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May 29th is a Nationwide Celebration of 529 Day
May 29th marks the nationwide celebration of 529 Day, an opportunity to highlight the many benefits of 529 college savings plans.As higher education costs continue to soar, many parents find themselves faced with the nagging question,...
Read MoreWhy Life Insurance Is Important at Any Age
Many people know that life insurance is important to have, and yet not enough actually get it. Some decide they’ll get it later in life while others feel it’s a waste of money because they don’t have any health issues...
Read MoreThe Benefits of Getting A Second Financial Opinion
When it comes to medical or legal advice, the value of getting a second opinion is fairly well established and defined. What about financial decisions? At what point does it make sense to get a second (or a third) opinion on money...
Read MoreThe History of Mom-and-Pop Shops and How To Support Them Today
The History of Mom-and-Pop Shops and How To Support Them Today Mom-and-pop businesses have held a special place in the hearts of American consumers since the beginning of retail commerce in the USA. These family-owned, small...
Read MoreMaking the Most of Your Relationship with a Financial Professional
Making the Most of Your Relationship with a Financial Professional Heading to your first meeting with a new financial professional may be a lot like going on a blind date. Can you have anything in common? Can you click?...
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5 Last Minute Considerations Before Tax Day
With April’s federal tax filing and payment deadline on the horizon, Americans are dotting their i’s and crossing their t’s as they prepare for the countdown to Tax Day. But before you rush to get that return out the...
Read MoreThe Challenge of Financial Wellness and Why We Need Women’s History Month
Women’s Financial Empowerment: The Challenge of Financial Wellness and Why We Need Women’s History Month March is Women’s History Month, a month-long celebration of female empowerment1. This effort includes...
Read MoreDon't Let Your Retirement Savings Goal Get You Down
Don't Let Your Retirement Savings Goal Get You Down As a retirement savings plan participant, you know that setting an accumulation goal is an important part of your overall strategy. In fact, over decades of conducting its annual...
Read MoreShow Loved Ones You Care This Valentine's Day With An Updated Estate Plan
Show Loved Ones You Care This Valentine's Day With An Updated Estate Plan Hopefully, you’re planning to give all of your loved ones plenty of affection this Valentine's Day. But what if you weren’t around? To make...
Read More3 U.S. Presidents Who Still Influence Your Retirement Planning Today
3 U.S. Presidents Who Still Influence Your Retirement Planning Today Each year, Presidents' Day is celebrated on the third Monday in February, paying tribute to George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and the other U.S. presidents...
Read More3 Reasons to Review Your Beneficiaries Now
3 Reasons to Review Your Beneficiaries Now Most types of financial accounts allow you to designate a beneficiary, from checking and savings accounts to life insurance policies, 401(k)s, IRAs, pensions, and trusts. But when was...
Read MoreWHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE SECURE ACT 2.0
With the signing of the Omnibus Appropriations package into law, both employees and employers can take advantage of more than 90 new provisions aimed at creating opportunities to create or modify workplace retirement plans and...
Read MorePlan a Date for a Heart-to-Heart Couple’s Talk About Retirement Planning
Plan a Date for a Heart-to-Heart Couple’s Talk About Retirement Planning Retirement planning may not be your idea of an exciting date night. However, retirement strategies and goals are so varied that couples in committed...
Read MoreProtect Financial Information from Prying Eyes on the Web
Protect Financial Information from Prying Eyes on the Web As more and more consumers search for financial information on the Internet, they may inadvertently leave themselves open to being “tracked” by certain...
Read MorePicking a Financial Professional in the New Year
Picking a Financial Professional in the New Year Use comparison-shopping skills when choosing a financial professional Many financially successful people are comparison shoppers. If you’re one, you may pore over ratings in consumer...
Read MoreYour Financial Fresh Start: 12 Resolutions in 12 Months
Your Financial Fresh Start: 12 Resolutions in 12 Months Change may be difficult, especially when you try to change your financial habits. The process might be easier if you take an incremental approach. Do you want to get on top of your...
Read MoreCreating a Legacy of Change through Charitable Giving
Philanthropy today is different than it was in the past. It was once common for donors to distribute their wealth through smaller grants to numerous organizations. Over time, best practices for charitable giving have evolved, and...
Read MoreExamining Donor-Advised Funds
Americans donate billions to charity annually. If you give to charity, you need to know about one of the best tools to facilitate generosity: Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs).DAFs date from the 1930s but did not become popular until the...
Read More5 Do’s and Don'ts for Charitable Giving During the Holidays
The fourth quarter holidays are often seen as one of the prime times to take out your checkbook — not only do many charities put in extra efforts helping others this time of year, but donating is also a smart financial move....
Read MoreThe 12 Days of Year-End Planning: Things to Consider Going into “The New Year"
At the end of the year, it is necessary to reflect on your financial picture, review the last 12 months, and plan for the future. With all that is involved, it can seem overwhelming. Consider breaking up the responsibilities over...
Read MoreMake a Positive Impact This Giving Tuesday With Impact Investing
While Black Friday and Cyber Monday center on consumer deals, Giving Tuesday—the Tuesday after Thanksgiving—has a different focus. Each year, individuals and corporations are encouraged to use the day to support charities...
Read MoreHigh Net-Worth Individuals: Are You Missing Opportunities in Your Financial Planning?
High Net-Worth executives and those that have been self-employed, can experience common problems in their financial planning journey. Often, they have missed opportunities in their financial planning because they haven’t planned...
Read MoreRetirement’s Second Act: Setting the Stage for Encore Entrepreneurship
An encore entrepreneur is a person who starts a new business or venture after age 55. They represent more than half of all business owners in the U.S., and for a good reason.1 These entrepreneurs have decades of work and life...
Read MoreEntrepreneurs aren’t Born, They’re Made
Who are entrepreneurs? Sometimes they are the people who leave the corporate world to pursue their own dreams. In many cases, they may be individuals who have found themselves dislocated or “downsized” from a previous job....
Read MoreEnd of Year (EOY) Deadlines Checklist
For many of us, a new year is an opportunity for fresh starts and discovering the best versions of ourselves, but some things—like tax contributions and retirement deadlines—don't change much, if at all. And with that shiny...
Read More10 Easy Financial Planning Steps for Beginners
If you've never engaged in financial planning and are unsure how to get started, this article is for you. A financial plan starts by evaluating your current financial situation and future expectations and can be created independently...
Read MoreAn Essential Guide to Estate Planning Preparedness
A recent survey by Caring.com found that a whopping two in three American adults do not have an estate plan1—an alarming statistic, considering that an estate plan can protect your assets and ensure that they go to the right...
Read MoreTen Things You Must Know About Medicare
Heading 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 MoreA Fall Financial Checklist
For many, autumn is the best time of year. The return of cool breezes, comforting foods, and pumpkins can be invigorating. It’s also a bookmark of sorts, especially for your finances—a perfect time to take stock of your...
Read MoreHow to Protect Your Wealth as You Get Older
As 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 MoreWhat to Know About Working With a Financial Professional
If 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 MoreAre You Maximizing 401(k) Contributions?
The more money that you can save when you are working, the easier it should be for you to retire and enjoy your golden years. Unfortunately, Social Security may no longer provide a sufficient income to live on during retirement. To...
Read MoreWhen to Call Me
Most of us go to see professionals when we’re in trouble or during times of crisis. Think about it. We go to the doctor when we’re sick. We go see a lawyer when we have a pending legal matter. We go see a counselor when...
Read More6 Important Components of Estate Planning
Basic estate planning is something that everyone should do, regardless of your age, marital status, the value of your assets, and if you’re a parent or not. According to a 2021 poll by Gallup, less than half of U.S....
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