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What’s on our mind? You can read about it in our blog. Whether it’s ideas from the industry or emerging trends, you can read about it here. And once in a while, we may throw in a movie review or some other surprise. So keep checking in. We’re glad to have you reading along.

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

6 Year-End Tax-Smart Opportunities You Can’t Afford to Miss Tax planning identifies opportunities to help reduce or shift your tax burden so you’re not paying more than your fair share. While you never want to make...

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

The Internal Revenue Service has released new limits for the coming year. After months of high inflation and financial uncertainty, some of these cost-of-living-based adjustments have reached near-record levels. Individual Retirement...

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

The Internal Revenue Service has released new limits for the coming year. After months of high inflation and financial uncertainty, some of these cost-of-living-based adjustments have reached near-record levels. Individual Retirement...

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Many consider the University of Michigan the gold standard for reporting on consumer sentiment and trends. Among its 50 monthly reports, the most well-known is the "UMich Consumer Sentiment" survey, which measures consumer confidence....

Monday, November 6, 2023

Investors know that the stock market moves in cycles, but few are comfortable when the cycle takes stock prices lower. And since late August, the cycle has been decidedly lower. If you’re looking for reasons to worry, you...

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Friday, November 3, 2023

Investors know that the stock market moves in cycles, but few are comfortable when the cycle takes stock prices lower. And since late August, the cycle has been decidedly lower. If you’re looking for reasons to worry, you...

Thursday, October 26, 2023

How much are you withholding per paycheck?Is the amount too little? (Or too much?) Find out the answer before the year ends. You may not want to discover next year that your withholding amount for this year was too small. The IRS...

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

The Social Security Administration has announced a 3.2% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2024. This adjustment means the average Social Security retiree beneficiary will see their monthly check increase by about $57 to $1,849,...

Monday, October 16, 2023

Like some of my clients, you may have seen the latest regarding Aretha Franklin's estate. The Queen of Soul passed in 2018, and years later, her loved ones are still caught in legal trials thanks to the existence of multiple wills. As...

Monday, October 16, 2023

Open enrollment is coming up soon, and it's important to know about all your insurance plan options before deciding which one is right for you. Two options you could have are a Health Savings Account plan (HSA) and a Preferred...

Monday, October 16, 2023

The Social Security Administration has announced a 3.2% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2024. This adjustment means the average Social Security retiree beneficiary will see their monthly check increase by about $57 to $1,849,...

Friday, October 13, 2023

The Fed’s ongoing pledge of “higher interest rates for longer” has rattled financial markets and raised the cost of everything from mortgages to credit cards. Now adding to tensions are the recent events in the...

Friday, October 13, 2023

How long has it been since you’ve reviewed your Medicare policy? With open enrollment fast approaching, there are a few questions you may want to ask yourself before you renew, add, drop, or switch coverage. Have you switched...

Saturday, October 7, 2023

I hope this email finds you in high "spirits" as we approach the spookiest time of the year. As the days creep closer to Halloween, confectioners weave a sweet web in preparation for this enchanting holiday. Did you know that the...

Monday, October 2, 2023

Have you ever heard the expression, "If you love sausages, never watch how they're made?" The same is true of stock prices. Warren Buffett once said, "I would tell [investors], don’t watch the market closely." In recent weeks,...

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Have you ever heard the expression, "If you love sausages, never watch how they're made?" The same is true of stock prices. Warren Buffett once said, "I would tell [investors], don’t watch the market closely." In recent weeks,...

Monday, September 18, 2023

You’re invited to an exclusive conversation with Jeremy Siegel, professor, writer, Senior Economist with WisdomTree, and renowned expert on the economy and financial markets. Siegel’s research on the superior value of...

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

How to Prepare for Retirement Living Transitioning into retirement can be both exciting and challenging. After years of hard work, you finally have the opportunity to relax and enjoy what are often called your “golden years...

Friday, September 1, 2023

How to Prepare for Retirement Living Transitioning into retirement can be both exciting and challenging. After years of hard work, you finally have the opportunity to relax and enjoy what are often called your “golden years...

Friday, August 25, 2023

You already know that naming beneficiaries for your retirement accounts, life insurance policies and other assets is a critical component of estate planning. We want to call out a few common gaps we see in this process so you can...

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Why is August a volatile month? One simple reason: many people are on vacation. And when people are out of the office, the financial markets often see less trading, which can cause big price swings following news events. The Fitch...

Friday, August 18, 2023

As we approach the back-to-school season, I wanted to discuss an important topic that might be on your mind: the cost of education. Whether you have children or grandchildren preparing for college or considering furthering your...

Friday, August 18, 2023

August is Make a Will Month, a time dedicated to strategizing for the future. You may have seen in the news that Aretha Franklin's loved ones are still caught in a legal battle due to the existence of multiple wills. The lesson from...

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Like some of my clients, you may have seen the latest regarding Aretha Franklin's estate. The Queen of Soul passed in 2018, and years later, her loved ones are still caught in legal trials thanks to the existence of multiple wills. As...

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

If you've heard CEOs mention "A.I." multiple times during second-quarter conference calls, you're not imagining it. There have been an astounding 1,072 mentions of A.I. (and counting) so far.1 Some believe that A.I. has the potential...

Monday, July 31, 2023

Like some of my clients, you may have seen the latest regarding Aretha Franklin's estate. The Queen of Soul passed in 2018, and years later, her loved ones are still caught in legal trials thanks to the existence of multiple wills. As...

Thursday, July 27, 2023

Like some of my clients, you may have seen the latest regarding Aretha Franklin's estate. The Queen of Soul passed in 2018, and years later, her loved ones are still caught in legal trials thanks to the existence of multiple wills. As...

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Now that summer is in full swing, it's the perfect time to take a trip. But sometimes, even your best-laid plans go a little off-kilter. Here are a few of the most common travel issues and how to make sure that no matter what happens,...

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Sometimes, a picture is worth 1,000 words. So I decided to include an image of the June Consumer Price Index (CPI) report to help put inflation in better perspective: Core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose just...

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

In advance of 2023, the recession drum beats were so loud it was deafening. Market pundits warned that as the Fed raised interest rates, it was just a matter of time before the economy entered a recession.But it’s July now, and...

Monday, May 16, 2022

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Monday, October 25, 2021

The economic impact of COVID-19 has been felt from coast to coast. And, unfortunately for many pre-retirees, it could potentially impact Social Security benefits as well.A new report indicates that if Congress doesn’t take...

Thursday, October 7, 2021

October brings to mind the beauty of the leaves changing colors and a time to enjoy the colder weather. But October also holds another meaning for millions of people: it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.Based on the numbers,...

Monday, September 13, 2021

The stock market notched its 7th straight month of gains in August, and the Standard & Poor's 500 index has set 53 new highs so far in 2021.1During August, stocks rallied as investors looked past the increased number of COVID-19...

Friday, August 27, 2021

Over the last year, many have seen their lives impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ways in which we work, live, and communicate have drastically changed, to say the least.It’s difficult to predict what other aspects of life...

Monday, July 26, 2021

The news keeps getting better for Social Security recipients.It's now projected that benefits will increase 6.1% in 2022, up from the 4.7% forecast just two months ago. That would be the most significant increase since 1983.1...

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

At its June meeting, the Federal Reserve confirmed what many of us have suspected for some time: prices are rising. In fact, prices are climbing faster than many expected. In response, the Fed raised its inflation expectation to 3.4%,...

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Recently, you may have seen headlines regarding the Securing a Strong Retirement Act, also referred to as the second version of the SECURE Act, or SECURE Act 2.0.As the bill moves from the House of Representatives to the Senate, many...

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Investors looking for "green shoots" to confirm that the economy is on the mend have seen plenty of examples in recent weeks. Retail sales rose 9.8% in March, the largest monthly gain since May 2020. It's important to remember that...

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

The Cetera Advanced Planning Group has released an overview of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. This provides explanation and analysis on how this may affect your financial planning interests.This overview provides information...

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

There’s an old Wall Street maxim that says, “markets climb a wall of worry.” And these days, there’s plenty to worry about with the trend in long-term interest rates.The 10-year Treasury yield in recent weeks...

Friday, March 19, 2021

Major League Baseball scheduled Opening Day for April 1, but two states have already scored with spring training underway.Every year, spring training divides the 30 MLB teams into two squads. Half of the teams travel to Florida as...

Monday, March 8, 2021

This year we’re celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8. In 1920, women fought for the right to vote. In 1974, single and divorced women were finally able to secure a credit card without needing a male...

Thursday, February 18, 2021

What's your "go-to" source for financial information?"Family and friends" is the #1 answer given in the annual Retirement Confidence Survey. But a close second is search engines and other online tools, including online forums like the...

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

January is Financial Wellness Month, a time to remind people to make arrangements for their financial strategy.For me, it’s time for me to connect with new clients and discuss their financial situation and aspirations for their...

Sunday, December 20, 2020

8 Financial Terms You Need to Know As you start out in life, your finances can seem overwhelming. How can you start saving money? Taking out loans? Financing a house? Before you can set attainable goals for yourself, you have to have...

Thursday, December 17, 2020

For many of us, 2020 has been a year unlike any other. For some, it’s brought hardships that have tested the hardiest of souls. For others, it has brought unspeakable loss.Yet, we press on, and as we do, we may be surprised to...

Thursday, December 10, 2020

The start of the holiday shopping season can provide important clues about the economy's state and, more importantly, overall consumer confidence. So far, the results have been a “mixed bag” with empty malls and busy...

Monday, November 16, 2020

6 Ways to Shore Up Your Financial Foundation During Times of UncertaintyThe COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on many U.S. households, exposing vulnerabilities in their financial foundations, from low savings rates, to rising debt....

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

On October 26, the Treasury Department released the 2021 adjusted figures for retirement account savings. Although these adjustments won’t bring any major changes, there are some minor elements to note.401(k)sThe salary deferral...

Monday, October 19, 2020

On October 13, 2020, the Social Security Administration (SSA) officially announced that Social Security recipients will receive a 1.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2021. This adjustment will begin with benefits payable...

Thursday, October 8, 2020

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...

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

3 Tax-Smart Ways to Help Family Members in Need Pay for CollegeAs colleges and universities grapple with reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic, a growing number of college students and their parents find themselves struggling to pay...

Friday, September 18, 2020

A U.S. drug company recently said that it’s in late-stage trials for its coronavirus vaccine and reported that it could be given to Americans as early as the end of the year.1Great news. But it seems like every few days...

Friday, September 4, 2020

Rolling over the assets in your workplace retirement plan to an IRA can be a great move. IRAs typically offer more investment choices while allowing you to continue accumulating earnings on a tax-deferred basis.However, making a...

Monday, August 10, 2020

Are you one of the many retirement account holders who took a mandatory distribution this year? If so, you may be able to manage the taxes associated with Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from traditional IRAs and 401(k)s. There...

Monday, July 13, 2020

In the era of COVID-19, and the financial woes it has created, I often get asked, “Why is the stock market holding up so well when the economy appears to be struggling?”To understand why the markets react — or...

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Americans who have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic may now be able to access retirement accounts to help cover daily expenses, penalty-free.Now, in addition to those who have lost their jobs during the COVID-19...

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

An “eye-popping” $2 trillion in cash has been stashed in deposit accounts at U.S. banks since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the country in January.1This surge of money into banks has no precedent in history.Several...

Monday, June 8, 2020

When we think of emergency preparedness, flashlights, bottled water, and first aid kits immediately come to mind. While having a physical emergency supply kit on hand is an important first step when disaster hits, being financially...

Friday, June 5, 2020

On June 5, President Trump signed the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Flexibility Act (The Act) into law, introducing favorable changes to several issues within the PPP loan program for small businesses.The Treasury and the Small...

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Hindsight is 20/20. It’s only human to imagine what it might have been like to turn left instead of right on some fateful day. However, that sort of daydreaming is unhelpful when investing, especially when it leads you to try...

Monday, May 25, 2020

With deepest gratitude, we honor our fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.Have a safe weekend and enjoy your time with friends and family.

Friday, May 15, 2020

The Internal Revenue Service knows that many taxpayers have had a stressful spring. So, it has reset the federal tax deadline. You now have until July 15 to file your 1040 form. July 15 is also the deadline to pay any federal taxes...