Blog
Layoffs - What to Know and Steps to Take
In the first half of 2023, nearly 200,000 US workers lost their jobs in mass layoffs, or layoffs impacting more than 100 positions (Source: Forbes, July 3, 2023). Job cuts have stretched across industries including Banking, Tech,...
Read MoreWhat's Next for Student Loan Forgiveness & Forbearance
If you are one of the 43 million Americans who have student loan debt, you may be wondering what exactly has been going on with student loans since COVID began. Throughout these 3 years, borrowers have been hearing many different...
Read MoreRetirement Timeline Checklist
Every stage of retirement is full of milestone dates to keep in mind. That’s why we created a retirement checklist to help you stay on top of your overall financial picture.
Read MoreKey Retirement Distribution Strategies - RMDs and QCDs
Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are a facet of retirement planning that affect those with retirement accounts and are often misunderstood. First, let’s take a look at what they are, and when they come into play during...
Read MoreUnderstanding Retirement Withdrawals After 59 1/2 Years Old
Once you hit 59 ½ years of age, you are allowed to withdraw money from retirement accounts (think 401k, 403b, IRAs, and SIMPLE IRAs) without paying a 10% early withdrawal penalty on the amount taken out. Taxes do come into play,...
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The Ins and Outs of Medicare
In a nutshell, Medicare helps with the cost of healthcare for those aged 65 and older, but doesn’t cover every health expense that arises or long-term care expenses. Understanding Medicare is an important part of retirement planning.
Read MoreRule of 55 - Understanding an Earlier Retirement Strategy
Once you reach age 55, certain employer-sponsored plans allow for penalty-free withdrawals prior to age 59 ½.
Read MoreMaking Sense of Social Security
Social Security monthly benefits are always a hot-button topic when it comes to planning for retirement. There is not a one-size-fits-all approach to handling Social Security, and decisions made surrounding Social Security monthly...
Read MoreHSA Catch-up Contributions - How to Maximize Your Benefit
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are powerful tools to save for medical expenses in a tax efficient manner. Once you turn 55, you can contribute even more!
Read More"It's Never Too Late" - Understanding Catch-up Retirement Contributions
It is always important to take advantage of retirement benefits offered through employers or on an individual basis, though there is a special emphasis placed as we near retirement age.
Read MoreLet's Talk Forgiveness & Forbearance (of Student Loans)
This past week Joe Biden announced his Student Loan Plan, which will be taken via executive action. The most significant components of this Student Loan Plan is the forgiveness of current federal student loans and the end of forebearance.
Read MoreHow SECURE 2.0 Might Change Retirement
The SECURE Act of 2019 represented the biggest update to retirement law in over a decade. Now, Congress is deliberating on what “SECURE 2.0” legislation might entail.In March, the House passed the Securing a Strong...
Read MoreWise Words from Warren Buffett
During periods of market turbulence, I take comfort in one of my favorite Warren Buffett quotes:“Don’t watch the market closely.”The Oracle of Omaha gave this sage advice in 2016, when Brexit, China’s economic...
Read MoreDon't Go It Alone
When markets cycle lower like they have been lately, perspective is critical. If you’re not connected to someone with experience, it can be easy to miss the big picture.If you zoom out a bit in history, most investors haven't...
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Viewpoint - Making Sense of Geopolitical Events
Volatility has been common over the past few weeks, in part due to the current crisis in Ukraine. We primarily think of those lives torn apart, but our job is to also frame the conflict in the context of market reaction and returns.
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October Is Financial Planning Month
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...
Read MoreThe Rule of 72
The Rule of 72 Einstein Said It…. Albert Einstein regarded compound interest as the most powerful force in the universe. He’s quoted as saying “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands...
Read MoreJanuary 11, 2021 - Markets Start 2021 on a High
The Week on Wall Street Shrugging off COVID-19 infections and the disruption at the Capitol on January 6, stocks powered higher to kick off a new year of trading.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.61%, while the Standard &...
Read MoreJanuary 4, 2021 - The Year in Review
The Week on Wall Street Stocks moved higher during a holiday-shortened week of trading, capping off a turbulent, but otherwise strong year for equity investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.35%, while the Standard &...
Read MoreDecember 21, 2020 - Vaccine Rollout Spurs Markets
The Week on Wall Street Stocks climbed higher amid the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and an improving outlook for a fiscal stimulus bill.The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which has lagged all year, gained 0.44%. The Standard & Poor’s 500...
Read MoreDecember 14, 2020 - Cases Rise, Stocks Retreat
The Week on Wall Street Stocks retreated last week on rising COVID-19 infections and slow progress on an economic relief bill. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.57%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 dropped 0.96%. The Nasdaq...
Read MoreDecember 7, 2020 - Is Stimulus Near?
The Week on Wall Street Stocks marched higher last week on an improving outlook for the passage of a fiscal stimulus package. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.03%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 tacked on 1.67%. The Nasdaq...
Read MoreNovember 30, 2020 - Dow Hits 30,000
The Week on Wall Street Stocks surged last week, ignited by another COVID-19 vaccine announcement, encouraging economic data, and the easing of political uncertainty.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.21%, while the Standard &...
Read MoreNovember 23, 2020 - New Infections Increase Anxiety
The Week on Wall StreetDespite news of another COVID-19 vaccine candidate, stocks were mixed amid investor anxiety over an increase in new infections and economic lockdowns.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.73%, while the...
Read MoreNovember 16, 2020 - Vaccine Triggers Rally
The Week on Wall Street News of a COVID-19 vaccine ignited a rally in economically sensitive stocks and a broad retreat in technology companies last week, though enthusiasm was tempered by reports of rising new infections and fresh...
Read MoreNovember 9, 2020 - Markets React to Election
The Week on Wall Street Stocks soared last week as investors anticipated that a split Congress would raise legislative hurdles to changing corporate taxes and adjusting regulatory oversight of big technology companies.The Dow Jones...
Read MoreNovember 2, 2020 - No Stimulus, Stocks Lag
The Week on Wall Street Stock prices dropped last week as hopes for a fiscal stimulus bill faded and investors focused on rising COVID-19 infections, here and abroad. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 6.47%, while the Standard &...
Read MoreOctober 26, 2020 - No Stimulus, Stocks Lower
The Week on Wall Street The failure to reach an agreement on a new fiscal stimulus bill soured investor sentiment and sent stocks modestly lower for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.95%, while the Standard & Poor’s...
Read MoreOctober 19, 2020 - A Difficult Week for Stocks
The Week on Wall Street Stocks treaded water last week amid fading prospects for a stimulus bill, fears of a second wave of COVID-19 cases, and increasing political and regulatory pressures on Big Tech companies.The Dow Jones...
Read MoreOctober 12, 2020 - Stocks Rise, Stimulus Uncertain
The Week on Wall Street Stocks staged a powerful rally last week, riding a wave of optimism over the prospect of the passage of a new fiscal stimulus bill.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 3.27%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...
Read MoreOctober 5, 2020 - Special Update: Quarterly Report
The Week on Wall Street Stocks advanced last week, propelled by hopes that legislators may reach an agreement for a new fiscal stimulus package and optimism generated by a few corporate deal announcements and initial public offerings....
Read MoreSeptember 28, 2020 - Stocks Mixed Amid Uncertainty
The Week on Wall Street Stocks were mixed last week as worries that stretched from Washington D.C., where prospects of a new fiscal stimulus bill dimmed, to Europe, which saw an increase of new COVID-19 cases.The Dow Jones Industrial...
Read MoreSeptember 21, 2020 - Tech Sector Slip Continues
The Week on Wall Street Stocks slipped as the technology sector remained under pressure and a mid-week announcement by the Federal Reserve failed to inspire investors.The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.03%, while the Standard...
Read MoreSeptember 14, 2020 - Stocks Continue Downward Slide
The Week on Wall Street Stocks traveled a volatile path last week as investors appeared concerned about the upcoming elections, an uncertain economy, and more delays with additional fiscal stimulus. The Dow Jones Industrial Average...
Read MoreSeptember 8, 2020 - Stocks Stall as Recovery Continues
The Week on Wall Street A late week sell-off sent stocks broadly lower as investors took some profits after stocks reached all-time highs earlier in the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 1.82%, while the Standard & Poor’s...
Read MoreAugust 31, 2020 - Stocks Power Higher
The Week on Wall Street Stocks advanced relentlessly last week on positive COVID-19 developments, encouraging economic data, and a supportive policy shift in the Fed’s approach to its target inflation rate. The Dow Jones Industrial...
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