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Is Financial Health a Factor in Your Overall Health?
Data from a newly released Harris Poll of more than 1,000 U.S. workers suggests that a majority of pre-retirees might answer "yes" to that question. Sixty-six percent of respondents to the poll identified their financial health as a...
Read MoreWhy Regular Rebalancing Makes Sense
Your investment portfolio may be off-kilter, and you may not even know it. Everyone loves a winner. If an investment is successful, most people naturally want to stick with it. But is that the best approach? It may sound...
Read MoreCelebrating Independence Takes on a Whole New Meaning
Back in 1776, our founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence -- an event we celebrate every 4th of July. That spirit of independence is definitely something worth commemorating, but also something worth emulating. How...
Read MoreRetirement Planning Assumptions
To enjoy your retirement without financial worries, make sure you have enough money saved when you retire. This calculation can be a daunting task, since a variety of factors affect your required amount and inaccurate estimates for any...
Read MoreIs Your Income Guaranteed?
A key step in planning for retirement is to put strategies in place that maximize guaranteed income. Annuities can be an integral part of your long-term retirement planning strategy, if you understand how to overcome unnecessary risks...
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Is a Variable Annuity Right for Me?
For the casual observer, it sometimes seems that variable annuities are either “terrible” or “wonderful.”Commentators in the financial media seem to occupy a polarity of opinions we might see in politics. What...
Read MoreWho is Your Trusted Contact?
Investment firms have a new client service requirement. They must now ask you if you would like to provide the name and information of a trusted contact.
Read MoreWhat is Legacy Planning?
When you’re gone, what will you leave behind?
Read MoreChecklist for when a Spouse or Parent Dies
When you lose a spouse, partner, or parent, the grief can be overwhelming. In the midst of that grief, life goes on. Here is a checklist that you may find useful at such a time.
Read MoreGuarding Against Four Common Money Biases
Our attitudes about investing, saving, spending and financial matters are shaped by a variety of influences, both early and later in life. These attitudes can foster some very good habits, ones that may promote smart financial choices,...
Read MoreWhat To Do When You Receive IRS Form 5498
When you save for retirement with an individual retirement arrangement, you probably receive a Form 5498 each year. The institution that manages your IRA must report all contributions you make to the account during the tax year on the...
Read MoreHow to Monitor and Improve Your Credit Score
March is National Credit Education Month which means there is no better time to educate yourself and others on the importance of understanding the ins and outs of your credit score. Did you know that one in five Americans find errors...
Read MoreSpotting Credit Trouble
American households with credit card balances carry an average debt of $8,602.1The wise use of credit is a critical skill in today’s world. Used unwisely, credit can rapidly turn from a useful tool to a crippling burden. There...
Read MoreCollege Funding Options
How can you 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 educational...
Read MoreCountdown to College
As a parent, of course you want to give your child the best opportunity for success, and for many, attending the “right” university or college is that opportunity. Unfortunately, being accepted to the college of one’s...
Read MoreThe Major Retirement Planning Mistakes
Much is out there about the classic financial mistakes that plague start-ups, family businesses, corporations, and charities. Aside from these blunders, some classic financial missteps plague retirees. Calling them...
Read MoreAn Estate Planning Checklist
Create a will if you do not yet have one. A valid will may save your heirs from some expensiveheadaches linked to probate and ambiguity. A solid will drafted with the guidance of an estate planningattorney will likely cost you a bit...
Read MoreHoliday Wrap Up
A look back at 2022 The year in brief. Soaring inflation impacted consumers, businesses, and investors in 2022, and the Federal Reserve tried to rein it in with an aggressive cycle of interest rate hikes. Bulls and bears engaged...
Read MoreWise Retirement Decisions
Some retirees succeed at realizing the life they want; others don’t. Fate aside, it isn’t merely a matter of investment decisions that makes the difference. There are certain dos and don’ts – some less apparent...
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 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 MoreSix Areas of Personal Finance to Review
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 MoreFinancial Planning with Health Insurance in Mind
How much might health care cost you someday?“Financially speaking, what would be the worst thing that could happen to you?” If you ask a hundred people in their forties that question, you may get a dozen different answers....
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What Happens if There is No Beneficiaries
Where do those accounts and policies end up?
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It’s Time for Your Life Insurance Check-Up
September is National Life Insurance Awareness Month, so it’s a great time to review your coverage.
Read MoreIs Financial Health a Factor in Your Overall Health?
Data from a newly released Harris Poll of more than 1,000 U.S. workers suggests that a majority of pre-retirees might answer "yes" to that question. Sixty-six percent of respondents to the poll identified their financial health as a...
Read MoreWhy Regular Rebalancing Makes Sense
Your investment portfolio may be off-kilter, and you may not even know it.Everyone loves a winner. If an investment is successful, most people naturally want to stick with it. But is that the best approach?It may sound counterintuitive...
Read MoreRetirement Planning Assumptions
To enjoy your retirement without financial worries, make sure you have enough money saved when you retire. This calculation can be a daunting task, since a variety of factors affect your required amount and inaccurate estimates for any...
Read MoreCelebrating Independence Takes on a Whole New Meaning
Back in 1776, our founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence -- an event we celebrate every 4th of July. That spirit of independence is definitely something worth commemorating, but also something worth emulating. How...
Read MoreInflation Creeping Into Personal Finances
If you have a balance on a credit card or an adjustable rate mortgage, you might be noticing changes in your payments. Higher interest rates are starting to ripple through the personal finance landscape, and it doesn’t look like...
Read MoreWho is Your Trusted Contact?
Investment firms have a new client service requirement. They must now ask you if you would like to provide the name and information of a trusted contact.1You do not have to supply this information, but it is encouraged. The request is...
Read MoreHow to Monitor and Improve Your Credit Score
March is National Credit Education Month which means there is no better time to educate yourself and others on the importance of understanding the ins and outs of your credit score. Did you know that one in five Americans find errors...
Read MoreCollege Funding Options
How can you 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 educational...
Read MoreAn Estate Planning Checklist
Create a will if you do not yet have one. A valid will may save your heirs from some expensive headaches linked to probate and ambiguity. A solid will drafted with the guidance of an estate planning attorney will likely cost you a bit...
Read MoreThe Major Retirement Planning Mistakes
Much is out there about the classic financial mistakes that plague start-ups, family businesses, corporations, and charities. Aside from these blunders, some classic financial missteps plague retirees. Calling them...
Read More