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Tuesday, September 26, 2023

While artificial intelligence (AI) is making headlines today, the concept of "thinking machines" can be traced back to ancient philosophers and mathematicians. The phrase artificial intelligence was first used in the mid-20th century,...

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Social Security, the program you may have spent a lifetime paying into, is designed to offer stability, supplemental income, and other valuable benefits that can play a role in your overall financial strategy after you retire. We've...

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

If you ask the average investor which month is the most volatile for the stock market, they will probably say October. It's a reasonable answer, but it's incorrect. Despite October's reputation for market-defining events like the...

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

As financial professionals, we understand how vital it is to safeguard your personal and financial information. Unfortunately, in our increasingly digital world, cybersecurity risks, such as phishing attacks, have become a prevalent...

Monday, August 7, 2023

You’ve done a great job teaching your children vital life lessons and instilling values that will last a lifetime. As summer ends and a new school year begins, one thing that shouldn’t be overlooked, especially for...

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Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Changes are coming to the complicated form that students must submit to qualify for college financial aid, known as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).The Department of Education is calling it the “most...

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

IntroductionOver the last several months, I have met with quite a few self-proclaimed do-it-yourself (DIY) investors who, after struggling with the markets in 2022, approached me asking for a second opinion. Interestingly, almost every...

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Changes to 529 Plans in the SECURE 2.0 ActThe SECURE Act was initially passed by Congress at the end of 2019 and was intended to improve retirement savings opportunities. It was a big deal at the time and the most significant piece of...

Thursday, July 6, 2023

What if your child needs braces? The cost may be as much as $6,000 for metal braces—more modern versions can run as much as $13,000. Your health insurance may cover only a portion of the cost. If you're well past the braces stage...

Thursday, June 22, 2023

Getting your affairs in order and outlining what you want done with your estate after you’re gone is one of the greatest gifts you can leave your loved ones. However, not preparing for the transfer of your assets can lead to...

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Over half of the people who left their jobs last year started a new one. The great resignation is shaping into the great reshuffle and it's continuing. You never know when you might find that big change, the one where you can't say no. You'

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

The same Social Security spousal and survivor benefits apply to all married couples today. But since some same-sex couples were prevented in the past from marrying by unconstitutional state laws, many surviving same-sex partners may be...

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Senior care costs can be overwhelming, particularly when long-term care is required due to illness or medical conditions. With the number of seniors in the U.S. expected to rise exponentially by 2030, it's crucial to be prepared for...

Thursday, May 25, 2023

Estate management can be a complex and daunting task for many people, but it’s a critical step in helping your assets get managed and distributed according to your wishes.One popular tool that can be used in estate strategies is...

Thursday, May 11, 2023

Economies move in cycles – always have, always willThe Federal Reserve has been steadily increasing interest rates in an attempt to slow the rate of inflation. Its efforts are yielding some results, although inflation remains...

Friday, April 28, 2023

Fun fact: You probably have dozens of credit scores out there, and each one might be a different number.You’re probably familiar with a credit score, why it’s essential, and what it’s used for, but do you know how...

Monday, April 17, 2023

Discussing personal finances is important for any couple preparing for marriage. However, this topic can be more complicated for those who remarry later in life.If you’re remarrying later in life, one of your goals should be to...

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

As we get older, it’s important that our adult children are prepared to manage any aging-related situations that may arise. This includes everything from having to make medical and financial decisions to determining assisted...

Monday, March 20, 2023

Every parent wants the best for their children and strives to prepare them to lead a happy, healthy, and successful life. But, despite understanding the importance of financial responsibility, only 28 percent of parents speak to their...

Monday, March 6, 2023

Transitioning from Private Health Insurance Plans to MedicareAs you approach retirement age, you may be anticipating transitioning from your private insurance to Medicare, which is a federal health insurance program that provides...

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

According to the Investment Company Institute, near the end of 2022, there was more than $4.7 trillion in cash sitting in U.S. money market funds.1,2While cash can play a role in a diversified portfolio, historically, cash has not kept...

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

By 2040, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 80 million people in the U.S. will be age 65 or older.1 Most of these senior adults will either want to—or need to—"age in place," living in their homes securely, independently...

Monday, January 23, 2023

With the possibility of a recession looming, it's natural for those nearing or in retirement to have concerns over their long-term strategies. After decades of accumulating a portfolio, the last thing retirees want is for a market...

Monday, January 16, 2023

The central drama of the year—and, it seems likely, of 2023—was the Federal Reserve's belated but very aggressive efforts to bring inflation under control.

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

In October 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced tax changes for 2023 — changes primarily driven, in part, by the current inflationary environment. For affluent couples or individuals interested in transferring...

Monday, December 12, 2022

In today’s social media-obsessed world full of popular “influencers” targeting teens, pre-teens, and even younger groups, instilling values in your children and grandchildren about what really matters in life is more...

Monday, December 5, 2022

In late October, the IRS announced that it is increasing contribution limits to retirement savings accounts in 2023. The changes, like many you are seeing, are a direct result of months of high inflation and financial uncertainty, some...

Monday, November 28, 2022

Despite the challenges of the past few years, Americans continued to give to charities at impressive rates. According to a Bank of America study, in 2021, individuals gave $484.85 billion, a 4% increase from already record levels in...

Monday, November 14, 2022

The year is almost over, and it’s safe to say that the financial markets and economy have faced their share of challenges. As financial professionals, part of our job is to support the financial well-being of families and align...

Thursday, November 3, 2022

The more pessimistic investors are, the more bullish you have to be: Don Luskin Oct. 27, 2022 - 5:25 - TrendMacro chief investment officer Don Luskin provides insight on the United States' GDP on 'Making Money.'

Tuesday, November 1, 2022

With the holiday season fast approaching now’s the time to pause and consider something else that takes place this time of year: open enrollment. Open enrollment for private and marketplace health insurance plans typically takes...

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Over 50% of consumers have fallen victim to a cybercrime, with a third of those attacks taking place in the past year alone. So there are 263 million American consumers. 131.5 million have been hit by cybercrime, with 44 million...

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Most people are used to having a percentage of their paycheck withheld for Social Security. The withholding rate in 2022 stands at 6.2% for individuals and another 6.2% for their employers, for a total of 12.4% per person.1 But...

Thursday, September 15, 2022

You may have heard by now that the markets experienced their biggest drop on Tuesday since June 2020. The S&P 500 fell 4.3% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite dropped more than 5%.1,2 What happened?Persistent inflation is continuing to...

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

Several factors will affect the cost and availability of life insurance, including age, health, and the type and amount of insurance purchased. Life insurance policies have expenses, including mortality and other charges. If a policy...

Thursday, September 1, 2022

Through August, investors running a classic 60/40 stocks-bonds portfolio were sitting on a brutal -14% total return. As shown below, that's the worst first 8 months of the year since at least 1976. Typically, declines in stocks are...

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

As of 8/26/22, the 10-, 20- and 30-year averages for the U.S. Dollar Index registered readings of 92.71, 88.49, and 91.61, which is a relatively tight range over a span of 30 years. The average of the three averages is 90.94. It's at 108.74

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

A comprehensive sell-off on Friday following comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell drove stocks to losses for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 4.22%, while the Standard & Poor's 500 dropped 4.04%. The Nasdaq Composite...

Thursday, August 25, 2022

The end of summer and the start of the school year always seem to be a catalyst for conversations about college savings and where they fit into larger, long-term financial strategies. In particular, the 529 college savings plan, with...

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

With inflation at 40-year highs, the Fed is aggressively hiking interest rates; but it's a tricky proposition: raise rates too much and many fear the next recession is right around the corner. Markets have been reflecting that fear,...

Thursday, August 11, 2022

Does waiting 30 days for a government report seem a bit unreasonable? After all, we live in a world of instant messages and real-time quotes. Why should we wait a whole month between updates on the Consumer Price Index to see what's...

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Is Now a Good Time for a Roth IRA Conversion?We know that taxes are one of life’s two inevitables. So, the question is not if you will pay taxes on your retirement accounts, but when and how much. That’s where Roth IRAs...

Friday, August 5, 2022

The first six months of 2022 saw the S&P 500 decline of -20.0% including dividends from its all-time high at 4,796.56 on January 3 to a closing low of 3666.77 on June 16, 2022. It ended at 3,785.38 on June 30.More noteworthy even than...