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.
Inflation Math for Today’s Retiree
You may have heard the saying, “inflation hurts savers and benefits borrowers.” The expression suggests that borrowers benefit from inflation because they pay back lenders with dollars worth less than when the money...
Read MoreYour Year-End Financial Checklist
The end of the year can help remind us of last-minute things we need to address and the goals we want to pursue. To that end, here are some aspects of your financial life to think about as this year leads into the next. Keep in mind,...
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Cash Alternatives for Charitable Giving
The year is winding down, and you may be thinking of giving. In fact, you may want to explore the different ways in which you can donate to a charity or non-profit organization, apart from just making a cash gift. Consider some of the...
Read MoreAnnual Financial To-Do List
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, or budgeting methods you could employ toward specific objectives, from building...
Read MoreMedicare Open Enrollment
Medicare’s annual open enrollment period begins October 15 and ends December 7. During this time, current Medicare beneficiaries have the option to adjust their coverage for the coming year. Any changes to your plan will go into...
Read MoreInsurance When you Marry After 40
With people marrying later in life these days, coverage has become even more important. When you marry, you buy life insurance. Right? You buy it out of consideration for your spouse, and also realize that in the event of either your...
Read MoreNational Life Insurance Awareness Month
It’s time for your life insurance checkup. September is National Life Insurance Awareness Month, so it’s a great time to review your coverage.1 If you don’t have any life insurance, you’re not alone. Life...
Read MoreLife Insurance with Extended-Care Riders
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed extended-care policies. While the specific policy information varies from company to company, in general, the pandemic has made it more difficult to qualify for extended-care policies. This can be...
Read MoreConducting Your Mid-Year Financial Checkup
With June officially behind us, it’s time to face the facts: we’re headed toward the second half of 2021. While there’s still plenty of time to enjoy the rest of summer, we encourage you to slow down and check up on...
Read MoreCollege Funding Choices
How can you help cover your child’s future college costs? Saving early (and often) may be key for most families. Here are some college savings vehicles to consider. 529 college savings plans. Offered by states and some...
Read MoreHow Much Do You Really Know About Extended Care
How much does eldercare cost, and how do you arrange it when it is needed? The average person might have difficulty answering those two questions, for the answers are not widely known. For clarification, here are some facts to dispel...
Read MoreQualified Charitable Distributions
A choice for I.R.A. owners who want to reduce taxes linked to I.R.A. distributions. Do you have an I.R.A.? As you enter your 70s, you may start to look at that I.R.A. not only as an asset, but also as a problem. By law, you must take...
Read MoreTax Efficiency in Retirement
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, if you have saved and invested much of your life, you may also end up retiring at a...
Read MoreRetirement Questions That Have Nothing to do with Money
Retirement planning is not entirely financial. Your degree of happiness in your “second act” may depend on some factors that don’t come with an obvious price tag. Here are some non-monetary factors to consider as you...
Read MoreContributing to Retirement Accounts
If you’re like many investors, you’re probably looking for a way to manage your tax bill. One approach to consider is contributing the full amount to your retirement accounts. It’s not too late to fund your retirement...
Read MoreBuilding a Healthy Financial Foundation
When you read about money matters, you will sometimes see the phrase, “getting your financial house in order.” What exactly does that mean? When your financial “house is in order,” it means it is built on a...
Read MoreDistributions from Mutual Funds
This time of year, you might glance at an account statement and see there has been an adjustment. But there may not be any cause for concern. Many mutual funds in December pay shareholders capital gains distributions that they have...
Read MoreThe Social Security Administrative 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 recipients will receive a 1.3 percent cost-of-living...
Read MoreFacts 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...
Read MoreEnd-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 a job behind? That’s...
Read MoreOctober is Financial Planning Month
When training to become a financial professional, much of our course work centers on the six critical areas of creating a financial strategy. Some recognize October as Financial Planning Month, so it's an excellent opportunity to...
Read MoreConquering Retirement Challenges for Women
Looking ahead can help you conquer these unique obstacles. When it comes to retirement, some women face obstacles that can make saving for retirement a challenge. Women typically earn less than their male counterparts and often take...
Read MoreWhy Roth IRA Conversations May Now Be Advantageous
Roth IRAs have attracted retirement savers since their introduction in 1998. They offer the potential for tax-free retirement income, provided Internal Revenue Service rules are followed. Do Roth IRAs seem even more attractive these...
Read MoreThe I.R.S. Has Enhanced the 2020 RMD Waivers
In March, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act became law. It was designed to help Americans impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The new law offered investors a financial break. It gave people the option to...
Read MoreStarting 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 Roth IRA for a teenager may be...
Read MoreTime for a Mid-Year Review
Now that tax season is over it might be time for you to have a financial review. It is important to review your accounts periodically to make sure you are still on track towards your goals. Take a moment to think about any changes in...
Read MoreEldercare 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.1In addition to health factors, the cost can be an issue....
Read MoreHow the CARES Act Impacts RMDs
Tucked into the gigantic “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security” (“CARES”) Act were two key changes you should know about, regarding required minimum distributions (RMDs). Both were designed to give...
Read MoreAvoiding COVID-19 Scams
Scammers, 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 MoreWe Are Here for You!
Delivering the Support and the Financial Guidance You NeedWe know that these can be frightening times, but we want to assure you that one thing you don’t need to worry about is us supporting you through them. We are committed to...
Read MoreOur Response to COVID-19
We want to share information about the steps we’ve taken to minimize any potential impact to our clients as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and maximize our efforts to keep our team and clients safe. This event,...
Read MoreTax Considerations for Retirees
Tax Considerations for Retirees Are you aware of these potential tax breaks and tax-saving opportunities? The federal government offers some major tax breaks for older Americans. Some of these perks deserve more publicity than they...
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 MoreAnnual Contribution Limits
The I.R.S. just announced the annual contribution limits on IRAs, 401(k)s, and other widely used retirement plan accounts for 2020. Here’s a quick look at them. Next year, you can put up to $6,000 in any type of IRA. The limit is...
Read MoreA 2020 Look at Your IRA
As you may have heard, Congress passed legislation late last year that changed the rules for traditional IRAs and other defined contribution plans. These changes went into effect on January 1, 2020. Over the years, there have been many...
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