Being a Financial Planner, I love a good strategy. The more clearly defined steps and outcomes, the better. A plan organizes and simplifies. And that’s a big help in life, because life does not always follow a defined path – a fact that was made abundantly clear to me last […]

Should you Borrow from your 401(k)? The average household with revolving credit card debt had a balance of $21,083 as of March 2024. With the average credit card annual percentage rate sitting at 27.65%, it represents an expensive way to fund spending.1,2  Which leads many individuals to ask, “Does it make […]

A Decision Not Made Is Still a Decision Whether through inertia or trepidation, investors who put off important investment decisions might consider the admonition offered by motivational speaker Brian Tracy, “Almost any decision is better than no decision at all.” This investment inaction is played out in many ways, often […]

A Brief History of Estate Taxes Federal estate taxes have been a source of funding for the federal government almost since the U.S. was founded. In 1797, Congress instituted a system of federal stamps that were required on all wills offered for probate when property (land, homes) was transferred from […]

TIPS for Inflation In February 2018, Jerome Powell was appointed as Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. He became the 16th chair to take over the helm of the world’s most influential central bank. Among other duties, he and the Fed governors are tasked with […]

Understanding Money Market Funds A money market fund, not to be confused with a money market account, is a type of mutual fund that invests in instruments like cash equivalents and short-term debt-based securities, which can also include U.S. Treasury Bonds.1 Safety FirstThese funds are designed to be easily accessible […]

Building a Solid Financial Foundation When you read about money matters, you may see the phrase, “getting your financial house in order.” What exactly does that mean? To some, when your financial “house is in order,” it means it is built on a solid foundation. It means that you have […]

How Will the Economy React to AI? Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are already invading every aspect of our lives. Debates are ongoing about how it will infiltrate individual industries. Governments are working to understand AI and determine how to regulate something that affects much more than the digital space. Its […]

Financial Strategies for Women  Key Takeaways Despite sharing money management duties, only 19% of women feel very confident in their ability to retire comfortably. Compound interest may be one of the greatest secrets of smart investing. And time is the key to making the most of it. If you have […]

What’s New for Social Security? Whether you’re applying for Social Security in the future or currently receiving benefits, there are some important changes to earnings limits, Medicare premiums, and other differences to keep in mind. Ready to learn more? Read on.   Ready for a Cost-of-Living (COLA) increase? That’s right! […]