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A College Education Minus the Debt
Fully funding a college education without debt is no simple task. It’s no secret that the cost of a four-year degree has soared. But do you realize how much it has risen?According to [[https://educationdata...
Read MoreA Rocky First Half
The Wall Street Journal summed up the first six months of the year with a simple but telling headline on June 30th: "S&P 500 Posts Worst First Half of Year Since 1970."In part, it's a timing issue since both indexes hit their...
Read MoreTaking the Stairs Up and the Elevator Down
We were treated to one of the greatest bull markets in modern history during the last decade. It's not that we didn't experience sell-offs. We did.During 2011 and 2018, the S&P 500 Index came very close to entering a bear market (Yahoo...
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7 Deadly Estate Planning Mistakes
Let's ask a question that seemingly has an obvious answer. Why is estate planning important? First of all, when many hear the term "estate planning," they quickly envision those who own mansions, various real estate holdings, large...
Read More3 KEY PROPOSALS OF THE SECURE ACT 2.0
In late 2019, the president signed the SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act into law. Required minimum distributions (RMDs) for employer-sponsored plans and IRA accounts were raised from 70 ½ years...
Read More7 Ways to Stay on Track with Retirement Goals
7 Ways to Stay on Track with Retirement Goals Are you on track to retire comfortably? What are your financial goals? How much income will you need to generate each month when you have retired? What might be some of your longer-term...
Read More8 Ways to Manage a Financial Windfall
Have you ever dreamed of winning the lottery or inheriting a large sum of money? Most people have. Yet, riches that fall into our hands can sometimes quickly slip through our fingers. One study found that one third of the people who...
Read More5 Reasons to Consider Downsizing
And 6 Reasons You Might Not Did you buy your home many years ago? Or have you been in your current place for just a few years? There are plenty of reasons to sell and seek out a house that is smaller and one that fits your lifestyle....
Read More7 Charitable Giving Missteps
Individuals, foundations, bequests, and corporations gave an estimated $449.6 billion to U.S. charities in 2019, according to findings in Giving USA 2020: the Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2019. Individuals accounted for...
Read MoreAvoiding 7 Retirement Traps
You have saved and invested for decades and you are gearing up for retirement, or maybe you have already left your job. While the idea of leaving your career behind may be appealing, it is a monumental change that can also be...
Read More6 Money Mistakes Couples Can Avoid
“Stop in the name of love, before you break my heart.” We know The Supremes weren’t alluding to the pitfalls couples face when they grapple over money issues. But our own experience tells us that money plus love can...
Read More7 Ways to Spot a Scam
When was the last time you received a phone call or email from a scammer? It you were contacted recently, you aren’t alone. Internet scams show no signs of letting up. In fact, the problem may be getting worse. In its most recent...
Read More7 Financial Resolutions
The year 2020 presented us with unique challenges. Never has a singular event had such wide-ranging repercussions as the COVID pandemic. It has touched nearly every area of our lives. Schooling, socializing, family gatherings, travel...
Read MoreElection 2020 - a nail-biter
For the nation, 2020 has been one of the most difficult years in memory. We are grappling with Covid and its fallout, economic upheaval, racial tensions, wildfires, hurricanes, a presidential election, and a polarized electorate....
Read MoreRetirement: You’ve Got This!
Not everyone is financially prepared for retirement. Earlier this year, the Employee Benefit Research Institute estimated almost 41 percent of American households will run short of money in retirement. That’s an improvement over 2014...
Read MoreHoliday Greeting - Celebrate the New Year Your Way
If you’re not fond of New Year’s resolutions, then start or adopt new traditions that help get the year off to a positive start. Your new tradition should be something you can repeat each year with family and friends. Here are a few...
Read MoreHoliday Greeting - Wishing Joy and Laughter this Holiday Season
No matter what holiday you celebrate, we hope it’s filled with joy, laughter, and heartfelt happiness. That said, we know holiday cheer can be overwhelmed by the pursuit of perfection and opinions of relatives. Just in case your...
Read MoreWhat’s the Best Gift this Holiday Season?
You’ve probably never asked your adult children and younger relatives whether they have security software on their computers and devices. Why would you? They’re digital natives, born with keyboards under their fingertips.It may be time...
Read MoreHoliday Greeting - What Are You Thankful For?
Thanksgiving is all about gratitude. In 1621, the Plymouth colonists shared an autumn feast with the Wampanoag Indians. They were celebrating survival and friendship. It’s also a poignant story.1About one-half of the passengers who...
Read MoreHoliday Greeting - What Do You Know About Veterans Day?
After World War I, many nations celebrated the end of “The Great War” by establishing Armistice Day. Eventually, the holiday was broadened to celebrate those who served in all wars. In the United States after World War II and the...
Read MoreDoes Your Company Offer a Retirement Plan?
One of the most discussed topics in the United States is retirement security. Few Americans have set aside enough savings to live comfortably throughout retirement. In fact, the most recent National Retirement Risk Index (NRRI)*...
Read MoreHoliday Greeting - Save Money with a Green Halloween!
Americans expect to spend $8.8 billion on costumes, decorations, candy, and other Halloween purchases, according to the National Retail Federation.1That’s enough money to purchase the New England Patriots ($3.8 billion), the Los...
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