Blog

Women's History Month: 4 Female Financial Pioneers

4 Reasons to Get Fired Up About 'Refired' Not Retired Day

How to Avoid Financial Heartbreak from Sweetheart Scams

Keeping Your Stress Levels in Check

Meditate Your Way into the New Year

Tax Prep Checklist: Everything You Need to Be Ready for Tax Season

Get Carving: The Best Ski Resorts

For many Americans, the countdown to the holiday season means one thing: winter sports. Skiing is a popular hobby, and for good reason. When else can you take in all of Old Man Winter’s glory as you fly down a mountain? Not only...

New Year, New Goals: Your Countdown to Financial Health

For many people, a new year provides a new start—and nothing says "new start" like a fresh new set of financial goals. But setting these goals is easier said than done. What steps should you take to get the most bang for your...

A Season of Giving: 5 Different Ways To Give During the Holidays

With the holidays here, now is the time to get into the giving spirit and help to change others' lives for the better. Whether you are looking to make a difference in a specific person's life or the life of many, there are many ways to...

Five Things You Need To Know About Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-term care insurance is a type of insurance that covers the costs related to long-term, chronic health concerns. It may cover things that traditional health insurance does not cover, such as personal care services. If you have a...

Your 2021 Year-End Planning Checklist

It may be easy to forget we're nearing the end of the year. Even during the busy end of year rush, it's a good time to reevaluate your 2021 finances and turn an eye toward 2022. What can you do now to potentially improve and streamline...

Everything You Need to Know about the FAFSA for 2021

One of the most important pieces of the college financing puzzle is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Without the FAFSA, a college student is unlikely to be able to apply for or receive certain types of federal...

Financial Planning at Every Age

In 2013, a Gallup poll found that only about one in every three U.S. households maintained a budget.1 A 2021 survey of 1,000 Americans found that 80% now say they have a budget.2 Americans are budgeting more due to the pandemic....

American Business Women's Day

September 22nd is American Business Women's Day, and it may be the perfect day to celebrate women who have surpassed the glass ceiling and gone on to be leaders and inspirations for businesswomen everywhere. In honor of American...

Labor Day 2021: The Pandemic's Impact

2020 was one of the most disruptive years ever for the U.S. job market, almost as significant as the unemployment during the Great Depression in 1933 and surpassing joblessness during the Great Recession from 2006 to 2008. Many...

Taxpayer Appreciation Day—Recognizing Taxpayers' Contributions

Though U.S. taxpayers received an extra month to file and pay their federal income taxes in 2021, some are still smarting from having to write a check to the IRS.[1] For many, it can be tough to make the connection between those...

Optimizing the Home for Virtual Classrooms

For many parents, COVID-19 restrictions resulted in a double-whammy of adjustment both professionally and personally. Along with managing the new normal in their jobs, parents became teachers, tutors, and counselors as they helped...

Sustainable Living: Good For Your Wallet and the Environment

From opting for metal or rubber straws in lieu of disposable ones to saying goodbye to a daily commute by working remotely, sustainable living is a hot topic for many households. But living a more sustainable life isn't just good for...

The Most Visited Parks

The United States is filled with natural beauty, which can be enjoyed by visiting one of the many parks throughout the country. From forests to canyons, waterfalls to mountains, you can find a park that has what you are looking for....

Happy Graduation! Time to Repay Your College Loans

Graduation from college is an exciting time for many and signals the start of student loan repayment. If you are a recent graduate, you may have a co-signer on your student loan. If you are a parent or family member that is a co-signer...

Helping Young Adults Understand Insurance

Insurance should be part of everyone’s plan – and it should evolve too Young adults starting out in life, especially newlyweds, need insurance. But what kind? As a start, a good term life policy likely is a smart move....

529 Savings Plans: For Education Expenses and Estate Planning?

A 529 plan is a state-sponsored tax-advantaged plan designed for saving for future education expenses authorized by Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. If used for education, the assets grow tax-free. According to the College...

5 Investment Considerations for Small Business Owners

If you're a small business owner, many of the best practices employed by individual investors are also available to you (of course!), but you also have some additional options and factors to weigh while creating your investment plans....

WOMEN AND FINANCIAL STRATEGIES

Forty-four percent of American women are the primary breadwinner in their house.1 Yet only 10% of women feel very confident in their ability to fully retire with a comfortable lifestyle.2 Although more women are providing for their...

Tips to Help Financial Stress

With so much going on in the world today—from a global pandemic through economic hardship—it comes as no surprise that many people have recently found themselves under heavy financial stress. Whether it is due to the loss...

How Will Working Affect Social Security Benefits?

In a recent survey, 74% of current workers stated they plan to work for pay after retiring.1 And that possibility raises an interesting question: how will working affect Social Security benefits? To answer that question requires an...

9 Facts About Social Security

Tip: How Much? Check your Social Security earnings and see an estimate of your benefits on the website, www.ssa.gov. Social Security’s been a fact of retirement life ever since it was established in 1935. We all think we know how...

Retirement Plans and Estate Planning

When you die, what will happen to your retirement plan benefits? In general, your retirement plan benefits pass to the beneficiaries you designate on the plan beneficiary designation form. Your benefits will generally be subject to...

Mental Health Services and Employer Sponsored Insurance

While many people often think of only their physical health needs when evaluating health insurance plans, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires all plans that are sold on the individual or family health insurance marketplaces to...

April is Financial Literacy Month

Too many people just don’t have it, but your financial professional can help April is National Financial Literacy Month – an entire month dedicated to underscoring the importance of learning, establishing and maintaining...