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Wednesday, March 3, 2021

One of the best rewards for working in the public sector is the healthy benefits package available to you upon retirement. Federal employees are entitled to a pension, Social Security, and tax-deferred investing through a Thrift...

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

If you’re a government employee, the book on retirement planning is totally different for you. Unlike most private sector employees, you have a very powerful benefit in your pension plan (aka FERS annuity). This benefit provides...

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

The reality is, we don’t live forever. That’s why most of us need life insurance to protect our loved ones from financial hardship when we’re gone—not all of us, but most. If you’re young, single, and have...

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

While some unfortunate events in life can be expected, such as death, taxes, and car repairs, other happenings come as unexpected and unwanted surprises, like serious illness, accidents, and adverse weather. Thankfully, we don’t...

Monday, December 28, 2020

As we discussed in our last post, insurance protects us and our loved ones from financial ruin should an unexpected event occur, like an illness, accident, natural disaster, or the dreaded lawsuit! All insurance functions under the...

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Friday, December 11, 2020

In our last blog, we explained what annuities are and how they work. In this edition, we’re going to continue to peel back the layers of the onion and explore the different types of annuities. Our goal is to help you understand...

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

We all have different goals and wishes when it comes to retirement. But almost everyone shares one retirement fear—running out of money during their golden years. It’s easy to take risks in the market when we’re young...

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

When companies need to raise cash, they have a few choices to consider. Borrowing money from a bank in a traditional loan is always an option, but the bank gets to set the terms of the loan. The company could hold a stock offering and...

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

If you spend enough time watching financial news media, you may begin to feel like the stock market is one of the major pro sports in America. Stock prices flash on the screen like football scores, analysts discuss their favorite...

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Estate planning can be a complicated process, made all the more difficult by the fact that once we’re gone, we can no longer amend the instructions we leave to our loved ones. Bad investments can be sold and bad loans can be...

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Estate planning is an important aspect of your financial plan, but there are often many questions surrounding it—how do I get my affairs in order? Who will disperse my assets once I’ve passed? How do I ensure my wishes are...

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

No financial plan will be successful without actionable goals. When managing your personal finances, it’s important to have a goal-oriented mindset—what are your financial objectives? How will you achieve them? And how long...

Monday, August 24, 2020

One of the oldest debates in the history of investing is the value vs growth argument. Each has had their period in the sun—value stocks outperformed in the time leading up to the Great Recession, but growth stocks (especially in...

Friday, August 14, 2020

A financial advisor can help clients navigate a number of different monetary situations, but choosing the best suited advisor for you can be tedious and nerve-wracking. How do you know which type of advisor is ideal for your financial...

Friday, July 10, 2020

Choosing the proper financial advisor is an important consideration for anyone who seeks to maximize their wealth. As is often the case with important matters, paralysis by analysis can rear its ugly head. While there are a wide array...

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

We’ve all heard the old adage, “don’t put all your eggs in one basket,” which is a great way to think about diversification. But what does diversification actually mean, and is it right for you? What about the...

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Few topics make the average American more uncomfortable than discussing money and finances. Despite the fact that everyone deals with the stress of financial decision making, talking about money remains taboo amongst most friends and...

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

The stock market has seen an incredible run of volatile trading since the coronavirus pandemic began to take hold in the United States. In the month of March alone, the S&P 500 fell more than 30% and featured several trading sessions...

Monday, May 18, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetStocks drifted lower last week, weighed down by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's unsettling comments on the economy and signs of renewed tensions with China.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2.65%,...

Monday, April 20, 2020

Risk is a part of life. When you cross the street, you risk getting hit by a car. When you enter into a romantic relationship, you risk having your heart broken. And when you invest your money, you risk losing some or even all of that...

Monday, April 6, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetModest declines in stock prices this week masked the volatile inter- and intraday price swings as investors digested poor economic data and a warning from the president that the worst days of the COVID-19...

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Part of what makes Social Security planning so difficult is that what’s right for one person often isn’t right for another. Plus, finding reliable advice isn’t always easy. Social Security Administration (SSA)...

Monday, March 23, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetThe stock market suffered through another volatile week as it wrestled with the health and economic fallout of the domestic spread of the coronavirus. Swift and decisive actions by the Federal Reserve and policy...

Monday, March 16, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetMarkets remained exceptionally volatile, buffeted by the spreading impact of coronavirus, uncertain responses from federal policymakers, and the sudden drop in oil prices.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 10...

Monday, March 9, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetHeightened coronavirus fears, falling yields, and Super Tuesday primary results sent stocks on a rollercoaster ride of sharp price swings, leaving stocks marginally higher for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial...

Monday, March 9, 2020

When people think of financial planning, they usually think investing. While investing is certainly a part of a financial plan, it is hardly the only component. One area that is often overlooked is protection, or risk management, or to...

Monday, March 2, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetStocks fell sharply last week as Wall Street considered how the coronavirus outbreak might influence global business activity and household spending.The selloff became a correction for the U.S. markets. The S&P...

Friday, February 28, 2020

In your investing lifetime, you may only see a situation like the recent novel coronavirus (COVID-19) a few times. This is a circumstance where complete candor is necessary. The truth is that we can’t yet gauge the full economic...

Monday, February 24, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetTraders paid close attention to coronavirus developments and earnings last week, while wondering how the former might eventually impact the latter. Concern over updated infection numbers moderated risk appetite.A...

Friday, February 21, 2020

The first step toward retirement is to start saving, and the second step is figuring out which accounts are right for you. This is where things can become complicated. There are many different types of retirement savings accounts, and...

Friday, February 21, 2020

Your fifties are an age where you could be in many different stages of life—you could be an empty nester, still have young children, or have recently started a new career. No matter what else is going on, one thing everyone in...

Thursday, February 20, 2020

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 70% of those turning 65 will need long-term care at some point. However, funding long-term care can be incredibly expensive and complex. In recent years, strategies have...

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Most young adults in the United States have received little to no financial education. This fact alongside their struggle with massive amounts of student debt is a recipe for disaster. Plenty of young adults want to improve their...

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetDaily headlines about the coronavirus had little impact on stock market averages last week. Earnings and mergers had more influence. All three Wall Street benchmarks improved. The Nasdaq Composite rose 2.21%,...

Monday, February 10, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetStocks advanced four days out of five during the past market week, erasing the losses of the week before. The Nasdaq Composite surged 4.04%, the S&P 500 3.17%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average 3.00%. Foreign...

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

No matter the size of your inheritance, if you use the money wisely, it can make a major difference in your financial future. But, if you’re not careful, you can end up in the same financial position you started in, or an even...

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

When it comes to retirement savings, a 401(k) is often the first account that comes to mind. And though an employee-sponsored 401(k) does come with many fantastic benefits, it is also far from the only option for those looking to save...

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

With so much information out there about finance and investing, it can feel like it requires years of formal education to even understand the basics. Though there is something to be said for working with a professional to handle the...

Monday, February 3, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetStock benchmarks declined for a second straight week as coronavirus news tempered risk appetite.The S&P 500 fell 2.14% on the week. The Nasdaq Composite dipped 1.76%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average, 2.55%....

Monday, January 27, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetStock prices fell last week as investors considered the potential health and economic risks of the flu-like coronavirus.Foreign stock markets, as tracked by the broad MSCI EAFE index, fell 1.03% for the week....

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetTraders were in an upbeat mood last week, reacting to news out of Washington: the signing of the phase-one trade deal between the U.S. and China as well as the Senate passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement...

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Between student loans, medical bills, car payments, mortgages, and credit cards, most people in the United States are living with at least some amount of debt. There’s no question that large amounts of debt can increase stress,...

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetThe market had a choppy five days, with traders reacting to geopolitical developments and weaker-than-expected jobs data. Even so, the three major U.S. equity indices posted weekly gains and continued their...

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Just like everyone else, high net worth individuals must deal with taxes, estate planning, and managing investments. The difference is that high net worth individuals usually handle more complexity within each of these areas. Plus,...

Monday, January 6, 2020

The Week on Wall Street Stocks descended from record highs Friday, as traders reacted to a U.S. drone strike that killed Iran's top military officer. Oil prices rose more than 3% following the breaking news.[1] Wall Street benchmarks...

Monday, December 30, 2019

What Drove the Markets? Four factors influenced investment performance in 2019: a shift in U.S. monetary policy, the ongoing trade dispute between the U.S. and China, earnings, and the economy. Stocks reached record highs in 2019. The...

Monday, December 16, 2019

The Week on Wall Street The U.S. and China announced a limited trade agreement last week. That news lifted U.S. and foreign stocks, leading to weekly gains. Advancing 0.91% on the week, the Nasdaq Composite outperformed the S&P 500...

Monday, December 9, 2019

The Week on Wall Street Key Wall Street benchmarks were up and down last week – or rather down and then up. A Tuesday retreat was offset by a Friday rally spurred by the Department of Labor’s November jobs report. While the S&P 500...

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Buying a home is likely the largest financial decision you’ll ever make, which means figuring out how to pay for it is incredibly important. The majority of people have to take out a loan (a mortgage) in order to buy a home. But...

Monday, December 2, 2019

The Week on Wall Street As November wrapped up, U.S. equity benchmarks advanced. Stocks were again aided by a sense of optimism that a preliminary U.S.-China trade deal could be near. For the week, the Nasdaq Composite added 1.87%;...

Monday, November 25, 2019

The Week on Wall Street Stocks declined last week as mixed signals emerged about the progress of U.S.-China trade negotiations. The three major Wall Street benchmarks all took weekly losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0...

Monday, November 18, 2019

The Week on Wall StreetStock benchmarks were little changed for much of last week, but a rally occurred Friday after news broke that the U.S. and China could be closing in on the first phase of a new trade pact. At Friday's close, the...

Monday, November 11, 2019

The Week on Wall Street Domestic and international stocks rose last week. Risk appetite outweighed concerns about the state of U.S.-China trade discussions. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500, and MSCI EAFE...

Monday, November 4, 2019

The Week on Wall Street A better-than-forecast jobs report prompted a stock market rally Friday, two days after traders witnessed another interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve. Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite ended the week...

Monday, October 28, 2019

The Week on Wall Street The S&P 500 came within 0.1% of a record close Friday. Stocks were lifted last week by positive news on U.S.-China trade negotiations, plus earnings announcements. The Nasdaq Composite posted the largest weekly...

Friday, October 11, 2019

The first step toward retirement is to start saving, and the second step is figuring out which accounts are right for you. This is where things can become complicated. There are many different types of retirement savings accounts, and...

Monday, September 16, 2019

As an individual, what personality trait would you say defines you? Is it your charisma, or maybe your sense of humor? While each person has a lengthy list of traits that make up their entire personality, there are just a few traits...

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

If you are a successful entrepreneur, it’s natural to want the same kind of success for your children. It’s important to start early when teaching your kids the value of a dollar, and that’s just the beginning when...

Thursday, August 15, 2019

As a business owner, you have a lot of free time on your hands. Said no one ever! The truth is, running a business sucks up your time like a Dyson vacuum sucks up dust. Except we’d say a business can steal your time even faster....

Thursday, July 18, 2019

As a business owner, you understand the importance of budgets. If you’re nearing your retirement years, you likely already have a budget or savings account set up for your travel expenses while in retirement. If that’s true...

Monday, July 1, 2019

Preparing to start a new business can be one of the most exciting times of your life. While coming up with the business plan and clarifying your awesome new idea is often exhilarating, raising the funds for your new venture can...

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

As a business owner, you probably wish you could predict the future. Running a business can be risky at times when you can merely anticipate what’s going to happen in the future of your business. If you could know what’s...

Monday, May 13, 2019

Whether you’re a horse racing fan and follow the top contenders throughout the year, or you just join in on the fun on Derby Day, all of us can agree that the Kentucky Derby is one of the most exciting weekends of the horse...

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Apart from the holiday season at the end of the year, summertime is the ultimate entertaining season. With high school and college graduation, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, and the occasional barbeque just because, you will have...

Thursday, April 11, 2019

It’s yard sale season! As homeowners dust off forgotten shelves and sift through attics in their attempts to spring clean the house, they may be realizing they have some unnecessary items. Instead of tossing everything in a box...

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