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3 Reasons New Parents Should Consider Creating an Estate Plan
When you prepare to have your first child, the to-do list may seem endless—from purchasing a car seat to furnishing a nursery, lining up day care options, and planning for time off from work. These tasks, while sometimes...
Read MoreAssessing the Health of Your Business
In today’s business climate, it may be more important than ever for companies to operate at maximum efficiency and with a keen awareness of the potential impact of changes in their industry and the economy. Using a SWOT analysis...
Read MoreThe Best Kind of Medicine–A Furry Companion
If you are or have ever been a pet owner, I probably don’t need to explain the joy of having a furry (or not so furry) friend around the house, but maybe you didn’t know all the actual health benefits they can provide. For...
Read More3 Tips for Preserving Wealth in Your Golden Years
After spending so much of your life saving for retirement, it may be challenging to transition from depositing funds to withdrawing them. You may wonder whether there is any way to maintain your lifestyle and preserve your wealth to...
Read MoreYour Estate and Life Insurance
It All Adds Up. It can be fairly easy to underestimate your net worth. After all, predicting the future value of your home and savings is merely hypothetical. On the other hand, you can rely on the fixed amount of the death benefit...
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3 Tips for Staying Calm While Navigating a Volatile Market
When market volatility takes investors on a wild ride, fear and panic are common responses to this stock market roller coaster. Acknowledging these emotions may be a good first step, but acting upon them could result in impulsive,...
Read MoreHow to Teach Your Children Financial Wellness
Teaching children about financial wellness should start at an early age. Learning how making money, saving, and spending is related and the first step in teaching your child how to understand the value of money. Children learn from...
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 MoreIf Social Security Falls Short
Have a PlanAre you worried about the current state of the Social Security system and how its future may affect your retirement income? It’s important to take a long, hard look at your current savings strategy to ensure...
Read MoreTake Time for a Credit Checkup
The Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970 has stood the test of time, and the Consumer Credit Reporting Reform Act has provided additional protection to the American consumer. If you take the time to understand the credit reporting system...
Read MoreWhat Should Single Parents Know About College Planning?
Single parents are faced with the pressure of supporting an entire household on their own—which can often make paying for college seem like an insurmountable goal. Fortunately, there are several different ways for single parents...
Read MoreBuying Insurance: What Savvy Consumers Should Know
You're ready to buy an insurance policy, but you feel a bit uneasy embarking into the insurance world. After all, the language can be technical, and you're wary of insurance agents throwing sales pitches at you. Whether you're buying...
Read MoreWomen and Money: Taking Control of Your Finances
As a woman, you have financial needs that are unique to your situation in life. Perhaps you would like to buy your first home. Maybe you need to start saving for your child's college education. Or you might be concerned about planning...
Read MoreBuilding a Strong Financial Foundation
Today, many people are concerned about saving for retirement or paying for a large ticket item, such as a child’s college education. If you belong to this group, now may be the time to organize your finances. It is never too...
Read MoreHow to Budget Your Time and Spend It Wisely
Your time is important. For some people, time is as important as money. While most people are concerned about spending their money wisely, few consider spending their time wisely. By budgeting your time, you may accomplish your goals...
Read MoreWorld Kindness Day: Random Acts of Kindness
Practice putting positivity into the world during this World Kindness Day! Here are a few ways to simply make the world a better place.DonatePick a new organization to support! If you are having trouble finding an organization to...
Read MoreGive the Gift of Listening this Valentine’s Day
Take the time to ask your Valentine how they derive joy from moneyValentine’s Day, which falls in the cold month of February, is really about happiness. But instead of rushing out to Walgreens to get that last minute box of...
Read MoreAdvocate for Your Heart Health
A busy schedule is never an excuse to ignore your health– but more often than not, we all fall victim to putting our work, social, and family life, ahead of our well-being. Especially when it comes to our heart health....
Read MoreTax Tips Every Married Couple Should Know
Getting married is a joyous time, but one that comes with numerous considerations. From living arrangements to future goals, marriage may quickly change a lot of things in your life. One thing that may drastically change after your...
Read MoreThe Importance of Setting Micro Goals in the Workplace
I think it’s safe to say micro goals are the individual pieces of your long-term puzzle—which together, make your end goal more clearly laid out with each piece you complete. Micro goals are easier to plan...
Read MoreHow Our Financial Wellness Impacts Us
Financial wellness studies over the past few years indicate that investors desire financial wellness. The recent pandemic, economic and inflationary conditions, changes in work-life balance, and more responsibility for financial...
Read MoreTax Prep Checklist: Everything You Need to Be Ready for Tax Season
Regardless of whether you prepare your taxes yourself or use a professional's services, it's a good idea to gather the information and documentation you need well in advance of your actual tax filing date. Below, we've listed some key...
Read MoreThe 5 Best Places to Ring in the New Year
You know about the famous ball drop in Times Square and the firework spectacle over the Sydney Opera House, but don’t forget about these other stand-out places that ring in the New Year in style.
Read MoreYear-End Planning for Retirees
As we approach the last quarter of each year, it is a good time to plan for the next one. Year-end planning is especially important for existing retirees and those hoping to retire in the next few years. There are tax and income...
Read MoreAlternative Energy: A Perfect Way to Be Socially Responsible With Your Investments
Socially responsible investing (SRI) is a strategy to make your investments more impactful by supporting ecological and social causes. SRI investors invest their money to support companies that value transparency in their business...
Read MoreGeneration Z Value Face-To-Face Business Communication
In an apparent break with their technology-obsessed millennial predecessors, members of Generation Z who are starting to enter the workforce are ready to put down their devices, and are more aligned with Generation X in their...
Read More5 Easy-to-Digest Security Tips for Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday is one of the most popular shopping days, competing each year with Black Friday when it comes to scoring holiday deals. While online shopping continues to grow in popularity, it also opens the door even wider for those...
Read MoreUnderstanding Compound Interest and Its Impact on Your Financial Goals
Anyone involved in financial matters of any kind will have to deal with interest, either working for or against you. A quote often attributed to Albert Einstein provides readers with insight into the benefit or crutch of interest in...
Read MoreSpotlighting Women-Owned Businesses on Women's Entrepreneurship Day
Celebrated on November 19th, Women's Entrepreneurship Day was established by Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO) in 2013 to bring awareness to the hundreds of millions of women and girls living in poverty and to help...
Read MoreCan You Spot the Scam? Common Financial Fraud Warning Signs
Many people are familiar with the scammers who promise to pay millions of dollars in exchange for briefly holding funds in your bank account or those who offer to enhance certain body parts risk-free. Today's scammers are clever at...
Read More5 Differences Between Planning for Long-Term Care and Crisis Planning
If you're like many, you may associate long-term care with nursing homes and end-of-life care. But far more people will need long-term care in a crisis—an injury or illness that requires long-term care or rehab before you can...
Read MorePrepare Now for Future Emergencies
September is National Preparedness Month, part of an effort by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to raise public awareness and inspire disaster readiness. Most communities could be impacted by some type of natural disaster...
Read MoreTake Time for a Credit Checkup
The Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970 has stood the test of time, and the Consumer Credit Reporting Reform Act has provided additional protection to the American consumer. If you take the time to understand the credit reporting system...
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 MoreFacing Your Financial Fears: 4 Ways to Avoid Budget Planning Scares
Nearly 75% of American adults report that they don't regularly follow a budget, while 10% have no budget at all.1 A lucky few may earn enough, or have low enough expenses, making budgeting unnecessary. But for the rest of us, the...
Read MoreWomen - What You Should Know When Starting a Business
Many businesses start small, begun by people seeking the exciting and potentially rewarding experience of "being their own boss" while doing something they enjoy. If you're thinking about starting your own business, you'll need a sound...
Read More7 Reasons to Invest in Women Owned Businesses and How to Get Started
In 2021, women-led companies only received 2% of all venture capital funding, a figure considered the lowest percentage in more than five years.1 Data shows this figure does not necessarily reflect the potential success of...
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 MoreImmediate Annuities Can Provide Lifetime Income
Running out of income is a primary concern for most retirees. Immediate annuities offer a financial alternative to help meet retirement income needs by providing a steady stream of income designed to last through retirement. What is an...
Read MoreKick-Starting Your Retirement with a 401(k) Plan
The 401(k) pension plan, named after that section of the Internal Revenue Service Code that created it, has become one of the most popular retirement plans in the market. (A similar plan, the 403(b), is often available to employees of...
Read MorePreparing for the Worst: Disaster Planning
Given the daily responsibilities of running a business, planning for an event that may or may not happen may not seem to be a priority. But by preparing for a major disaster, your company will be in a better position to cope with more...
Read MoreAdvanced Estate Planning Concepts for Women
You will need to think about the disposition of your assets at your death and any tax implications. Statistically speaking, women live longer than men. So if you are married, you'll also probably have the last word about the final...
Read MoreWhat Is the Right Setting for Your Retirement Story?
There was a time that retirement meant, for many people, sitting in the sun in a southern retirement community along with a host of fellow retirees. However, today retirement means many different things to different people. Why settle...
Read MoreBeat the Back to School Blues
Ahh, back to school time. It’s a dreaded season for most kids, and some parents, too. Getting back into the grind of waking up early, packing lunches, and fitting in extracurricular activities can be tough—but waiting until the last...
Read MoreSix Basic Tax Planning Techniques
There are no great secrets where tax planning and tax cutting are concerned. The principles around which all tax-cutting strategies revolve can be reduced to six basics: Income splitting. Taxes are reduced for the total family...
Read MoreTax-Advantaged Ways to Save for College
In the college savings game, all strategies aren't created equal. The best savings vehicles offer special tax advantages if the funds are used to pay for college. Tax-advantaged strategies are important because over time, you can...
Read MoreESG Investing: Monitoring Doing Good for The Planet and Its Inhabitants
ESG investing enables investors to participate as stewards of the planet and its inhabitants by leveraging environmental, social, and governance factors when they invest. The impact must benefit beneficiaries for it to be tagged as an ESG.
Read MoreYou’ll Scream for These Scoops!
Homemade ice cream has never been simpler. With a 3-ingredient base and no churning required, your freezer is bound to have a never-ending supply of this delicious frozen dessert!
Read MoreMake A Pet Silhouette
Most pet lovers would agree that the animals we bring into our homes become more than just pets—they become members of the family. So why not celebrate them as you would any other family addition by incorporating their images in your home.
Read MoreFinancial Freedom vs. Financial Independence: Key Differences and How to Work Towards Both
Working towards financial independence can often be a lifelong process. But for many, financial freedom may come far sooner—and include some fun along the way. Learn the differences between financial independence and financial freedom.
Read MoreThe Importance of Reassessing Insurance Coverage for Small-Business Owners
Insurance is crucial for any small business. Small-business owners may find themselves in a difficult situation without proper coverage if they suffer building damage or face a lawsuit. While obtaining adequate insurance for your...
Read MoreShould You Invest All at Once or Over Time?
The market skyrockets one day, plunges the next. Is this the wobbling before the crash? Should you invest now? If so, how? Everything at once? That’s tempting, but not always wise. A common question investors ask their financial...
Read MoreSame-Sex Marriage and Finances: What Every Couple Should Know
The challenges of pursing financial wellness and managing finances are common concerns for many married couples. Read on for important factors that play a role when same-sex couples manage their finances.
Read More529 College Savings Plans
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 MoreFour Things to Know Before You Take Social Security
Preparing for retirement may be an exciting and stressful time. While the idea of leaving the workforce and enjoying more leisure time may be appealing, the prospect of no longer receiving a regular paycheck might be intimidating for...
Read More3 Golf Tips to Keep Your Retirement Plan on Course
In golf, as in finances, there are a few rules of thumb that may improve your game: keep a level head, avoid traps, practice before trying something new and stay the course. Applying lessons from the golf course to your financial life...
Read MoreEverything You Need to Know About Adjusting to Retirement
Economists and pundits predicted that the baby boomer generation's retirement would be dramatic, and the COVID pandemic sped things along. According to the St. Louis Fed, the number of retirees in the U.S. increased by 7% between...
Read More4 Tips for Teaching Children the ABCs of Money Management
Teaching your children about finances may seem like a weighty topic; however, it does not have to be challenging. By opening the lines of communication early and demonstrating good financial decisions of your own, you may set your...
Read MoreHow to Spring Clean Your Finances with a Financial Review
Spring cleaning presents a great opportunity to clear out any items you no longer need—and the same goes for your finances. Checking in with your finances during tax season may be particularly beneficial, as it allows you to...
Read MoreWorking with a Financial Professional
The financial world is a complex one to navigate. New investment products, global investing opportunities, employee-driven 401(k)s — these (and many more) collectively underscore the value of seeking professional financial advice...
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