Newsletters & Blogs

If you attended undergraduate, graduate, or professional school this year, you may be eligible for a tax break. Tax credits and tax deductions may help you pay less income tax, according to the IRS. Tax credits are subtracted directly from the amount you owe in taxes on a dollar-for-dollar basis, while tax deductions reduce your…

We practice drills for all types of disasters to help mitigate risk, reduce causalities, and provide peace of mind. Why not have a financial “fire drill”? Understanding what you will do if you’re faced with financial distress can help protect you from making harmful, hasty decisions, and give you confidence through challenging times.  When you begin planning your financial “fire drill”, make sure to include all family members. What happens if…

Many of us are planning our retirement, some with excited anticipation, some with apprehension.  Naturally the primary focus is usually on the financial – can I afford to retire?  It is important to assure that you have the financial resources you will need and good financial management practices in place for a successful retirement.  But…

According to Vanguard, the leader in do-it-yourself (DIY) investing, they believe a financial advisor can add approximately three percentage points to a client’s investment returns per year.  The study found five separate ways advisors add value (alpha) in working with their clients. * Vanguard Advisor’s Alpha Value-Add (approx. annual %) Behavioral Coaching 1.5% Asset Location 0 to .75%…

If you’ve ever had that unpleasant money conversation with your spouse, significant other, or even children about how much things costs and where money is getting spent, you’re not alone. Budgeting can be incredibly uncomfortable for all if it involves accusations, criticisms and finger-wielding for past spending decisions. But what if budgeting didn’t need to…

Shopping for grandkids can be difficult. Clothes and gift cards are usually boring and toys are only exciting for a day or two, but there’s another solution: financial gifts. While a financial gift might not be fully appreciated by kids or teens when they’re young, they will get far more from it than the momentary…

Since March 9th of 2009, the U.S. stock market has taken off. Some have labeled this the longest bull market in history although FINRA technically gives that title to the 12 ½ years from October 1987 – March 2000. Many investors have reaped the benefits from strong equity markets over the last 9 years, but…

Many Boomers have saved their hard-earned money for years with plans of being able to retire. Some have faced job loss and various circumstances that have led them to not be able to retire – or at least not when planned. For those who do have plans to retire soon or already are retired, having…

Retirement is supposed to be glorious, a time to cross off items on your bucket list. One problem however, is that rising health care costs are tipping the buckets over on many retirees.    According to HealthView Services, health care expenses are projected to increase at a rate of 5.47% per year. This is more than…

Older adults who lose their life savings may also lose years from their life, a new Journal of American Medical Association* study suggests. Looking at more than 8,700 Americans ages 51-61, researchers found that those who lost 75% or more of their net worth within a two-year period were more likely to die over the…