Blog

Medicare and Travel – What to be Aware of

Retirement evokes different dreams for everyone, but for many, travel is part of the image. If travel is part of your retirement vision, before you leave town, it’s important be aware of whether Medicare coverage will protect you...

Is Your Retirement Plan Giving You What You Need?

Offering an employer-sponsored retirement plan is a vital component in any business growth and employee retention strategy. But setting up and managing that plan requires substantial knowledge of federal rules and regulations, as well...

All That Glitters Is Gold

We strive to keep you regularly updated with important information and news. Please find an informative whitepaper from Phil Blancato, Osaic’s Chief Market Strategist, attached below. This paper provides research, analysis, and...

Building a Nest Egg for Two

Whether you’re a newlywed or have celebrated many anniversaries, you already know you can accomplish more working together towards the same goal. The same goes with retirement savings. Both spouses can and should be involved in...

Your Wealth Is Waiting

Are you waiting to invest until you have more funds to work with? Don’t wait! The size of your portfolio 20, 30, or 40 years from now won’t reflect the dollar amount you start with today; rather, it will almost entirely rely on the...

Don’t Shred Those Tax Documents Yet!

Once you complete this year’s taxes, you may wonder what to do with that pile of records, 1099s, receipts, and bank statements. The IRS recommends holding on to any documents related to the income you’re reporting or any deduction or...

Celebrating Black Wealth Builders Throughout History

In celebration of the achievements of Black Americans and their integral role in our nation’s history, here are eight Black wealth builders we believe should be remembered. These individuals deserve recognition for their contributions...

Can You Deduct Your Work From Home Expenses?

The pandemic changed the way a lot of Americans work, and working remotely from home is the new normal for many. If you’re one of them, you may be wondering if you should consider claiming the home office deduction on your taxes. We...

Guess the 5 Most Forgotten Retirement Expenses?

The secret to financial independence starts and ends with a good budget. You may or may not be aware of how much your budget will change from your earning years to your active retirement ones. Will yours go up, or will it go down? Many...

January is National Financial Wellness Month

National Financial Wellness Month comes each January. It's a time to remind people to either establish a financial strategy or take some time to sit down and review it with their trusted financial professional.For me, it's time for me...

6 Tips To No Credit Card Hangover This Holiday

The holidays are upon us, which means increased spending on gifts, travel, and festive activities. While it's nearly impossible not to spend more these next few weeks, the less credit card debt accumulated during this time, the better...

Is Your Internet Footprint Compromising Your Identity? Yes!

We don’t always hear about it in the news, but identity theft is on the rise. Our constant internet usage has given us a large digital footprint. And the more you’re online, the greater your risk of criminals hijacking your...

Memorable Holiday Recipe Ideas!

The holidays are a time of year when we’re inspired to perfect every home-cooked meal to try and capture the magic of the season. But trying out a new recipe mid-holiday could be a recipe for disaster if it’s a flop! Whether you’re...

Open Enrollment for the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace

As a reminder, the 2025 Open Enrollment Period for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace is November 1 through January 15, 2025. Anyone looking to enroll, re-enroll, or opt out of private health, vision, and...

Life Lessons from the NFL 🏈

Fall is here, and it’s time once again for football! After a long off-season, it’s exciting to get back to live games! It’s also an opportunity to examine what the NFL can teach us about the importance of tenacity, hard work, and...

Let's Review Your Life

Life doesn’t stand still. Neither do your life insurance needs. If you have a quote or policy and haven’t reviewed it lately, you may be surprised to discover that what worked for you then may not not meet your needs now. Luckily,...

Should You Use Your Retirement to Pay for College?

Educational attainment is a bedrock of the American Dream. We all want our kids to do better than us, and we'll do anything to help them achieve that! But unfortunately, there are dreams, and then there's reality: college costs have...

August is Make a Will Month: What Will Your Legacy Be?

Summer is almost over, and August is nationally recognized as Make a Will Month. Although discussing wills may feel uncomfortable or seem far-off, it presents an important opportunity to reflect on our lives, our values, and the...

Study: Hobbies Keep You Sharp

Did you know that hobbies can help you live a longer and more fulfilled life? Many scientific studies have found that having a hobby can improve your physical and mental health, keep you sharp on the job, and help your relationships....

Not all Debt is Created Equal

When we meet with clients to determine the most efficient ways to maximize retirement savings, it’s not unusual for us to come across debt in their portfolio. This always prompts the million dollar question, “Is it better to use my...

Keep Your Cool and Save 💰

As a financial professional, I’m always looking for ways to help clients be more efficient with their money. Now that summer’s here, staying cool can make electricity bills skyrocket, so here are some strategies to help keep cool and...

5 Types of Insurance Your College Student May Need

If you have teenagers, you’re likely very in touch with the adage, “One day you’re changing diapers, and the next you’re sending them off to college.” One of the results of that compressed passage of time is the bracing reality that...

Medicare and Travel – What to be Aware of

Retirement evokes different dreams for everyone, but for many, travel is part of the image. If travel is part of your retirement vision, before you leave town, it’s important be aware of whether Medicare coverage will protect you...

4 Ways to Help Your Kids Develop Good Financial Habits

We always hope our clients feel confident discussing money with their families. But, the truth is, talking about money can be very uncomfortable for many. Where do you begin? What’s the right age? The good news is, it’s never too...

You Can Celebrate Retirement Stress-Free

Congratulations on your recent retirement! You’ve devoted a lifetime to accumulating wealth, and now the focus has abruptly shifted to spending it. Naturally, many new retirees aren’t quite sure what that transition (from earner/saver...

To Spend or Invest... That is the Question!

When asked why they haven’t committed to investing for the future, many folks use a common excuse: they don’t have extra money to invest. However, if you want to start investing but don’t have money saved, implementing minor spending...

Can You Deduct Your Work From Home Expenses?

The pandemic changed the way a lot of Americans work, and working remotely from home is the new normal for many. If you’re one of them, you may be wondering if you should consider claiming the home office deduction on your taxes. We...

Guess the 5 Most Forgotten Retirement Expenses?

The secret to financial independence starts and ends with a good budget. I can’t stress this enough. You may or may not be aware of how much your budget will change from your earning years to your active retirement ones. Will yours go...

Make 2025 Your Best Year Ever

The New Year means taking a new look at your finances. The most important thing is to make sure you feel like you have the cashflow you need to do the things you want to do. So, let’s set some goals this year to build on last year’s...

Are You Getting the Most Out of Giving?

Making charitable contributions is a great way to help people in need while maximizing tax benefits, creating a win-win. Donations to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations can shrink taxable income, saving hard-earned cash. Here are four...

Victim of Online Fraud?

Keeping your PII (personally identifiable information) safe in today’s online environment is more challenging than ever. There may not be one simple solution for protecting your digital identity, but there are steps you can take to...

Long-Term Care Could Save Your Nest Egg

During our working years, many of us have access to an employer-sponsored health insurance plan either through our job or our spouse's job. But when it comes to retirement, we typically rely on Medicare and Medicare supplemental...

Open Enrollment for the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace

As a reminder, the 2025 Open Enrollment Period for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace is November 1 through January 15, 2025. Anyone looking to enroll, re-enroll, or opt out of private health, vision, and...

10 Common (and Costly) Medicare Mistakes

As we age, one consideration that weighs on most people is the cost of healthcare in retirement. While we can’t truly predict the cost, we can take time to educate ourselves about the options or resources available to help pay for...

Victim of Online Fraud?

Keeping your PII (personally identifiable information) safe in today’s online environment is more challenging than ever. There may not be one simple solution for protecting your digital identity, but there are steps you can take to...

Can a Disability Derail Your Retirement?

Most of us take for granted our ability to earn an income and save for retirement. But what if something happens to you and you can no longer work? Not only would your day-to-day expenses start piling up, but your retirement...

Check Your Withholding This Fall

How much are you withholding per paycheck?Is the amount too little? (Or too much?) Find out the answer before the year ends. You may not want to discover next year that your withholding amount for this year was too small. The IRS...

Rainy-day Money

When I meet with people, one of the first topics we discuss is "emergency fund" money. I ask a few questions, such as, “Do you have any funds set aside?”, “Where is it located?”, and, most importantly, “What would trigger you to tap...

Your Monthly Market Newsletter, August 2024

As August rolls into view, we see investors struggling to fan away the perspiration caused by nationwide record high temperatures and oppressive humidity. They're also sweating because of July’s turbulent market performance. Tech...

Disaster Preparedness: Plan for the Unexpected

The changing weather conditions over the past few years have made severe storms more prevalent; they make headlines almost daily. While we certainly hope you never experience a devastating disaster, if you do, it’s best to be...

Not all Debt is Created Equal

When we meet with clients to determine the most efficient ways to maximize retirement savings, it’s not unusual for us to come across debt in their portfolio. This always prompts the million dollar question, “Is it better to use my...

Summer BBQ Recipes

Summer is here, and that means it’s time to fire up the grill!! There’s just something about that smoky, charred flavor from a grill. Turns out it’s got a name! It’s called the Maillard Reaction, and it’s a chemical reaction between...

Summer BBQ Recipes

Summer is here, and that means it’s time to fire up the grill!! There’s just something about that smoky, charred flavor from a grill. Turns out it’s got a name! It’s called the Maillard Reaction, and it’s a chemical reaction between...

Keep Your Cool and Save 💰

As a financial professional, I’m always looking for ways to help clients be more efficient with their money. Now that summer’s here, staying cool can make electricity bills skyrocket, so here are some strategies to help keep cool and...

It’s Time for a Mid-Year Check-In.

With the first half of the year in the rearview mirror, summertime is a great chance to touch base. A mid-year financial review can help to take stock of your accomplishments thus far and uncover any needs for adjustments. It’s...

Frustrated Following the Fed?

Let's start this email with the conclusion: Stick with your investment strategy, and don’t let outside influences like the Fed get in your way. Following the Fed these days is like watching an endless point in a tennis match. The...

Can a Disability Derail Your Retirement?

Most of us take for granted our ability to earn an income and save for retirement. But what if something happens to you and you can no longer work? Not only would your day-to-day expenses start piling up, but your retirement...

Don’t Shred Those Tax Documents Yet!

Once you complete this year’s taxes, you may wonder what to do with that pile of records, 1099s, receipts, and bank statements. The IRS recommends holding on to any documents related to the income you’re reporting or any deduction or...

Can You Deduct Your Work From Home Expenses?

The pandemic changed the way a lot of Americans work, and working remotely from home is the new normal for many. If you’re one of them, you may be wondering if you should consider claiming the home office deduction on your taxes. We...

Turn Your RMDs into Charitable Donations

If you dream of your financial legacy leaving a lasting impact on the world, there's a way you can make a difference. You can use your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) to make charitable donations, a strategy that could benefit...

Enroll In eQuipt Client Access Portal Now!

As technology has become more and more advanced, it’s created opportunities to provide better communication and service to clients. Many clients have asked for an easier way to access financial information and we're excited to...

Last Minute Tips Before Tax Day

Fewer things are more reliable than Tax Day, even if the deadline has shifted around a bit in recent years. This year, it’s April 15th for most taxpayers, and recent legislation changes include substantial increases to...

Can You Deduct Your Work From Home Expenses?

The pandemic has changed the way a lot of Americans work. Working remotely from home is the new normal for many. If you’re one of them, you may have wondered if you should consider claiming the home office deduction on your...

Study: Hobbies Keep You Sharp

Did you know that hobbies can help you live a longer and more fulfilled life? Many scientific studies have found that having a hobby can improve your physical and mental health, keep you sharp on the job, and help your relationships....

Your Wealth Is Waiting

Are you waiting to invest until you have more funds to work with? Don’t wait! The size of your portfolio 20, 30, or 40 years from now won’t reflect the dollar amount you start with today; rather, it will almost...

6 Tips to No Credit Card Hangover this Holiday.

The holidays are upon us which means the inevitable increased spending on gifts, travel and festive activities. While it’s nearly impossible not to spend more during these next few weeks, the less credit card debt accumulated...

Are You Getting the Most Out of Giving?

Making charitable contributions is a great way to help people in need while maximizing tax benefits, creating a win-win. Donations to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations can shrink taxable income, saving hard-earned cash.  Here are...

Last-Minute Moves To Shrink Your Taxable Income

The end of the year is approaching, and as a taxpayer, you can make some last-minute moves to improve your financial position come tax time. By making tax-free donations or contributions to retirement accounts, you can shrink your...

Long-Term Care Could Save Your Nest Egg

During our working years, many of us have access to an employer-sponsored health insurance plan either through our job or our spouse's job. But when it comes to retirement, we typically rely on Medicare and Medicare supplemental...

Signing Up for Medicare

Turning 65 is the trigger point for most Americans to enroll in Medicare. This milestone birthday sets the stage for your initial enrollment period (IEP), during which you can sign up. Therefore, you need to be aware of dates and...

Victim of Online Fraud?

Keeping your PII (personally identifiable information) safe in today’s online environment is more challenging than ever. There may not be one simple solution for protecting your digital identity, but there are steps you can take...

After Inflation, Eyes Shift to Q3 GDP

Wall Street is slowly starting to talk about an “expansion economy” and forgetting about any recession fears. July’s consumer inflation report was soft, so attention will soon shift to gross domestic product in the...

Don't Turn Off The Football Game

It’s football season. School is back in session, the days are getting shorter, and the weather is starting to turn. If you sit down to watch your alma mater play, your “to-do” list may grow. Your car may only have...

Medicare Parts Explained

Medicare can be complicated to sort through; many options and choices are available to suit different needs. To make it simpler, the program has been broken down into four basic parts. As you think about how Medicare will cover your...

Why the Fed Is Focused on Your Paycheck

The Federal Reserve has a dual mandate—manage inflation and maximize employment. But sometimes, those economic goals conflict with each other. As you can see in the accompanying chart, labor shortages in 2022 pressured...

OPEC+ Boosts Flagging Prices

With summertime fun in full swing and temperatures rising, OPEC+ has announced broad measures to boost flagging oil prices.Saudi Arabia plans to reduce July production to 9 million BPD (barrels per day). That's 1 million less than in...

Bull Market Leaving Some Behind

Market timing is exhausting. And sometimes, it can be expensive. When you time the markets, you have to be right twice – first when getting out and second when getting back in.In the accompanying chart, you can see individual...

When the Beneficiary of an IRA Needs Access to Cash

Inherited retirement accounts offer great financial opportunities to beneficiaries, but can be stressful due to the complicated risks associated with certain options. Knowing the basic differences of each option is just the tip of the...

Six Easy Steps to Keep Your Plan Assets Safe

Keep Your Plan Assets SafeCyber fraud continues to be a global concern. Individuals are typically very careful to keep their bank account and email authentication information safe, but they aren’t always as diligent with the...

Smart Things to Do with a Bonus

If you are anticipating an annual bonus this year, it’s wise to come up with a thoughtful plan for the extra cash before it comes so you can get the most benefit from it. If you need more time to consider your options, deposit...

Having Financial Conversations with Adult Children

A recent survey reported that 68% of parents had made financial sacrifices to support their adult children. It's often a difficult decision that can stress relationships, impact retirement strategies, and harm overall financial...

What Investors Need to Know About FDIC Insurance and SIPC.

About the U.S. Banking SystemWith recent headlines about two failed U.S. banks and their ripple effect throughout the banking sector, we want to summarize the latest information on this evolving event. We assure you we are monitoring...

You Can Celebrate Your Milestones!

With each season of life, new milestones will impact your budget. However, when you enter your 30s and 40s, these milestones have a much heftier price tag. The sheer costs can be intimidating, whether it's a wedding, a new home, or...

Financial Planning Tips for Single Parents

Nowadays, it’s pretty difficult to define what a “traditional” family unit looks like – they literally come in all shapes and sizes. For decades, the number of single-parent households in the U.S. has been...

Avoid Becoming the Bank of Mom and Dad

It’s common for adult children to ask their parents for financial aid, even if you’ve worked hard to raise your kids to be self-sufficient. While it may be your instinct to want to help your child, you need to consider how...

Income Tax Checklist to Stay on Track

Tax time is upon us, and that means gathering all of your documents needed and getting them in one place to make filing your taxes as easy as possible. We thought it would be helpful to send along this handy checklist to assist with...

Identity Theft Awareness Week

January 30 to February 3, 2023, is Identity Theft Awareness Week. Anytime is a good time to tighten up your identity security, but if you haven’t been as careful as you intended, consider this your annual reminder. Here are a few...

Outlook 2023: What's Next for Interest Rates?

What does the bond market know that the Fed isn’t telling us?Fed officials recently have said that short-term rates will need to climb to over 5 percent to bring inflation under control. But in the table below, you can see that...

Social Security 2023 COLA Increase Kicks In

While you probably already found your notice in the mail, you may be curious about the COLA increase happening for Social Security recipients in the New Year. Starting in January, beneficiaries will see an 8.7% increase to help offset...

Does Emotional Investing Affect Your Results?

Investing in the stock market can sometimes feel like riding a rollercoaster, full of ups and downs. There’s the thrill and excitement when the market goes up, but also uncertainty and fear when it goes down. It’s important...

10 Common (and Costly) Medicare Mistakes

As we age, one consideration that weighs on most people is the cost of healthcare in retirement. While we can’t truly predict the cost, we can take time to educate ourselves about the options or resources available to help pay...

The Biggest COLA Increase Since 1981

How well do you remember 1981? Harrison Ford had his first bow as Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Frogger and Donkey Kong were all the rage at video arcades. Bob Ross left the Air Force and took up painting. On top of that,...

JOLTS of Optimism for the Markets?

We measure the jobs market in many ways, but the Job Opening and Labor Turnover Survey or JOLTS report seems to be of particular interest to Fed Chair Jerome Powell.The JOLTS report tells the Fed how many job openings there are each...

These Important Documents Can Protect Your Loved Ones

If you’re like most people, you’ll do just about anything to protect your loved ones. Yet many of us fail to consider or prepare for the inevitability of death, which can result in heartache, frustration, and unnecessary...

Ways to Prevent Elder Financial Fraud

If you’re like most people, you don’t spend much time worrying about whether you’ll become a victim of financial fraud.  Unfortunately, this overconfidence can leave you vulnerable. While financial fraud is a...

Let's Review Your Life

Life doesn’t stand still. Neither do your life insurance needs.If you have a quote or policy and haven’t reviewed it lately, you may be surprised to discover that what worked for you then may not not meet your needs now...

A 9.6% COLA increase? It could be the real thing!

Like many Americans, you may be feeling pain from the high cost of living every time you buy groceries or fill up at the pump. Surging food costs and higher gas prices are pinching consumers, especially those living on a fixed income....

3 Shrewd Maneuvers in a Down Market

It’s natural to think “defense” during a bearish market season. But why not mix in some “offense” with your defense? Here are three moves we can discuss together that may be helpful during the current...

Debunking Top Myths About Annuities

If you’re like most investors, market volatility can really set you on edge. Especially if you’re concerned about how a deflated market might impact the income you’ll need during retirement. The idea of having a...

5 Reasons Why Women Need to Invest

Despite progress toward financial planning and saving, women often face challenges regarding their financial security. These challenges can include more time away from the workforce (often caring for children or for parents), the...

3 Shrewd Maneuvers in a Down Market

It’s natural to think “defense” during a bearish market season. But why not mix in some “offense” with your defense? Here are three moves we can discuss together that may be helpful during the current...

Care for a COLA with Your Social Security?

As you might have heard, people are talking about a big bump in Social Security benefits next year.The Senior Citizens League says payments could rise by as much as 8.6 percent in 2023, compared to an increase of 5.9 percent in 2022....

Study: Hobbies Keep You Sharp

Did you know that hobbies can help you live a longer and more fulfilled life? Many scientific studies have found that having a hobby can improve your physical and mental health, keep you sharp on the job, and help your relationships....

Optimistic Sign In a Fear-Filled Market?

FEMA Resources, Per our Discussion

Consumer Confidence at the Pump

A Challenging Start to 2022

Keeping it in Perspective

You Can Celebrate Retirement Stress-Free

RMDs Get a Small Reprieve

5 Great Finance Blogs

Don’t Fall Victim to Coronavirus Scams

We hope this email finds you and your family safe and healthy.There are many questions regarding COVID-19 surrounding how to stay safe, when we can expect to get back to normal life and short- and long-term economic impact of the...

The Power of the Consumer

A confident consumer can be a powerful ally in an economy. But when the consumer starts to have questions, we can measure consumer confidence in everything from retail sales to home buying to the personal savings rate.In recent months...

QCD Your RMD?

Whether you’re fully or partly retired, you may find that your assets are sufficient to cover your lifestyle for the remainder of your retirement. In that case, you may not feel like you need to use any additional money from...

Is Inflation Peaking?

You see it in prices at the grocery store and the gas station. You feel it in your monthly budget. So why don’t the financial markets seem too concerned about inflation?Remember, financial markets are considered...

How to Avoid Phone Scams

Scammers are pretty crafty these days. With sophisticated software to help make themselves sound convincing (“You’ve won money!” “You owe the IRS!” “You’re getting a refund!”),...

The Future of Money

If your like me, you don't whip out your phone to pay for your gas, groceries or even a candy bar. You pull out your wallet, and not to get out the debit or credit card. I hand over the cash. My credit card has been hacked more than...

Retirement Challenges in Current Times

Preparing for retirement is complex for many reasons. With improved medical care, a person retiring today at typical retirement age may need their savings to last 30 years or more, making it necessary for retirement funds to sustain a...

Medicare 101: Understanding the Basics

One of the biggest decisions to make in retirement is ensuring you have the health care coverage you need, when you need it. Medicare can be a complicated program to navigate and as you approach the time in which you can begin...

Keeping your eyes on the goal

As the struggle to control COVID-19 drags on, many of us experience periodic fatigue from distancing, negative headlines and future uncertainties. Staying disciplined when weary is difficult but crucial to short-term financial...

Facts About Medicare Open Enrollment

Medicare’s open enrollment period runs from October 15 to December 7. If you are enrolling in Medicare for the first time, give yourself plenty of time. You may discover that it is much more complex than an employer-sponsored...

Want to be a Millionaire? Billonaire? Check out how Warren Buffet did it.

Who doesn't want to be a Millionaire? Billionaire, even better. Here is an article on Warren Buffet to celebrate his 90th birthday giving a timeline and a look into how he did it. When you get to the end, it doesn't seem that hard. I...

Insurance Coverage vs. COVID 19

Are you covered if you catch COVID? Because it's an unknown, insurance companies are just starting to deal with the claims coming in due to coronavirus. If you have questions, please contact your insurance carrier. Check out the...

Michigan's New Auto Insurance

Have you heard that your auto insurance now has new choices? These new rules go into effect July 1st and could have a big impact on anyone in a serious auto accident. If you haven't heard about it, please contact your insurance carrier...

Dismemberment Abortion Signatures

As some of you know, when you stopped into the office during the last few months of 2019, I probably asked you to sign the petition for the Banning of Dismemberment Abortion. I received this final update and thought I would pass it on...

Life Insurance

We all have questions about life insurance. Do I really need it? It's too expensive. Should I have it? It might make things easier for my family. What if I go into a nursing home? Does it help with those costs? It's always there in the...

There's Still Time to Contribute to an IRA for 2018

Even though tax filing season is well under way, there's still time to make a regular IRA contribution for 2018. You have until your tax return due date (not including extensions) to contribute up to $5,500 for 2018 ($6,500 if you...

Tax Planning for Income

You don't want to pay more in federal income tax than you have to. With that in mind, here are five things to consider when it comes to keeping more of your income. 1. Postpone your income to minimize your current income tax liability...

Death of a Family Member Checklist

Losing a loved one can be a difficult experience. Yet, during this time, you must complete a variety of tasks and make important financial decisions. You may need to make final arrangements, notify various businesses and government...

Retirement: Proceed With Caution Before Relying on General Rules

When investing for retirement, you're likely to hear a lot of well-meaning guidance from family, friends, and others offering advice — even the media. As you weigh the potential benefits of any commonly cited investment rules,...

Why I Don't Want to Buy Life Insurance

If you're like most people, it's not that you don't appreciate the value of life insurance. In fact, many people believe they need more coverage. You probably wouldn't mind owning additional life insurance. It's just that you don't...

Risk Management and Your Retirement Savings Plan

By investing for retirement through your employer-sponsored plan, you are helping to manage a critically important financial risk: the chance that you will outlive your money. But choosing to participate is just one step in your...

Trust Basics

Whether you're seeking to manage your own assets, control how your assets are distributed after your death, or plan for incapacity, trusts can help you accomplish your estate planning goals. Their power is in their versatility--many...

Test Your Knowledge of Financial Basics

How well do you understand personal finance? The following brief quiz can help you gauge your knowledge of a few basics. In the answer section, you'll find details to help you learn more. Questions 1. How much should you set aside in...

Investing as a Couple: Getting to Yes

In a perfect world, both halves of a couple share the same investment goals and agree on the best way to try to reach them. It doesn't always work that way, though; disagreements about money are often a source of friction between...

Use Your Annuity to Pay for Long-Term Care Insurance

The cost of long-term care can quickly deplete your savings and affect the quality of life for you and your family. Long-term care insurance allows you to share that cost with an insurance company. But premiums for long-term care...

Getting Help from a Financial Professional

Are you suddenly on your own or forced to assume greater responsibility for your financial future? Unsure about whether you're on the right track with your savings and investments? Finding yourself with new responsibilities, such as...

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 which depend on their marital status....

Common 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...

Balancing Your Investment Choices with Asset Allocation

A chocolate cake. Pasta. A pancake. They're all very different, but they generally involve flour, eggs, and perhaps a liquid. Depending on how much of each ingredient you use, you can get very different outcomes. The same is true of...

Key Estate Planning Documents You Need

There are five estate planning documents you may need, regardless of your age, health, or wealth: Durable power of attorney Advance medical directives Will Letter of instruction Living trust The last document, a living trust, isn't...