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7 Health Appointments to Schedule in the New Year
Many people make resolutions to improve their health in the new year, but making healthy changes goes beyond exercise and diet; you should be staying on top of your medical visits too. Here are seven appointments that you should...
Read MoreYear-End Charitable Giving
With the holiday season upon us and the end of the year approaching, we pause to give thanks for our blessings and the people in our lives. It is also a time when charitable giving often comes to mind. The tax benefits associated with...
Read MoreRMD Roundup: A Few Key Updates About Required Minimum Distributions
As we approach the end of 2021, now might be a good time to take a closer look at a few developments surrounding required minimum distributions (RMDs). What Are RMDs? Once you reach age 72, you are required to take minimum...
Read MoreDress Up Your Home for the Holidays
Deck your home with a cohesive seasonal theme! Here are four fresh ideas to try. Silver palace with a pop Details: mirrors • glass • silver votives and trays • crystals Colors: silver • white • grays • pop...
Read MoreSocial Security Gets Massive 5.9% Raise in 2022
The largest cost-of-living-adjustment since 1982 impacts 90% of seniors On October 13, the Social Security Administration announced that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for tens of millions of Americans will...
Read MoreUnderstanding the Estate Planning Process
A well-structured estate plan can be invaluable to you and your family It is common for people to put off planning their estates. After all, no one wants to anticipate his or her own death. In addition, many people may believe that...
Read MoreMedicare Open Enrollment for 2022: What You Need to Know
Medicare Open Enrollment begins on October 15, 2021. There are new changes to Medicare for 2022 that may impact your coverage and services in addition to regular Medicare coverage for Americans who are ages 65 and older and younger...
Read MoreFill Your Fall Bucket List
Fall is a season full of opportunity. From embarking on a hay ride to taking in the foliage, there is no shortage of ways to get out in nature and make the most of all that autumn has to offer! Start off your fall bucket list with...
Read MoreProtecting Your Financial Information Online
More consumers are conducting financial transactions online and may become vulnerable to tracking, hacking, identity theft, phishing scams, and other cyberspace risks. While nothing can guarantee complete safety on the Internet,...
Read MoreBoomers' Post-Pandemic Retirement Concerns
For many who are decades away from leaving the workforce, retirement may seem like an abstract concept. But once you've entered your late fifties—like the youngest Baby Boomers, turning 57 in 2021—retirement may begin to...
Read MoreNatural Ways to Maintain Good Health This Fall
We all want to know the secret to staying healthy as the weather turns a colder leaf, and these are just some of the ways you can keep both your physical and mental well-being in check throughout the next few months. Make yourself a...
Read MoreBack to School Planning is So Different This Year
Rising college costs and inflationary pressures are hurting parents and kids Many parents are preparing to send children off to school this fall. While the checklists grow and the kids soak in the last few minutes of summer break,...
Read MoreCharitable Giving: Benefiting the Organizations You Want to Help
Giving away some of your money is a great way to support the people and organizations you love. But there are smart ways to do it, minimizing your taxes and avoiding pitfalls along the way. Once you have provided for your own...
Read MoreUnderstanding the Federal Gift Tax
In 2018, around one in every five new home purchasers got at least part of their down payment from a relative—and of the parents who have contributed to this down payment assistance, the average gift is $39,000.1 With the housing...
Read MoreWhat’s Next for the Real Estate Market and How Will It Impact Buyers?
We’ve all heard the outrageous stories of tumbledown houses selling for record-high prices, dozens of multiple offers within hours of a new listing hitting the MLS, and bonuses and incentives to sweeten the pot from...
Read MoreA 6.1% Bump in Social Security?
The news keeps getting better for Social Security recipients. It's now projected that benefits will increase 6.1% in 2022, up from the 4.7% forecast just two months ago. That would be the most significant increase since 1983.1,2...
Read MoreInflation Varies According to Your Age & Spending
The headline Consumer Price Index is important only as a general gauge What will inflation be in the coming years? The real answer is that it varies according to your age and spending patterns. Inflation could wallop someone with kids...
Read MoreOil Prices Hit Six-Year High
On July 6, oil prices reached a six-year high of $76.98 a barrel. This benchmark came as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies failed to reach an agreement regarding an increase in production.1 This...
Read MoreHealthcare and the Sandwich Generation
Members of the "Sandwich Generation"—or adults who have at least one parent over age 65 and at least one child who still requires financial support—often find themselves torn between their dual caregiving responsibilities.1...
Read MoreInheritance Planning Can Help Avoid Headaches
Your advisor can help ensure you leave your estate in the best possible way Families inherit money and sometimes make the right moves investing and spending. Inheritances can also ignite disruption, divorce and a host of bad behavior...
Read MoreA COLA with Your Social Security?
If there is a "silver lining" to all the inflation talk, it may be that Social Security benefits are expected to see a larger-than-normal increase in 2022.Preliminary estimates call for a 4.7% cost-of-living increase (COLA) in Social...
Read MoreAre You Ready for the Second Act of the Secure Act?
Recently, you may have seen headlines regarding the Securing a Strong Retirement Act, also referred to as the second version of the SECURE Act, or SECURE Act 2.0. As the bill moves from the House of Representatives to the Senate, many...
Read MoreTravel Tips That Save
Americans seem to be traveling more than ever before and are doing so by either flying the friendly skies or sailing the seven seas. While more of us may be flying high or traveling the high seas, most of us would like to avoid the...
Read MoreABCs of Investing for College
Invest 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 MoreKeeping an Eye on Inflation
Inflation can be a scary word for people who are retired. It’s code for “prices are going up, but my income may stay the same.” The most recent reading on consumer prices put inflation back into the conversation. The...
Read MoreMaintaining the Investment You Made in Your Home
For many Americans, the home is the single biggest purchase made during their lifetime.[1] As a result, it's important to do everything possible to keep it in good condition. Even moderate or short-term neglect can be dangerous, as...
Read MoreTop 5 Tips for Making Sound Financial Decisions
Everyone needs to make smart financial decisions that steer them toward financial independence. When people thrive financially, they may feel less financial stress, leading them to accomplish short and long-term financial goals. Here...
Read MoreGrill Cleaning Basics
Nothing beats the smell of firing up the grill in the summertime, but if you don’t take proper care of the equipment, you could end up in a dangerous situation. Follow these tips to ensure that both you—and your...
Read MoreAre Early Retirement and Pension Buyout Offers a Good Deal for You?
In today’s economy, offers of an early retirement buyout for a current employee or a pension buyout directed at a former employee are becoming common as companies look for ways to cut costs. Many large employers are offering...
Read MoreDoes a Guaranteed Income Stream in Retirement Make Sense for You?
Everyone’s retirement cash flow situation is different. Some people are prepared with enough retirement savings to last their lifetime, others are not. Still, others are unsure about the ‘ups and downs’ that can...
Read MoreA Quick Look at Life Insurance Needs
Have you ever wondered how much life insurance is “enough”? One general rule of thumb says that you should buy an amount equal to five to seven times your annual income. Sure, it may be a reasonable guideline, but this...
Read MoreDoes the 60/40 Asset-Allocation-Pie Make Sense?
No allocation can cure the ill effects of stampeding in and out of markets The magic asset allocation number so often touted is a 60/40 split between stocks and bonds. This is supposed to give you the growth potential of equities and...
Read MoreThe Great Wealth Transfer: Is Your Family Prepared?
Over the next twenty years, a wealth transfer will occur that exceeds $30 trillion as the Baby Boomer generation passes the remainder of their wealth to the Millennials and subsequent generations. The Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) are...
Read MoreTest Your Investment IQ With Our Five-Question Quiz
Whether you've been investing for years or just made your first stock purchase, you may find that the more you learn, the more you realize you don't know. From capital gains taxes to dividends, how well do you know investing? Test your...
Read MoreA Brief History and How to Look at Social Security
Is it about getting the money back or minimizing the risk of bad outcomes? Although Social Security did not come into existence until 1935, it can trace its roots back to the first national pension program for soldiers that was passed...
Read MoreTips to Keep Emotions and Investing Separate
Reducing your emotions can give you a better chance for investing success Money is always an emotional subject, but often when our emotions get involved with our investments we will make wrong decisions. And that can be a costly...
Read MoreContribute to an IRA Before the May 17 Deadline
Taxpayers of all ages may be able to claim a deduction on their 2020 tax return for contributions made to their Individual Retirement Account made through May 17, 2021 (the U.S. Department of the Treasury is delaying the April 15...
Read MoreCreating an Income Plan While in Retirement
Taking money out of retirement without a plan is a recipe for trouble You‘ve saved for years. Now that you are retired, did you create an income plan from your savings? The financial industry and media constantly talk about the...
Read MoreFacing Down the Fear of Running out of Money
Tips to avoid one of the biggest retirement worries that all of us will face Retirement is a major milestone that brings many life changes. One thing that doesn't change for most people: the fear of running out of money. In fact, one...
Read MoreHow to Request a Federal Income Tax Extension
With so many tax provisions tweaked in 2020—from the CARES Act in March to the Consolidated Appropriation Act in December—some taxpayers may find it challenging to get everything together in time to file their taxes by the...
Read MoreA Checklist Comparing Traditional and Roth IRAs
Understanding the differences between Individual Retirement Accounts Currently, there are two popular Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) that you might consider: the traditional IRA and the Roth IRA. While both are long-term savings...
Read MorePunxsutawney Phil and the Shadow of 2021
Winter might be six weeks longer, but spring clean your investments now Punxsutawney Phil – arguably the most famous groundhog of all time – saw his shadow in 2021, predicting another six weeks of winter this year. But...
Read MoreThe Importance of Financial Wellness
Financial wellness, like physical wellness, isn’t something you should ignore. Instead, it's a critical concept for anyone who wants to be knowledgeable and confident about their finances, and in fact, financial wellness is so...
Read MoreThe New IRS Tax Rates and Deductions for 2021
Although a year away, your 2021 tax planning should have already started. Amidst all the pandemic news and 2020 election drama, many might have missed that the IRS also quietly published new 2021 tax rates in late October and a there...
Read MoreYour 2021 New Year’s (Financial) Resolutions
Cleaning up personal finances remains one of the top resolutions every New Year. But we all know what happens to most such self-promises, so here’s a month-by-month to-do list to cultivate better financial health. January:...
Read MoreCommon Retirement Investment Mistakes
Only 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.1 While the number is up slightly from the...
Read MoreKey Tax Deadlines for 2021
While the 2020 tax year saw some significant changes to filing deadlines due to the effects of the global pandemic, the 2021 tax season seems to be set to be on track with normal filing deadlines. With the pandemic still in sight, it...
Read MoreGetting a Jump on January Tax Season
From 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 MoreContributing to a Charity When You Have More Time Than Money to Give
If giving to charity is important to you but you have more time than money, you may wonder whether your donation of manpower will be as valuable as cash. For many charities, the answer is an unequivocal yes. Below are some tips and...
Read MoreIRS Makes 2021 IRA Cost-of-Living-Adjustments
Understanding the income ranges and contribution limits for next year Tax law places limits on the dollar amount of contributions that you can make to Individual Retirement Accounts and by law, the IRS is required to adjust these...
Read MoreIRS Makes Annual Inflation Adjustments for 2021
Adjustments for deductions, tax rate schedules and 60 other tax provisions The Internal Revenue Service announced annual inflation adjustments for the 2021 tax year for more than 60 tax provisions, including standard deductions and the...
Read MoreThinking About Social Security Benefits at 62?
Social Security is an asset that is taken for granted by many folks. If you are tempted to take Social Security early, when first eligible at age 62, think again: your check will be lower if you don’t wait until what’s...
Read MoreEnd of Year Deadlines Checklist
2020 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 MoreHow to Balance Fun With Savings
As you start your career and work toward advancement, you are likely to hear all kinds of advice about the importance of saving and investing for the future. A healthy savings account and the right investments can help you get through...
Read More4 Common 401(k) Mistakes to Avoid
While there is no one-size fits all, avoiding these mistakes is a good start: A lot of 401(k) investors end up making the same mistakes when choosing their investments. The results are low returns and unbalanced portfolios. Avoiding...
Read More5 Benefits of Enrolling in Medicare Advantage
Medicare part C, or better known as Medicare Advantage, is a policy offered through private insurance companies that provides medical and hospital coverage. Those who are already enrolled in Medicare parts A and B, are automatically...
Read MoreProtecting Your Financial Information Online
More consumers are conducting financial transactions online and may become vulnerable to tracking, hacking, identity theft, phishing scams, and other cyberspace risks. While nothing can guarantee complete safety on the Internet,...
Read MoreManaging Risk With Diversification
When you first considered investing, it probably seemed like a good idea to focus heavily on what worked best for you from the beginning. If stocks from a particular company brought you high yields, why not double up on your original...
Read MorePut Savings (and Yourself) First with a Budget
Americans, it seems, are spenders. Personal savings rates are low and many people spend beyond their means. If you're among those Americans who can't seem to save, it might be time to create a budget. Getting Started Setting up a...
Read More4 Financial Planning Essentials to Ease Your Retirement Fears
When it comes to planning for retirement, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Putting together a financial strategy can be complicated at any time of life, what with changing regulations, ups and downs in the market, and disagreements...
Read More5 Problems to Solve Before You Retire
Retirement should be a reward for years of hard work, and you don't want to have to pinch every penny. You should be able to do the things you couldn't when you were punching a clock every day. You should be able to look forward to...
Read MoreAvoid Playing Politics with Your Portfolio
It can be tempting to rely on political headlines or pending legislation to time your market entry or exit points. However, letting politics drive your investment decisions can be a costly mistake. Learn more about what helps market...
Read MoreNational Life Insurance Awareness Month
Should 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 More3 Steps to Build Your Savings
The fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic has made the need for a healthy savings account clearer than ever. Even before the pandemic, the U.S. Federal Reserve estimated that nearly 40 percent of Americans didn't have enough set aside to...
Read MorePerspective on the Second Fastest Bear Recovery
Starting with the last week in July and for the first three weeks of August, investors celebrated that the S&P 500 had advanced for four consecutive weeks, culminating with it passing its pre-COVID peak from February 19 on August 17....
Read MoreHas COVID Changed How You Think About Spending?
Four simple steps to align your spending with exactly what you value The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives in unprecedented ways. Many of us have been forced to stay at home more and adjust our spending habits. Some have even...
Read MoreMaking Sense of the Payroll Tax Executive Order
Why you need to be careful not to start spending your payroll tax money: After negotiations for another stimulus bill stalled for two weeks, President Trump issued an executive order suspending the collection of Social Security payroll...
Read More3 Tips for Planning Your Retirement Income
If you've been diligently saving for your retirement, you may often find yourself wondering when you can afford to set an official retirement date. The answer to this question can often depend on how much monthly or annual income your...
Read MoreCOVID Forcing Some Colleges to Close Forever
College savings tips – because the costs of college are not going down. As if the country needed another divisive topic, the debate about reopening schools this fall is splitting communities, educators and families. According to a...
Read MoreCharitable Giving: Good for Your Heart and Your 1040
It may be better to give than to receive, but it may be even better to give and see your generosity rewarded. Charitable giving can play a valuable role in your financial and tax strategies. A well-planned gift to charity could provide...
Read MoreA Mid-Year Financial Review Can Pay Off at Year End
Today, many people find themselves inundated by a constant stream of financial news from television, radio, and the Internet. Yet, does all this “information age” data really help you manage your finances any better than in...
Read MoreHow to Survive the Dog Days of Summer
It often seems as if summer lasts from Easter to Halloween. But we typically see the hottest of the hot days (the “dog days” of summer) in late July and August. And this raises some concern for keeping safe and cool....
Read MoreLearn Money Mindfulness
Money matters are complex and even scary. How you choose to approach finances mentally is key to mastering them. Financial advisors call this “money mindfulness." And it’s a mentality that can be worked on while we’re spending more time...
Read More3 Make-Your-Money-Last Tips for Retirees
After all of those years of saving, investing and planning it's finally time to retire. But what is it that those who successfully planned for the long term do to ensure their funds last for the duration of their retirement? We like to...
Read MoreExtending Tax Season Is Extending Scam Season
Tips for recognizing the telltale signs of an IRS scam and how to report it The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service extended the federal income tax filing deadline from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. That means that...
Read MoreThink Twice Before Speculating on a COVID-19 Cure
As hundreds of companies race to develop vaccines and drug therapies that could help end the COVID-19 pandemic, news reports on successful or failed trials affect individual stock prices and can trigger swings in the broader market...
Read MoreUsing Trusts to Manage Wealth: What Investors Should Know
Whether you manage a trust for someone else, are the beneficiary of a trust, or are thinking of creating a trust, you probably have some questions about the "best practices" of trust management. A well-managed trust can help preserve...
Read MoreThe Inflationary Impact of COVID-19 Stimulus
Should you worry about inflation, deflation, hyperinflation or stagflation? The coronavirus outbreak, which was first detected in China, has infected millions of people in hundreds of countries and has left global governments,...
Read More9 Facts About Retirement
Tip: Nearly 70% of workers expect to work for pay in retirement, but only 26% of retirees actually have done so. Retirement can have many meanings. For some, it will be a time to travel and spend time with family members....
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 MoreConsiderations for Charitable Giving
Any endeavor worth undertaking, especially one that may affect others, deserves our careful consideration before we begin. When contemplating charitable giving,...
Read MoreWhat You Need to Know About the Secure Act
The largest overhaul to retirement plans since 2006 is complicated The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 – the SECURE Act – passed the House of Representatives earlier this year and was...
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