your Changing Definition of Risk in Retirement Some things to consider. During your accumulation years, you may have categorized your risk as “conservative,” “moderate,” or “aggressive,” and that...
Read MoreAnnual Financial To-Do List
Annual Financial To-Do List Things you can do for your future as the year unfolds. What financial, business, or life priorities do you need to address for the coming year? Now is a good time to think about the investing, saving, or...
Read MoreRetirement Wellness
Retirement Wellness Staying healthy could save you some money. How healthy a retirement do you think you will have? If you can stay active as a senior and curb or avoid certain habits, you could potentially reduce one type of...
Read MoreCash Balance Plans
Cash Balance Plans More professional practices (and practice groups) should look into them. In corporate America, pension plans are fading away. Only 16% of Fortune 500 companies offered them to full-time employees in 2018, according...
Read MoreWill You Avoid These Estate Planning Mistakes?
Will You Avoid These Estate Planning Mistakes? Too many households commit these common blunders. Many people plan their estates diligently, with input from legal, tax, and financial professionals. Others plan earnestly but make...
Read MoreWhere Will Your Retirement Money Come From?
Where Will Your Retirement Money Come From? Retirement income may come from a variety of sources. For many people, retirement income may come from a variety of sources. Here’s a quick review of the seven main sources: Social...
Read MoreHow Women Can Narrow the Retirement Saving Gap
How Women Can Narrow the Retirement Saving Gap Steps toward saving more & revitalizing your retirement strategy. When it comes to retirement saving, many women lag behind many men. Historically, that has been the case. A recent study...
Read MoreWhy Having a Financial Professional Matters
Why Having a Financial Professional Matters A good professional provides important guidance and insight through the years. What kind of role can a financial professional play for an investor? The answer: a very important one. While the...
Read MoreSocial 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 depend on their marital status....
Read MoreFinancial Steps to Take Before a Divorce
Financial Steps to Take Before a Divorce Wise moves to make before things are finalized. Before your divorce goes through, it would be wise to check up on financial matters. It would be better to assess the state of your financial life...
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