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Invest in Your Financial Education During Financial Literacy Month
Wednesday, March 2, 2022Read More
The Resolutions You’ll Actually Want to Keep Up With This Year
Wednesday, December 15, 2021Read More
Tax Prep Checklist: Everything You Need to Be Ready for Tax Season
Monday, December 6, 2021Read More
6 Holly Jolly Green Monday Facts and Tips
Thursday, November 18, 2021The holiday season means shopping is at its peak, and while many consumers are familiar with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, they may be less familiar with Green Monday. Held on the second Monday of December, Green Monday is another...
Read MoreA Season of Giving: 5 Different Ways To Give During the Holidays
Monday, November 15, 2021With the holidays here, now is the time to get into the giving spirit and help to change others' lives for the better. Whether you are looking to make a difference in a specific person's life or the life of many, there are many ways to...
Read MoreChristmas Shopping Lessons for Investors
Wednesday, November 10, 2021Is that investment an innovation or an improvement on an existing product? As Christmas sales loom, we face an endless array of sparkly, shiny and occasionally innovative items. As an investor, you run into a similar phenomenon that...
Read MoreData Breaches Are Inevitable – Here’s How to Protect Yourself Anyway
Thursday, October 28, 2021It’s tempting to give up on data security altogether, with all the billions of pieces of personal data – Social Security numbers, credit cards, home addresses, phone numbers, passwords and much more – breached and...
Read More6 Ways to Show Your Gratitude During National Veteran and Military Families Month
Monday, October 18, 2021National Veteran and Military Families Month is one of the most recently created celebratory months, put in action by former President Trump starting in November 2020. While various service members are honored throughout the year, this...
Read MorePut Yourself in Front of the Savings Game
Tuesday, October 12, 2021Like dieting, budgeting your expenses can benefit from long-term commitment. However, human nature leads many of us to become frustrated when we can’t immediately have the things we need or want. As a result, the best-laid...
Read MoreEverything You Need to Know about the FAFSA for 2021
Thursday, October 7, 2021One of the most important pieces of the college financing puzzle is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Without the FAFSA, a college student is unlikely to be able to apply for or receive certain types of federal...
Read MoreBreast Cancer Awareness Month—Be Part of the Change
Monday, October 4, 2021Over the last few decades, we have become extremely driven towards fighting and ending cancer for good since the National Cancer Act was put into place in 1971. This October is Breast Cancer awareness month– in the Unites States,...
Read MoreWhy Save for Higher Education?
Wednesday, September 22, 2021In 2021, 44.7 million Americans are facing the burden of student loan debt. They owe more than $1.53 trillion in student loans. These alarming statistics prove the importance of saving for higher education. In the past, many parents...
Read MoreLife Insurance - Changing Times, Changing Needs
Thursday, September 2, 2021When Judy purchased her life insurance policy 10 years ago, she thought her insurance planning was complete. She assumed that if she paid her premiums on time, she could sit back and not think about life insurance anymore. Judy’s...
Read MoreWhy Invest?
Thursday, August 5, 2021To accumulate wealth, people may choose to invest their money into various types of investments. Investing creates opportunities that otherwise would be difficult to manage due to the consistency of contributing to the investment....
Read MoreHow to Get Your House Back-to-School Ready
Thursday, August 5, 2021Back-to-school time is notably hectic. From scrambling to buy supplies to adjusting your internal clock, it can feel like you’re being pulled in a hundred different directions. However, if you get your house in order beforehand,...
Read MoreTaxpayer Appreciation Day—Recognizing Taxpayers' Contributions
Thursday, August 5, 2021Though U.S. taxpayers received an extra month to file and pay their federal income taxes in 2021, some are still smarting from having to write a check to the IRS.[1] For many, it can be tough to make the connection between those...
Read MoreHelping Young Adults Understand Insurance
Thursday, June 3, 2021Young adults starting out in life, especially newlyweds, need insurance. But what kind? As a start, a good term life policy likely is a smart move. Other types of insurance may not be. And as they age, what other varieties of coverage...
Read MoreAnnuity Basics
Thursday, June 3, 2021An annuity is a contract between you, the purchaser or owner, and an insurance company, the annuity issuer. In its simplest form, you pay money to an annuity issuer, and the issuer pays out the principal and earnings back to you or to...
Read MoreHappy Birthday, Papa Dow!
Wednesday, May 26, 2021Happy birthday, Papa Dow! Charles Dow founded the Dow Jones Industrial Average 125 years ago today. The Dow started with 12 companies, most of which don’t exist anymore, though General Electric was in the original 12. It has...
Read MoreWhat Should Grandparents Know About 529 Savings Accounts?
Wednesday, May 12, 2021Grandparents can often find themselves in a better financial position to save for their grandchildren's education than their own children are. The parents of prospective students may still be contending with competing priorities like...
Read MoreHow to Stay Committed to Your Financial Goals
Wednesday, May 12, 2021Setting healthy financial goals is critical. Even more important is staying committed to those financial goals. Keeping yourself committed to your goals may be difficult, especially when times may be financially tough. But by staying...
Read More5 Investment Considerations for Small Business Owners
Tuesday, May 11, 2021If you're a small business owner, many of the best practices employed by individual investors are also available to you (of course!), but you also have some additional options and factors to weigh while creating your investment plans....
Read MoreThere's Still Time to Contribute to an IRA for 2020
Tuesday, April 6, 2021Even though tax filing season is well under way, there's still time to make a regular IRA contribution for 2020. You have until your tax return due date (not including extensions) to contribute up to $6,000 for 2020 ($7,000 if you were...
Read MoreThe History of April Fool’s Day
Thursday, April 1, 2021Long known as a day for pranks, the April Fool's holiday has a few possible origins[1] and has been celebrated in many countries for centuries. The holiday is typically marked by the delivery of practical jokes, at the end of which the...
Read MoreTips for Tax Preparation
Monday, March 15, 2021In 2020, the government gave taxpayers an automatic six-month extension due to the coronavirus. Individuals who were affected by the damaging wildfires were also given additional time to meet most tax deadlines. However, in 2021, the...
Read MoreTips for Organizing Your Financial Documents
Tuesday, March 9, 2021In an increasingly paper-free society, organizing your financial documents can still be a challenge. No matter how simple or complex your financial picture might be, it takes some thought-out organization to keep your tax documents,...
Read MoreThree Things You'll Wish You'd Known Before Retirement
Tuesday, February 23, 2021Retirement is one of the biggest life transitions adults will ever deal with. After 20, 30, or 40 or more years in the workforce, new retirees can find it hard to adjust to the reduced amount of structure in their daily lives. But...
Read MoreBusiness Contingency Planning for Small Business Owners
Thursday, February 18, 2021There comes a point in time when almost every small business owner contemplates the future of his or her business. Because “the business” typically is a substantial asset, an owner must address a number of estate planning...
Read MoreIRA vs. 401(k): What Savers Should Know
Tuesday, February 9, 2021As of 2018, about 58 million Americans had a 401(k), while around one-third of households owned an individual retirement account (IRA).1, 2 Yet for as commonplace as these retirement accounts can be, the nuances of contributions are a...
Read MoreCommon Retirement Investment Mistakes
Tuesday, February 2, 2021Only one-in-four Americans (27%) feel very confident that they will have enough money to live comfortably when they retire, according to the 2020 Retirement Confidence Survey Summary Report.11 While the number is up slightly from the...
Read MoreBuying Your First Home for Millennials and Gen Z
Wednesday, January 6, 2021If you are a Millennial or Gen-Zer, buying your first home is likely one of the top priorities on your list. While you may know that you are ready for a house, you may be wondering what considerations you need to make before getting...
Read MoreNew Year's Resolutions to Get Your Finances in Order
Wednesday, January 6, 2021New Year's is traditionally the time to review your life and make resolutions for change. In addition to thinking about working out, eating healthy, and meeting personal and professional goals, you should also think about your finances...
Read MoreGetting a Jump on January Tax Season
Friday, December 4, 2020From pandemic-related stimulus payments to job losses and furloughs, for many taxpayers, next spring's tax season may be more complex than usual. With the end of 2020 rapidly approaching, you should take some time to review your tax...
Read MoreEnd of Year (EOY) Deadlines Checklist
Friday, December 4, 20202020 has been one of the most unprecedented years in recent history, but some things—like tax contributions and retirement deadlines—don't change much, if at all. And with the uncertainty surrounding just about everything,...
Read MoreSmart Shopping During the Holidays
Friday, December 4, 2020The holiday season is just a short time away, which means the shopping season is about to be in full swing. Shopping for holiday gifts is stressful but also a little fun, especially when you think about the joy you will bring to those...
Read More4 Reasons to Do Your Shopping on Small Business Saturday
Friday, November 20, 2020When 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 MorePolitical Parties and Stock Markets Since 1990
Monday, November 2, 2020Does the party occupying the White House affect the U.S. stock markets and other economic measurements? How does the party controlling Congress affect markets? While it’s interesting to review history and try to answer those...
Read MoreWhat to Know About Working With a Financial Professional
Friday, October 2, 2020If you've been wondering how to optimize your finances and ensure your money continues to work for you, a financial professional may be able to help. But the thought of turning over your most sensitive financial information to a...
Read MoreCOVID Change How You Think About Spending?
Friday, October 2, 2020The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped our lives in unprecedented ways, forcing us to stay at home more, adjust our spending habits and even reevaluate our retirement hopes and dreams. But let’s take a moment and examine how COVID...
Read MoreWhat Gen Xers, Millennials, and Baby Boomers Need to Know About Financial Planning?
Friday, October 2, 2020Financial planning is an important part of securing your current lifestyle as well as preparing yourself for what you wish to do in your eventual retirement. And while this importance may look different during each stage of your life,...
Read More12 Estate Planning Must-Dos
Friday, October 2, 2020Many of you already have estate documents, probably executed many years ago. You need an estate attorney to look over your documents every 10 years or so. Here are a dozen points to review. Do you have a will and powers of attorney for...
Read MoreHow to Protect Your Wealth as You Get Older
Thursday, September 3, 2020As you get older and closer to retirement, your financial practices need to shift slightly as you transition from working and saving to relying on your nest egg. As you approach this stage of your life, you need to take steps to...
Read MoreComparing Life Insurance Policies
Thursday, September 3, 2020Like anyone else, you want a life insurance policy that meets your needs and budget. But how do you find the right policy when there are so many to choose from and many of them seem so similar? The key is knowing how to compare...
Read MoreHow Much Life Insurance Do You Need?
Thursday, September 3, 2020Your life insurance needs change as your life changes. When you are young, you may not have a need for life insurance. However, as you take on more responsibility and your family grows, your life insurance needs increase. Your needs...
Read MoreNational Life Insurance Awareness Month
Thursday, September 3, 2020Should you really consider getting life insurance when you are close to 60? September is National Life Insurance Awareness month. And while most of us likely recognize that life insurance provides us peace of mind and security, there...
Read MoreBack to School: Getting Your Financial House in Order
Wednesday, August 26, 2020The abrupt end to the 2019-2020 school year in many parts of the U.S. left parents and students alike struggling to establish healthy routines. As many students prepare to head back to the classroom (or the remote classroom) this fall,...
Read MoreABCs of Investing for College
Thursday, August 13, 2020Invest early. Invest often. Invest for growth. These are the basic principles of saving for your child’s college education. The earlier you begin a savings program, the more time you have to benefit from the power of compound...
Read MoreJuly COVID-19 Update
Monday, July 6, 2020The July Fourth holiday will be very different this year. Although it’s a time to enjoy family and friends, and maybe even watch some fireworks, social distancing and a new wave of COVID-19 cases also may take a seat at the...
Read MoreTen Things You Must Know About Medicare
Wednesday, July 1, 2020Heading 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 MoreAnnuity Basics
Friday, June 26, 2020An annuity is a contract between you, the purchaser or owner, and an insurance company, the annuity issuer. In its simplest form, you pay money to an annuity issuer, and the issuer pays out the principal and earnings back to you or to...
Read MoreHow to Make Retirement Savings Last In Retirement
Friday, June 12, 2020Whether you dream of a travel-filled retirement or would prefer to relax and enjoy spending more time at home, you’re probably wondering what you can do to make your golden years as stress-free as possible. For many who have...
Read MoreIdeas for Reducing the Cost of College
Saturday, June 6, 2020Mid-August is the time of year that our kids pack the U-Haul and head to college. And while they’re excited about a brand-new semester, it can be frightening to see the cost – and rising college debt – that comes with...
Read More529 Lesson Plan: High Scores for 529 Plans
Friday, May 29, 2020Looking for a tax-advantaged college savings vehicle that has no age restrictions and no income phaseout limits — and one you can use to pay for more than just tuition? Consider 529 savings plans, a popular way to save for...
Read MoreBetter Times Are Coming
Friday, May 22, 2020“Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald The economic struggles in our country are among the worst we’ve ever seen. In April, a record 20 million people lost their jobs, and 36...
Read MoreNowhere to Go But Up
Monday, May 11, 2020Investors like labels for the economy and financial markets—many of them with the word “great” in them. The Great Depression. The Great Recession. The Great Lockdown. Well, we’ve moved into what we might call...
Read More529 Lesson Plan: High Scores for 529 Plans
Friday, May 1, 2020Looking for a tax-advantaged college savings vehicle that has no age restrictions and no income phaseout limits — and one you can use to pay for more than just tuition? Consider 529 savings plans, a popular way to save for...
Read MoreLife Insurance at Various Life Stages
Friday, May 1, 2020Your need for life insurance changes as your life changes. When you’re young, you typically have less need for life insurance, but that changes as you take on more responsibility and your family grows. Then, as your...
Read MoreRetirement Assistance Within the CARES Act
Monday, April 20, 2020In late March 2020, as the number of novel coronavirus cases in the U.S. surged past 100,000, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed into law.1 The CARES Act provides around $2.2 trillion in aid to...
Read MoreAvoiding COVID-19 Scams
Thursday, April 2, 2020Scammers, fraudsters, and other criminals are taking advantage of rapidly changing data and facts associated with COVID-19, both in the workplace and in our homes. Government agencies, corporations, and news outlets continue to warn...
Read MoreWhat Is in the $2 Trillion Relief Package?
Saturday, March 28, 2020The United States has more cases of the coronavirus than any other country, and in an attempt to stop the spread of this disease, states have closed schools and businesses throughout the country. These unprecedented shutdowns have...
Read MoreThe April 15th Tax Deadline is Now July 15th
Thursday, March 26, 2020The U.S. Department of the Treasury is delaying the April 15th deadline to file and pay taxes by 90 days, giving individuals and businesses another 3 months to file and then pay the government what they owe. What Should You Do? Putting...
Read MoreA Test of Our Resolve
Thursday, March 26, 2020The world continues its battle to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, which now has likely impacted, either directly or indirectly, nearly every person on Earth. This is far more than just a health crisis—this is a human crisis. Its...
Read More7 Tips to Help You Stay Productive at Home
Friday, March 20, 2020With the rapid spreading of COVID-19, and more and more people either on self-quarantine or practicing social distancing, many of us are working from home. While working from home definitely has its perks – no commute! –...
Read MoreMaintain a Good Credit Rating
Wednesday, March 4, 2020Installment debt, in itself, is not a bad thing. It enables us to make major purchases that would be nearly impossible to finance up front. In this consumer society, however, we're bombarded with advertisements for literally thousands...
Read MoreAvoid These Financial Traps -- They May Be Hazardous to Your Wealth
Thursday, January 23, 2020Money. It's hard to get and easy to lose. It doesn't take long for the wealth you've accumulated to disappear if you don't manage your money well or have a plan to protect your assets from sudden calamity. Snares like the ones...
Read MoreWhat You Need to Know About the Secure Act
Monday, January 6, 2020The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 – the SECURE Act – passed the House of Representatives earlier this year and was approved by the Senate and signed by President Trump on the days...
Read MoreHow to Control Holiday Spending
Tuesday, December 10, 2019If advertisements and commercials are beginning to feature scenes of happy families, clad in brightly colored sweaters, gathered by a fire, surrounded by an assortment of presents, then the countdown to the holidays has begun. Although...
Read MoreHow Charitable Giving Can Benefit Donors
Tuesday, December 3, 2019Kelly and Bob regularly set aside a small portion of their budget for charitable donations. In addition to feeling good about supporting a number of worthy causes, they’ve been able to deduct the value of their charitable gifts...
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