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Thursday, September 8, 2022

September is self-improvement month and a great time to work on your financial health. When you think of self-improvement, you likely think of your health or career but may pay little attention to your finances. Getting your financial...

Thursday, September 8, 2022

A 401(k) retirement savings plan is one of the most desirable fringe benefits a small business can offer. For a business owner, it can help strengthen a company’s position when competing for top talent. It can also be structured...

Thursday, September 8, 2022

The 20 percent down payment on a conventional loan is one of those “everybody knows” items, as in “everybody knows you have to put 20 percent down.” In reality, however, there are a variety of down payment...

Thursday, September 8, 2022

A recent survey by Caring.com found that a whopping two in three American adults do not have an estate plan1—an alarming statistic, considering that an estate plan can protect your assets and ensure that they go to the right...

Thursday, September 8, 2022

529 plans can be a great way to save for college, but they're not the only way. When you're investing for a major goal like education, it makes sense to be familiar with all of your options.Mutual fundsMutual funds are an option to...

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Wednesday, August 3, 2022

In golf, as in finances, there are a few rules of thumb that may improve your game: keep a level head, avoid traps, practice before trying something new and stay the course. Applying lessons from the golf course to your financial life...

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

One of the hardest things to do, by far, is realizing when a want is not a need. Budgeting is a balancing act. The secret to sustaining yourself from day to day while also working towards financial goals is building a budget that...

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

Although some seasoned investors are able to successfully choose individual stocks, beginners trying to create wealth by YOLOing their savings into a single stock can be a recipe for disaster. There is no match for the...

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

You've saved for your child's college education through the years, helped your child research schools, and supervised the application process. Now, thankfully, your child is in college. But you probably can't disappear just yet--there...

Thursday, June 30, 2022

Over the past July 4th, we celebrated our country’s history of declaring independence and guaranteeing basic human freedoms. But true freedom includes financial independence, as well.Self-sufficiency isn’t guaranteed, but...

Thursday, June 30, 2022

Between 1910 and 1930, the Green Mountain Club of Vermont established the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States—appropriately dubbed the Long Trail. It inspired another recognizable hiking system along the East...

Thursday, June 30, 2022

The "sandwich generation" is the descriptive term for adults generally between the ages of 40 and 59 who are raising a minor child (or supporting a grown child) while also caring for a retirement-age or older parent. With financial...

Thursday, June 30, 2022

Almost half of all adults are part of the "sandwich generation." These are adults in their 40s and 50s who are helping support or care for a parent while also supporting or caring for a child.1 Being caught between two generations of...

Thursday, June 30, 2022

For those who don't have a 401(k) option through their employer—which includes some small-business owners—how to save for retirement might be challenging. In a competitive employment market, offering retirement options to...

Thursday, June 30, 2022

Insurance may provide a safety net for when things go wrong and might allow you to navigate life a little more confidently.Insurance Nerd Day is July 18. In celebration, here are six interesting facts about insurance you may not know...

Thursday, June 30, 2022

Many parents may find it uncomfortable, or even believe it is unnecessary, to inform their children about personal finance matters. Yet, communicating openly with your family members can help to reassure them about your financial and...

Thursday, June 30, 2022

The amount of individual disability income insurance you should buy depends on three things: how much income you'll need if you become disabled, how much money you can afford to spend on premiums, and how much insurance you'll be able...

Monday, June 6, 2022

College is expensive for many people. The average tuition and fees at a college or university for the 2019 to 2020 academic year at a four-year institution was $9,4001. This may include the cost of tuition, books, and housing. For some...

Monday, June 6, 2022

Thinking of a future without ourselves in it, is not the most pleasant of thoughts…however, it is necessary to do so for the financial future of your family. Life insurance may provide you with the opportunity to bequeath money...

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Economists and pundits predicted that the baby boomer generation's retirement would be dramatic, and the COVID pandemic sped things along. According to the St. Louis Fed, the number of retirees in the U.S. increased by 7% between...

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Section 529 plans are popular education savings vehicles. To choose the type of 529 plan that's right for you, it's important to understand how 529 savings plans and 529 prepaid tuition plans work and the differences between them. Who...

Thursday, September 2, 2021

It’s Good to be King “It's good to be king and have your own way (enduring the pandemic-financially) Get a feeling of peace, at the end of the day (Ahhhh – everything is ok) And when your bulldog barks...

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Lions, Tigers – No Bears  I hope that this finds you healthy and as positive as one can be during this odd time. This past weekend, the Detroit Lions held a commanding 17-point lead in the fourth quarter...

Sunday, March 1, 2020

COVID What is transpiring – Fear  The coronavirus has triggered a panic in the market that we have not seen since 2008.  Emotions drive markets, and we are seeing that now.  But we’ve been...

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Snakes in the Grass “We have a tortoise-like economy and a hare-like stock market” -Global strategist at JPM The above quote from Barron’s rings true, thanks in large part to the Federal Reserve’s...