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Social Security Benefits Set to Increase in 2024
Proper financial planning includes forecasting future Social Security benefits In a welcome development for millions of Americans relying on Social Security, the Social Security Administration has recently announced a substantial...
Read MoreA 12 Days of Christmas Financial Planning Checklist
The Christmas season is an excellent time of the year to review your financial planning strategy. Our finances are top of mind as most of us are monitoring our spending as the holiday and new year approaches. We can look back over the...
Read More5 Strategies for Managing Financial Stress During the Holidays
The holiday season is a time of joy and headaches, celebration, fatigue, and togetherness mixed with a few knock-down drag-out fights. On top of the emotional rollercoaster ride can come a big wallop of financial stress. From...
Read MoreA Beginner's Guide to Tax-Smart Retirement Withdrawal Strategies
For many, retirement is the phase of life to kick back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of years of working and saving. However, financial decisions before and during retirement can significantly influence our quality of life and tax...
Read MoreAre We On the Brink of the Elusive Soft Landing?
Signs are encouraging and the possibility seems more tangible than ever In the intricate world of economics, maneuvering the vast U.S. economy without causing disruptions is likened to steering a colossal ship through a tempestuous...
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The Philanthropic Mindset: How to Give Well and Wisely
Having a desire to give and a philanthropic mindset are both important qualities to possess in modern society. With so many economic and social challenges in society, contributions to charities and philanthropy efforts are needed now...
Read MoreLong-Term Care For Veterans: What Is and Isn't Covered by TRICARE
More than 16.5 million veterans live in America, as reported by the U.S. Census. Along with the veterans’ need for long-term care, the aging general population has increased demand for long-term care, creating pressure on...
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 MoreMaximizing Military Retirement Benefits
Retiring from the military is a profound accomplishment. For many, this retirement will provide you with positive things, including the time and geographic stability you need to start a new career or simply enjoy leisure activities...
Read MoreWhat to do With Stock Markets at All-Time Highs
Key principles for a confident journey when investing at market peaks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is an index of 30 very-large, blue-chip U.S. companies. The most recent all-time-high...
Read MoreHow Secure Is Social Security?
If you're paying attention to the news, you've probably come across story after story on the health of Social Security. And depending on the actuarial assumptions used and the political slant, Social Security has been described as...
Read MoreFinancial Planning - Helping You See the Big Picture
Do you picture yourself owning a new home, starting a business, or retiring comfortably? These are a few of the financial goals that may be important to you, and each comes with a price tag attached. That's where financial planning...
Read MoreCoordination of Long-Term Care with Government Benefits
What does "coordination with government benefits" mean? In the context of long-term nursing home care, a number of governmental (and governmentally regulated) programs and tools exist to help you pay for this care. Medicare, Medicaid,...
Read MoreComparing Life Insurance Policies
Like 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 MoreTreating Yourself Can Be Beneficial to Pursuing Your Financial Goals
Have you ever made a purchase that has thrown your monthly budget off-kilter? Or maybe you’ve put financial restrictions on yourself that push you away from spending on things that bring you joy.
Read More5 Must-Have Items for Your Financial First Aid Kit
Every year, around 3 million Americans are required to evacuate their homes due to a natural disaster.1 What's more, this figure does not include the millions of other individuals who are temporarily displaced as a result of fire...
Read MoreGifting for Education Savings
What is it? A gift is a voluntary transfer of money or property from one person to another person or entity (such as a trust) where the person making the gift receives either nothing or a lesser amount of money or property in return....
Read MoreComparing Life Insurance Policies
Like 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 policies...
Read MoreTreating Yourself Can Be Beneficial to Pursuing Your Financial Goals
Placing money in your budget for splurges is important, but setting aside too little or too much can set you off the path of your financial goals. Here’s your guide to budgeting for the occasional splurge.
Read More5 Must-Have Items for Your Financial First Aid Kit
Every year, around 3 million Americans are required to evacuate their homes due to a natural disaster.1 What's more, this figure does not include the millions of other individuals who are temporarily displaced as a result of fire, flood
Read MoreGifting for Education Savings
A gift is a voluntary transfer of money or property from one person to another person or entity (such as a trust) where the person making the gift receives either nothing or a lesser amount of money or property in return...
Read MoreThe Facts of LIFE (Living Independently For Elders): Financial Planning and Senior Independence
Navigating elder care and elder care finances in the U.S. can be a challenge even for the most well-prepared households. So what, exactly, is involved in senior financial planning? What steps can you take now to help you be prepared...
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 MoreEducation Tax Credits and Deductions
Tax credit vs. tax deductionA tax credit is more valuable than a tax deduction of the same amount. Why? A tax credit reduces any taxes owed on a dollar-for-dollar basis, whereas a tax deduction simply reduces the total income on which...
Read MoreTIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR EMOTIONS IN CHECK, THE ONE QUESTION YOUR FINANCIAL PROFESSIONAL SHOULD ASK & W
TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR EMOTIONS IN CHECK, THE ONE QUESTION YOUR FINANCIAL PROFESSIONAL SHOULD ASK & WISE WORDS FROM THE ORACLE OF OMAHAMoney is always an emotional subject and when our emotions get involved with our investments we often...
Read More5 Life Events That Impact Your Life Insurance Needs
A life insurance policy is part of financial planning. Life insurance is there to help ease the financial trauma that comes with the loss of a spouse, parent, or partner. As you encounter different events in your life, you may need to...
Read More4 Financial Planning Tips for Firefighters
Only about 25% of Americans aged 60 and over have access to a defined-benefit plan, also known as a pension.1 Firefighters are in the small group of Americans who have the option of an employer-sponsored pension plan, but this may not...
Read More6 Retirement Tips for Surviving the Sandwich Generation Squeeze
While each generation comes with its own array of financial challenges, the sandwich generation often feels a tight financial squeeze. Follow these six tips to get your retirement on track while still prioritizing your family.
Read MoreGen Z Should Be Your Retirement Role Models
Generation Z, the youngest working generation, is thought of as being uninterested in the future. However, recent research has shown that this stereotype may not be accurate, as many Gen Z individuals are excelling at saving for retirement
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. Here are three tips that may help you preserve wealth after retirement...
Read MoreWealth Due to Inheritance
Before you spend that newfound inheritance, or give away any money or assets, or leave your job, you should do a cash flow analysis and determine your net worth as a first step toward planning your financial strategy.
Read MoreAnnuities: Pros, Cons and a Huge Heap of Details
Annuities often get a bad rap as insurance products – and often rightly so Life insurance buys financial protection against your premature death. Here’s the how-to on another insurance that can protect you from living too...
Read MoreWall Street is Not Sweating the Debt Ceiling – Yet
The press – not Wall Street – is most concerned about the June 1st deadline The debt ceiling refers to a legislative limit imposed by the U.S. government on the amount of debt that can be issued to fund its activities. It...
Read MoreHow DROPs Programs May Help Retain Retirement-Eligible Employees
Government employees, such as teachers, firefighters, police, and others, often consider working after their eligible retirement age when presented with a DROPs offer. A DROP program is a tax-advantaged retirement plan that provides...
Read MoreAging Parents and Money
Getting old is hard. Your parents’ ability to manage their own finances may decline as they age. Helping them with money matters is a sensitive issue you need to approach carefully.When you hit a certain age of your life, you may...
Read More10 Tips to Work Toward Financial Freedom
Financial freedom is a state of being in control of one's finances, covering expenses easily, and saving for future goals. Financial freedom enables you to choose how you spend or interact with your money and have the choice to decide...
Read MoreEducation: One of the Best Investments You Can Make
It wasn’t long ago when an individual went to college, got an education, and embarked on one career that usually lasted a lifetime. Many companies provided on-the-job training, and little emphasis was put on the idea of going...
Read MoreMedicaid Planning Goals and Strategies
Medicaid planning serves to accomplish a number of goals: (1) qualifying for Medicaid, (2) exchanging "countable" assets for exempt assets, (3) preserving assets (including the family home) for loved ones, and (4) protecting the healthy...
Read MoreFinancial Planning Tips for Police Officers
For some officers, relying on the police pension may not be enough to retire comfortably and confidently. Here are four financial planning tips for police officers that take into account their special retirement benefits.
Read MoreThe Financial Impact of Mental Health
Often, financial problems or worries may impact your mental wellbeing, especially if you’re anxious or depressed about your situation. Below, we take a look at some examples and how to get treat them.
Read MoreRetirement Planning for Teacher and Public School Workers
The ability to enjoy a secure retirement is an objective that many teachers and their colleagues pursue years before they leave their jobs. Eventually, each must consider life beyond their career and the benefits they may receive...
Read MoreLife Insurance and Estate Planning
Today, life insurance is a crucial part of many estate plans. You can use it to leave much-needed income to your survivors, provide for your children's education, pay off your mortgage, and simplify the transfer of assets....
Read MoreOptimizing Your Social Security Retirement Benefits
Optimizing your Social Security retirement benefits means getting the best return possible on each dollar you've contributed to the system. However, if you make wise decisions regarding when you retire and how much you earn, you can...
Read MoreHow to Increase Your Financial Literacy
Financial literacy isn't often taught in schools—which means that many people may enter adulthood without having all the tools they need to make informed and effective financial decisions...
Read More529 Savings Plans vs Prepaid Tuition Plans
Section 529 plans are popular education savings vehicles. To choose the type of 529 plan that's right for you, it's important to understand how 529 savings plans and 529 prepaid tuition plans work and the differences between them...
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