Articles

The Real Answer to Your Financial Questions: It Depends

When it comes to personal finance, one of the most common—and frustrating—answers you’ll hear is, “It depends.” Whether you’re asking about the best way to invest, how much you should save for retirement, or how [...]

Should I Pay Off My Mortgage?

Being unsure whether to pay off your mortgage or not is a good problem to have. It means you have significant savings and have afforded yourself some choices. While the idea of being debt-free is [...]

5 Things You Didn’t Know About 529 Plans

5 Things You Didn't Know About 529 Plans When it comes to saving for your child's education, 529 plans are a popular choice due to their tax advantages and flexibility. However, there are several lesser-known [...]

Midyear Outlook 2024: Still Waiting for the Turn

As we reach the halfway point of 2024, a sense of persistence defines the economic and market landscape. Trends from late 2023 have continued, with surprisingly resilient economic growth mixed with stubborn but decelerating inflation. [...]

United in Wealth: How to Become a Financial Power Couple

If you're a high earner, you may be interested in partnering with someone with similar education, income, and goals. Becoming a financial "power couple" can help you both achieve your goals sooner. Because money disputes [...]

Rich vs. Wealthy – Is There Really a Difference?

The terms "rich" and "wealthy" are often used interchangeably. But are they really the same? As the saying goes, "Money talks, but wealth whispers." Here are some of the differences between being rich and being [...]

Small Businesses and the Case for Annuities

Annuities are a well-kept secret in the small business financing world. Businesses can use these products in various ways, both to meet their own financial goals and to provide retirement benefits to owners and employees. [...]

Why Financial Teams?

Why Financial Teams? When it comes to financial advice, the benefits of working with a team rather than an individual advisor become increasingly clear as your financial needs grow more complex. A team can offer a [...]

Retirement Planning for Teacher and Public School Workers

Many public school workers in different positions devote their lives to furthering the education of young people. The ability to enjoy a secure retirement is an objective that many teachers and their colleagues pursue years [...]

The Transition to T+1 Settlements: What it Means

The Transition to T+1 Settlements: What it Means. This change enhances the efficiency and stability of the financial markets Next week marks a significant milestone in the securities industry: the standard settlement cycle for most [...]

Tips for Navigating Inflation as a Small Business Owner

Small business owners face many challenges, which may become even more significant during inflation. As inflation hit new highs in recent years, small business owners are being tested and challenged by high costs and high [...]

Setting and Targeting Investment Goals

Go out into your yard and dig a big hole. Every month, throw $50 into it, but don't take any money out until you're ready to buy a house, send your child to college, or [...]

Why Do We Worry About Money?

Why Do We Worry About Money? It may be surprising to hear, but even those who’ve accumulated substantial wealth may still worry about money. While financial success often brings comfort, it doesn't alleviate every fear, [...]

Guarding Your Future: Financial Wisdom for the New Generation

Guarding Your Future: Financial Wisdom for the New Generation As the journey of independence begins, young adults confront a plethora of financial decisions that set the stage for their future stability. Effective money management is [...]

Navigating the 4 Phases of Retirement

Retirement seems like a long way off, but it arrives faster than you think. The big question is, are you ready? What exactly does retirement entail? Analysts suggest there are four designated phases of retirement [...]

A Lesson on Gifting a 529 Savings Plan

529 savings plans are a way to gift education expenses for those who wish to invest in a child's future. Funding a 529 plan is considered a gift to the beneficiary for estate tax purposes, [...]

Protect Your Children from Their Inheritance

Protect Your Children from Their Inheritance Wealthy families often find themselves grappling with how to effectively pass along assets to their children while ensuring those children are ready for the responsibility. As we tread towards [...]

The Newlywed’s Guide to Money Mastery

The Newlywed’s Guide to Money Mastery Married life is not just a romantic journey but also a financial partnership. As newlyweds, mastering money management is crucial for laying the foundation for a prosperous future together. [...]

Keep Politics Out of Your Portfolio

Keep Politics Out of Your Portfolio In our current environment, where political news comes from every direction, it’s important to remember the importance of impartiality in your portfolio. There is a certain allure of aligning [...]

We All Have Money Blind Spots

We All Have Money Blind Spots Blind spots, in the realm of investing, can be likened to the unnoticed smudges on a pair of glasses. They obscure a clear view of reality, but they can [...]

Ways a Financial Professional Can Assist You

Ways a Financial Professional Can Assist You Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness. Here are 10 ways a financial professional can assist you: Often, there is a misconception that seeking financial help [...]

Keep Control; It’s To Your Credit

Keep Control; It’s To Your Credit Are you one of the many American consumers currently asking yourself, “How can I better control my use of credit?” Consumer debt in the United States totals in the [...]

Debt-to-Income RatioExplained

Debt-to-Income RatioExplained Debt-to-Income Ratio Explained If you’re considering purchasing a home, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is an important term to familiarize yourself with. Your DTI can ultimately make it easier or harder for you to [...]

13 POTHOLES to Avoid on the Road to Retirement

13 POTHOLES to Avoid on the Road to Retirement 1.   NOT HAVING A MONTHLY BUDGET A budget is a spending plan based on your income and how much money you will spend over a set [...]

Must-Know Retirement Deadlines

Must-Know Retirement Deadlines When can you access your savings without a penalty? When should you enroll in Medicare? At what age is it best to collect Social Security? In the years leading up to retirement, [...]

High-Net-Worth Retirement Planning: How Social Security Fits In

As high-net-worth (HNW) individuals approach their golden years, retirement planning often becomes a focal point of their financial strategies. One aspect of this planning that sometimes creates confusion or misinterpretation is the role of Social [...]

Protect Yourself from AI Fraud

Protect Yourself from AI Fraud As you navigate the digital landscape, it is important to be aware of the evolving fraud risks posed by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Scammers embrace AI because it enables them to [...]

How a Financial Advisor Can Help Lower Your Tax Bill

How a Financial Advisor Can Help Lower Your Tax Bill Careful tax planning throughout the year can put more money in your pocket. Tax planning is a vital part of any wealth management strategy, but [...]

Mitigating the Serious Risks of Over-Concentration

How financial professionals can help seasoned business executives For seasoned business executives, the allure of company stock can be undeniable. After years of dedication and hard work, owning a significant portion of one's company can [...]

Start Your Year Financially Strong With a No-Spend Challenge

In this day and age of high cost of living, elevated inflation, steady rise in taxes, particularly property, and market volatility, the idea of cutting back on frivolous spending has gained significant traction. Consumers are [...]

How to Boost Your FAFSA Eligibility in 6 Simple Steps

Student financial aid, like most anything financially related, involves strategy and a bit of finesse to make your money and time work for you. Some might believe that receiving the offer you were hoping for [...]

Tips to Navigating Gen Z’s Economic Challenges

Mindfulness and adaptability can position you for long-term confidence As the world evolves, so too do the challenges faced by the younger generations entering the workforce. Over the last year, nearly four in 10 Gen [...]

25 Ways to Make Friends in Retirement

25 Ways to Make Friends in Retirement Retirement is an exciting phase of life, offering seniors the opportunity to explore new interests, travel, and spend more time with loved ones. However, it can also present [...]

Guarding Generations: The Strategic Role of Life Insurance

Guarding Generations: The Strategic Role of Life Insurance Discussing life insurance often brings a sense of discomfort, given its close association with our own mortality. However, this perspective overlooks the essential role that life insurance [...]

Gen Xers: “Can I Afford to Retire on My Terms?”

Gen Xers: “Can I Afford to Retire on My Terms?” Financial education, planning, lifestyle adjustments and advice are crucial As Generation X, often referred to as the "forgotten generation," inches closer to retirement, a unique [...]

5 Easy Ways to Protect Seniors from Financial Abuse

5 Easy Ways to Protect Seniors from Financial Abuse Technology has helped to streamline the way we manage our money, allowing us to perform transactions and monitor our accounts online, instead of needing to do [...]

How Small Businesses Can Leverage AI Today

How Small Businesses Can Leverage AI Today One of the most significant developments in recent technology is the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). When you ask ChatGPT (a leading AI program) what that means, it [...]

Key Financial Wellness Metrics for Near-Retirement Individuals

Key Financial Wellness Metrics for Near-Retirement Individuals As one approaches retirement, monitoring your financial situation by understanding your net worth and assessing the assets and resources needed to maintain a comfortable lifestyle throughout retirement is [...]

Flying in Style: Modern Airline Rewards

Flying in Style: Modern Airline Rewards We recently passed the 40th anniversary of frequent flyer programs as we know them. These programs started really simply, but forever changed the way we travel. Essentially, the more [...]

3 Small Moves that Make a Big Difference in Retirement

3 Small Moves that Make a Big Difference in Retirement   Saving for retirement doesn’t happen overnight. It’s an ongoing process that requires monitoring and tweaking your plan over many years to help ensure you have [...]

Active vs. Passive Investing: Which Is Best?

Active vs. Passive Investing: Which Is Best? Investors and advisors alike have long debated the merits of active versus passive investing. As the markets have taken a downward turn over the last year in response [...]

5 Financial Bad Habits to Cut This Year

5 Financial Bad Habits to Cut This Year   When it comes to financial bad habits, the most common are also well known — don’t spend too much, don’t take on unsustainable debt, and avoid [...]

6 Business Goals for a Prosperous New Year

6 Business Goals for a Prosperous New Year The new year is fast approaching, and it is the perfect time to set up resolutions for your business. Whether you want to increase your sales, gather [...]

Scrooge and the Ghosts of Financial Planning

Scrooge and the Ghosts of Financial Planning In Charles Dickens's timeless classic, "A Christmas Carol," Ebenezer Scrooge transforms from a miserly old man to a generous and empathetic soul. Along the way, he encounters the [...]

December College Newsletter

December College Newsletter   For high school seniors, December is an especially busy time. Not only do many schools have their final exams, but there are college applications and essays to finish. December also brings [...]

November College Newsletter

November College Newsletter When Should I File the FAFSA?  As you may already be aware, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is not yet open and won't be until sometime in December or [...]

Creating Your Perfect Retirement Recipe

Creating Your Perfect Retirement Recipe Although achieving your financial goals is more challenging than following a step-by-step recipe, a few common ingredients and preparation methods may help improve your ability to manage financial resources. Here [...]

4 Thanksgiving Lessons for a Feast-Worthy Financial Plan

4 Thanksgiving Lessons for a Feast-Worthy Financial Plan Thanksgiving is a holiday for spending time with loved ones, being grateful, and perhaps enjoying a bit of overindulgence. There are many financial lessons to be had [...]

Trusts and Year-End Planning: A Checklist

Trusts and Year-End Planning: A Checklist A trust is a legal vehicle that protects your assets that contains instructions for your assets when you die or become incapacitated. When you set up a trust, you [...]

October College Newsletter

October College Newsletter As the harvest season slows down, Fall colors become abundant. Nature amazes and enchants us with endless shades of red, orange, and yellow. The days are getting shorter and finally cooling down [...]

How Does the New RMD Rule Affect Retirees?

How Does the New RMD Rule Affect Retirees? There’s good news for your retirement plan! Starting this year, the age at which you must start taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your tax-deferred retirement accounts [...]

Finding Focus with Financial Planning: A Step-By-Step Guide

Finding Focus with Financial Planning: A Step-By-Step Guide You have probably heard about financial planning and its potential benefits, but you are unsure how to apply the principles to your life. A financial plan is [...]

How to Make Keeping Track of Your Finances Easy

How to Make Keeping Track of Your Finances Easy Now is an excellent time to start evaluating your current financial situation, determining your future goals and expectations, and working toward pursuing them. If you need [...]

Transform Your Money Mindset

Transform Your Money Mindset Your relationship with money is more than just numbers in a bank account; it's a mindset that shapes your decisions and daily behaviors. Recognizing this profound connection, this article shared by [...]

September College Newsletter

September College Newsletter This Month's Highlights:  A New FAFSA Form is Coming-- Don't File Until You Read This    Major Changes in College Aid  Financial Aid Insider: One Hack To Increase Financial Aid There is [...]

Financial Considerations for Working Parents

Financial Considerations for Working Parents   Nine of every 10 U.S. families with children have at least one working parent.1 Though working parents make up one of the largest demographic groups in the country, they face [...]

Growth Stocks vs. Value Stocks

Growth Stocks vs. Value Stocks Stock investing is an important engine of growth in your portfolio, but deciding on an investing strategy and particular stocks can be challenging. When designing a diversified portfolio that aims [...]

5 Must-Have Items for Your Financial First Aid Kit

5 Must-Have Items for Your Financial First Aid Kit Every year, around 3 million Americans are required to evacuate their homes due to a natural disaster.1 What's more, this figure does not include the millions [...]

Are You Prepared for a 30 Year Retirement?

Are You Prepared for a 30 Year Retirement? The good news? Retirees are living longer. The bad news? Many aren’t planning for it financially. Life expectancy is a key piece of retirement planning. After all, [...]

Financial Basics for Millennials

Financial Basics for Millennials Millennials face financial challenges that are unique to their generation. One of the first steps in overcoming them is to understand some basic financial concepts. With age comes responsibility, so if [...]

August is National Make a Will Month

August is National Make a Will Month A timely reminder of the importance of protecting your savings, home, and family through comprehensive estate planning. I recommend you take advantage of our complimentary estate planning consultation [...]

It’s Never Too Late to Improve Your Financial Awareness

It's Never Too Late to Improve Your Financial Awareness    Financial education is constantly evolving. As investments, financial priorities, and the economy change, so do financial strategies and plans. To stay on top of your [...]

August College Newsletter

August College Newsletter Hello, First, here are some fun August facts: Did you know that August was originally named Sextilis? That is why August is named after the Roman Emperor Augustus. Originally, August did not [...]

Do You Know What Type of Investor You Are? 

Do You Know What Type of Investor You Are? Do you know the answer if your financial professional asks you what type of investor you are? While it may be challenging to classify yourself off [...]

10 Questions to Ask When Relocating in Retirement

10 Questions to Ask When Relocating in Retirement Did you know that 40% of workers today plan to move to a different city or region after they retire?[1] This underscores a trend of retirees eager to [...]

The Sequence of Returns Risk in Retirement

The Sequence of Returns Risk in Retirement Markets go up and down in ways that are not entirely predictable. For long-term investors, what the market is doing in the present isn’t that troubling; they’ve got [...]

Batter Up! How to Score a Retirement Planning Home Run

Batter Up! How to Score a Retirement Planning Home Run   There are two things Americans have always looked forward to: going to the ballpark for the big game and retiring after a fulfilling career. [...]

3 Biases That Can Sabotage Your Wealth

3 Biases That Can Sabotage Your Wealth Making financial decisions can often be more challenging than it appears. A variety of subtle influences can cloud our judgment. Among these, behavioral biases like anchoring, loss aversion, [...]

Student Loan Forgiveness Updates

Student Loan Forgiveness Updates   The Supreme Court struck down the president’s student loan forgiveness plan.1 What does that mean for your loans?   Though President Biden announced intentions to find another path to loan [...]

Financial Freedom, Market Volatility, and You

Financial Freedom, Market Volatility, and You   If recent market volatility has you questioning your opportunities for financial freedom, you are not alone. Due to rising inflation, higher interest rates, a volatile stock market, and [...]

Monthly College Newsletter

No More Pencils, No More Books, No More Teacher's Dirty Looks! July is the month of picnics, fireworks, lazy days at the beach-- and definitely not school. While it may be difficult to keep your college-bound [...]

Gratitude’s Impact on Your Money Mindset

Gratitude’s Impact on Your Money Mindset When we hear the term "gratitude," most of us think of living a happier and more fulfilling life. We think of slowing down, being mindful, and cherishing the small [...]

Five Tips for Tackling Your Bad Spending Habits

Five Tips for Tackling Your Bad Spending Habits   Improving spending habits can help you work toward financial stability and security   All of us have bad spending habits that we would like to change [...]

Pursue Financial Fitness Like You Do Your Physical Fitness

Pursue Financial Fitness Like You Do Your Physical Fitness Individuals who exercise regularly and focus on better health, developing their bodies, stamina, and mental clarity understand what it encompasses. There are steps that people take [...]

Get to Know Your Risk Tolerance

Get to Know Your Risk Tolerance When constructing a portfolio, it’s critical to understand three important factors: your goals, your time horizon, and your risk tolerance. Of those three, risk tolerance can be the trickiest [...]

Last Minute Considerations for the FAFSA Deadline

Last Minute Considerations for the FAFSA Deadline   For many, the expenses of college or technical school can be overwhelming. But, with financial aid programs, tuition, room and board, books, and other college-related costs can [...]

Instilling Financial Values in Your Family

Instilling Financial Values in Your Family Over the next two decades, more than 84 trillion dollars will change hands in what has become known as the “great wealth transfer.” More than $72 trillion of that [...]

College Newsletter

College Newsletter The month of June is especially known for: Weddings The First Day of Summer Vacations Graduations By now, those students who have been placed on waitlists, it's a good idea to send [...]

Take a Swing at Investing Like a Golfer 

Take a Swing at Investing Like a Golfer    Golfing and investing may not seem to share much common ground at first glance. But the more you think about it, a successful golfer and a [...]

5 Strategies to Boost Your Retirement Savings

5 Strategies to Boost Your Retirement Savings Whether your retirement date is fast approaching or you still have a few years to go, it’s important to take steps to boost your nest egg so you’re [...]

6 Self-Care Strategies for Nurses

6 Self-Care Strategies for Nurses With the pandemic causing staffing shortages and full hospitals, many nurses work multiple shifts for days without a break. It may come as no surprise that nurse burnout rates are high, [...]

May’s College Newsletter

May’s College Newsletter   May is the fifth month in the Gregorian calendar and has 31 days. May is a Spring month in the northern half of the world, and a Fall month in the [...]

Call It Market Updates

Call It Market Updates Markets are doing their thing again, so let’s discuss. Markets tumbled, heading into negative territory, and then bounced back. And then promptly fell again.1 We're caught in a whipsaw pattern of [...]

2 Ways for Nurses to Take Control of Their Finances

2 Ways for Nurses to Take Control of Their Finances  Being a nurse comes with a lot of responsibility alongside a sense of pride in knowing that you are helping others. But while the road [...]

5 Podcasts for Business Owners

5 Podcasts for Business Owners Listening to podcasts is like having a personal coach or mentor for your business. Whether you’re looking for advice, creative ideas, or motivation, they can be a great help in [...]

7 Tips to Becoming a Financial Samurai

7 Tips to Becoming a Financial Samurai Miyamoto Musashi is one of history’s greatest swordsman having never lost a duel. He was a philosopher, writer and strategist who wrote the Dokkodo, 21 principles for living [...]

An Introduction to Bond Ladders

An Introduction to Bond Ladders Bonds play an important role in a diverse investment portfolio. As fixed-income securities, they can provide a stable return until they mature. As with any investment, bonds are subject to [...]

Money Matters: Financial Literacy For The Whole Family

Money Matters: Financial Literacy For The Whole Family Financial literacy is crucial, not only for adults but for everyone in the family. When you have a good foundation of financial literacy, you will have a [...]

Five Tips for Tackling Your Bad Spending Habits

Five Tips for Tackling Your Bad Spending Habits Improving spending habits can help you work toward financial stability and security   All of us have bad spending habits that we would like to change in [...]

Riches to Rags: Poor Money Choices of 5 Celebs

Riches to Rags: Poor Money Choices of 5 Celebs An increase in assets doesn’t come with an increase in financial acumen. Financial Literacy Month is a great time for us all to expand our knowledge. [...]

April is National Financial Literacy Month

April is National Financial Literacy Month When was the last time you learned about anything financial? April is National Financial Literacy Month – an entire month dedicated to underscoring the importance of learning, establishing and [...]

Stepping Up to the Plate: Four Baseball Money Lessons

Stepping Up to the Plate: Four Baseball Money Lessons Baseball and financial management can have more in common than meets the eye. Below, we discuss four key lessons that investors—and everyone else—can learn from America's [...]

Answering Your Kids Toughest Money Questions

Answering Your Kids Toughest Money Questions  Kids ask tough questions about money. It’s how they learn. As a parent, these are teachable moments that offer a chance to impart some financial wisdom to them.    Start [...]

A Refresh for Your Finances

A Refresh for Your Finances When spring rolls around, your thoughts might turn to organizing your closets or giving your floors a good deep clean. But how much thought have you given to cleaning up [...]

Understanding Mutual Funds, Index Funds, and ETFs

Understanding Mutual Funds, Index Funds, and ETFs It’s common knowledge that investing in mutual funds, index funds, or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can help build a diversified portfolio. These funds hold diverse baskets of securities, including [...]

Silicon Valley Bank Is the 2nd Largest Bank Failure

Silicon Valley Bank Is the 2nd Largest Bank Failure It will take some time, but the FDIC was designed for moments like this The FDIC-seizure of Silicon Valley Bank is the second-largest US bank failure [...]

Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) Info:

Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) Info: Financial markets were shaken last week as Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), the California bank subsidiary of SVB Financial Group (SIVB), fell into FDIC receivership. SVB is the first FDIC-insured institution [...]

6 Money Myths That Are Limiting Your Wealth

6 Money Myths That Are Limiting Your Wealth When people think of “myths,” they often think of such stories as Pandora’s Box (the woman who took the lid off of a jar releasing all of [...]

The Advantages of a Family Trust

The Advantages of a Family Trust Family trusts are an important tool for managing wealth across multiple generations. They can help you avoid the time-consuming and costly process of probate, keep your assets private, minimize [...]

A Beginner’s Guide to Investing

A Beginner’s Guide to Investing When you start to consider if investing is an appropriate option for you, you may have questions. You might want to ask: How do I invest money, and where? How [...]

5 Critical Financial Strategies for Physicians

As a physician, you understand your medical specialty inside and out, but at the same time, you also need to be able to handle the financial challenges associated with your industry. That may include juggling [...]

4 Ways to Be Your Own Financial Valentine

4 Ways to Be Your Own Financial Valentine Whether you're single, paired, or somewhere in between, Valentine's Day may present the perfect opportunity to show your bank account some love. Below are four tips and [...]

3 Ways to Tackle Your Financial Goals

3 Ways to Tackle Your Financial Goals   Though the New Year may bring with it a new opportunity to set and achieve financial goals, the thought of making sweeping changes to your budget and [...]

Your Financial Fresh Start: 12 Resolutions in 12 Months

Your Financial Fresh Start: 12 Resolutions in 12 Months Change may be difficult, especially when you try to change your financial habits. The process might be easier if you take an incremental approach. Do you [...]

A Path to Setting and Reaching Your 2023 Goals

A Path to Setting and Reaching Your 2023 Goals What if you focused on your system instead of just your goals? Setting goals for a new year can feel overwhelming.  We all know that resolutions [...]

New Year, New Goals: Your Countdown to Financial Health

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 [...]

Doing Good, Feeling Good: Ways to Give Back

Doing Good, Feeling Good: Ways to Give Back We all know the feeling of giving a gift so special and perfect that it’s better than any gift you could ever receive. There is something inherently [...]

Growth Stocks vs. Value Stocks

Growth Stocks vs. Value Stocks   Stock investing is an important engine of growth in your portfolio, but deciding on an investing strategy and particular stocks can be challenging. When designing a diversified portfolio that [...]

Get to Know Your Risk Tolerance

Get to Know Your Risk Tolerance When constructing a portfolio, it’s critical to understand three important factors: your goals, your time horizon, and your risk tolerance. Of those three, risk tolerance can be the trickiest [...]

The Advantages of a Family Trust

The Advantages of a Family Trust   Family trusts are an important tool for managing wealth across multiple generations. They can help you avoid the time-consuming and costly process of probate, keep your assets private, [...]

Understanding Mutual Funds, Index Funds, and ETFs

Understanding Mutual Funds, Index Funds, and ETFs   It’s common knowledge that investing in mutual funds, index funds, or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can help build a diversified portfolio. These funds hold diverse baskets of securities, [...]

An Introduction to Bond Ladders

An Introduction to Bond Ladders Bonds play an important role in a diverse investment portfolio. As fixed-income securities, they can provide a stable return until they mature. As with any investment, bonds are subject to [...]

Giving Tuesday: A Global Day for Giving Back

Consider whether a donor-advised fund can help build a more generous world November brings us Thanksgiving – a day for simply giving thanks. The 11th month also brings us Black Friday and Cyber Monday – [...]

Year-End Charitable Giving

With the holiday season upon us and the end of the year approaching, we pause to give thanks for our blessings and the people in our lives. It is also a time when charitable giving [...]

A Year-End Wealth Planning Guide

As we approach the end of the year, you may want to review areas that may impact your wealth and estate planning next year. In this year-end planning guide, we examine four critical areas to [...]

Your 2022 Year-End Planning Checklist

Your 2022 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 2022 finances [...]

Kick-Starting Your Retirement with a 401(k) Plan

Kick-Starting Your Retirement with a 401(k) Plan Take control of your retirement planning with a defined contribution plan The 401(k) pension plan, named after that section of the Internal Revenue Service Code that created it, [...]

8 Things Financial Planning Can Help You Address

8 Things Financial Planning Can Help You Address Financial planning is unique for each person; no two financial plans look the same because everyone's life and personal goals are different. Regardless of what your goals [...]

A Fall Financial Checklist

A Fall Financial Checklist For many, autumn is the best time of year. The return of cool breezes, comforting foods, and pumpkins can be invigorating. It’s also a bookmark of sorts, especially for your finances—a [...]

Everything You Need to Know About FAFSA

Everything You Need to Know About FAFSA Each year, the U.S. Department of Education distributes more than $150 billion in grants, loans, and work-study awards to millions of college students. With these financial aid programs, [...]

Market Update: Better Times Ahead

In the last several weeks, we have continued to face elevated uncertainty in financial markets due to high inflation and rising interest rates, and we thought it was an important time to take stock with [...]

Inflation Reduction Act: What You Should Know

Inflation Reduction Act: What You Should Know The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law on August 16, 2022, includes health-care and energy-related provisions, a new corporate alternative minimum tax, and an excise [...]

5 Tips for Navigating Medicare in Retirement

5 Tips for Navigating Medicare in Retirement One of the main concerns about retirement is health care. As healthcare costs continue to rise, medical bills may quickly derail your retirement plan. The [...]

Should Investors Care at All When a Stock Splits?

Should Investors Care at All When a Stock Splits? The summer of 2022 could be known as the Summer of Stock Splits, as several high-profile companies have either split their stock or [...]

Back to School for College Kids

Back to School for College Kids Many college students are looking forward to getting back to campus to continue their higher education and resume their normal life post-pandemic. Whether you're a first-year [...]

Growth vs. Value – What’s the Difference

Growth vs. Value - What's the Difference With the wide variety of stocks in the market, figuring out which ones you want to invest in can be a challenging task. Many investors [...]

August Update: Big Week for Market Watchers

August Update: Big Week for Market Watchers 8/3/2022 Dear Valued Investor, Last week was epic for market-watchers. A Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike, a much-anticipated gross domestic product (GDP) report, and the [...]

Social Wellness-What is It and Why is it Important

Social Wellness: What is It and Why is it Important? Social wellness refers to the relationships you have and how you interact with others. It involves building and maintaining positive, supportive relationships [...]

Understanding the FIRE Movement

Understanding the FIRE Movement Financial Independence / Retire Early – Is it suitable for you? There has been a lot of chatter about the FIRE movement – Financial Independence / Retire Early [...]

Nurses and Insurance Considerations

Nurses and Insurance Considerations Being a nurse comes with many challenges, both in their profession and everyday life. Nurses should consider their need for insurance a bit more carefully than some other [...]

Are You Maximizing 401K Contributions?

Are You Maximizing 401(k) Contributions? The more money that you can save when you are working, the easier it should be for you to retire and enjoy your golden years. Unfortunately, Social [...]

A Bear Market is Officially Here

A Bear Market is Officially Here Dear Valued Investor, A bear market is officially here thanks largely to stubbornly high inflation. For many of us, it has probably felt like a bear [...]

Congratulations Graduates-What are your next steps financially?

Congratulations Graduates-What are your next steps financially? Summer weather has begun (in many places), and graduation time has arrived. Across the country, students are finishing their high school, college, and even graduate [...]

6 Self-Care Strategies for Nurses

6 Self-Care Strategies for Nurses With the pandemic causing staffing shortages and full hospitals, many nurses work multiple shifts for days without a break. It may come as no surprise that nurse [...]

Helping the High School Graduating Class of 2022

Helping the High School Graduating Class of 2022 Remember HIPPA kicks in now that your senior is considered an adult The spring ritual of high school graduations is here. But graduates and [...]

Understanding the Roth 401k vs. Traditional

Understanding the Roth 401k vs Traditional Unbeknownst to many investors, companies have the option of offering their employees a new different type of tax-advantaged retirement plan: the Roth 401(k). Not all sponsors [...]

How 529 College Plans Impact Financial Aid

How 529 College Plans Impact Financial Aid If you are worried about being able to afford college costs for your children or teens, a 529 education plan might be one way to [...]

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Dear Valued Investor, As we move into spring and leave behind the last signs of a long winter, many worries from a chilly start to the year for markets, unfortunately, are still [...]

An Attractive Entry Point

April 28th - An Attractive Entry Point Dear Valued Client, It has been a turbulent 2022 so far for investors. The S&P 500 Index is on track for its worst April in [...]

Estate Planning for Everyone

Estate Planning for Everyone Have you every wondered how estate planning might fit into your overall, future plans? Even if you are just starting to build your estate and do not need [...]

Crossing the Bridge to a Satisfying Retirement

Crossing the Bridge to a Satisfying Retirement One of the more important—and hopefully enjoyable—events you will face in life is retirement. After spending many years building your career, you have likely accumulated [...]

The Great Resignation

The Great Resignation Whether it is the prevalence of hiring signs throughout the country or the changes in business hours due to lack of staff, the ever-evolving workforce is becoming more and [...]

What Dentists Should Know About Retirement Planning

What Dentists Should Know About Retirement Planning The average dentist doesn't retire until nearly age 70—around 7 years later than the national average retirement age.1 Though the dental profession can be a [...]

A Guide to Retirement Planning for Doctors

A Guide to Retirement Planning for Doctors Working in medicine may be challenging, especially with the strain placed on health care professionals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Working towards a comfortable early retirement [...]

401(k) Rollover Options to Consider

401(k) Rollover Options to Consider When people are leaving their employer, one of the decisions they need to make is what to do with their 401(k). A retirement plan participant typically has [...]

Why You Should Not Take Early Retirement Withdrawals

Why You Should Not Take Early Retirement Withdrawals When money gets tight, it can be tempting to think about your retirement accounts as a potential source of financial help. However, an early [...]

February Client Letter: Stock’s Road Ahead

Stock's Road Ahead February 3, 2022 Dear Valued Investor: The calendar had barely flipped to 2022 and investors were reminded that even attractive long-term stock returns come with a cost: volatility. The [...]

January 2022 Letter to Clients

A Letter To Our Clients January 25th, 2022 Dear Valued Investor, Stocks have gotten off to a tough start in 2022. Why has the market pulled back and [...]

Don’t Panic It’s Just an Email

Don't Panic! It's Just an Email. After your student applies to college, emails are sent from admissions and financial aid. Many seem vague, and result in causing parents confusion [...]

Corporate Wellness Perks to Look Out For

Corporate Wellness Perks to Look Out For The competition is higher than ever before for hard-working employees at companies across the United States, which has given rise to [...]

Five Wealth-Building New Year’s Resolutions

Five Wealth-Building New Year’s Resolutions At the beginning of each year, and regularly after that, it may be a wise idea to take stock of finances and make [...]

Tips On Growing Wealth

Tips On Growing Wealth Having money is not enough, but learning the habits, behaviors, and rules that can make you grow your money, so you do not later [...]

Understanding Charitable Giving

Understanding Charitable Giving Charitable giving is a great way to support your community, make an impact, or leave a legacy while receiving tax benefits for giving. If you [...]

Holiday Shopping: Back to Basics

Holiday Shopping: Back to Basics In 2020, we experienced a holiday season like no other. Because of COVID-19, we had to adjust our gatherings, our plans, and even [...]

5 Tips for Shopping on Small Business Saturday

5 Tips for Shopping on Small Business Saturday There’s no question that November and December are the biggest times of year for shopping. But this year, it’s more [...]

Cultivating a “Small Business Edge”

Cultivating a “Small Business Edge” Entrepreneurs may entertain thoughts of achieving success, inspired by those companies that seem to spring forth fully grown overnight. But, it is important [...]

Your 2021 Year-End Planning Checklist

Your 2021 Year-End Planning Checklist Extra Coverage and Peace It may be easy to forget we're nearing the end of the year. Even during the busy end of [...]

Financial Planning at Every Age

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 [...]

American Business Women’s Day

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 [...]

Financial Considerations for Working Parents

Financial Considerations for Working Parents Nine of every 10 U.S. families with children have at least one working parent.1 Though working parents make up one of the largest [...]

The Importance of Charitable Giving

The Importance of Charitable Giving Charitable giving is a term often heard around the holidays, or in some cases, around tax season. Nonprofit charitable organizations often rely on [...]

Investing in Your Vacation

Investing in Your Vacation Why do most avoid this important investment? Why do so many of us not use our vacation days? Salespeople talk about “leaving money on [...]

Tips for Preventing Fraud

Tips for Preventing Fraud Cybercrime and fraud are serious threats and constant vigilance is key. While Providence Wealth Planning plays an important role in helping protect your assets, you [...]

Begin Investing While Young

Begin Investing While Young There’s a simple word that has profound implications for savings and investing: compounding. Like a snowball that grows as it rolls down a hill, [...]

Investing for the Future

Investing for the Future For years, you’ve diligently invested in your retirement portfolio, accumulating wealth that you hope will sustain you throughout your Golden Years. To help see [...]

Corporate Wellness Perks to Look Out For

Corporate Wellness Perks to Look Out For The competition is higher than ever before for hard-working employees at companies across the United States, which has given rise to [...]

Outlook 2021

Outlook 2021 December 3, 2020 Dear Valued Investor: As 2020 comes to a close, we are already looking forward to a new year—and to a world very different [...]

IRA 101: Know the Facts

IRA 101: Know the Facts Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are one of the most common assets people rely on to save and invest for retirement. In fact, more [...]

October 1, 2020

A Letter To Our Clients October 1, 2020 Dear Valued Investor: Autumn has arrived, with students back in school, baseball playoffs beginning, and football in full swing. Life [...]

Budgeting for Baby

Budgeting for Baby Starting a family is truly one of life's most fulfilling experiences. Unfortunately, it can also be among the most expensive. Many parents could spend more [...]

Tap into the Power Nap

Tap into the Power Nap Tap into the Power Nap  A short snooze can help get you through a tough day    With all the fear, uncertainty and [...]

Forward Thinking

Forward Thinking Forward Thinking Five ways to keep moving forward in the age of social distancing   Activities that people used to take for granted have changed in [...]

June 30, 2020

A Letter To Our Clients June 30, 2020  Dear Valued Investor: The July Fourth holiday will be very different this year. Although it’s a time to enjoy family [...]

Proper Financial Planning: Critical for Women

Proper Financial Planning: Critical for Women A key goal of investing for retirement is making sure you save enough to make your money last throughout your lifetime. On [...]

June 4, 2020

A Letter To Our Clients June 4, 2020 Dear Valued Investor: As we look ahead to the summer months, we can’t help but think what a challenging year [...]

May 21, 2020

A Letter To Our Clients May 21, 2020 Dear Valued Investor: “Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald The economic struggles in [...]

Estimating Your Social Security Benefits

Estimating Your Social Security Benefits The Social Security Administration (SSA) now has an online option (called my Social Security) for receiving annual benefit statements -- however, if you [...]

A Plan to Reduce Credit Card Debt

A Plan to Reduce Credit Card Debt If you are contributing to a staggering sum of outstanding credit card debt in America, you need to start digging your [...]

April 2, 2020

A Letter To Our Clients April 2, 2020  Dear Valued Investor: “Every decade or so, dark clouds will fill the economic skies, and they will briefly rain gold. [...]

March 18, 2020

A Letter To Our Clients March 18, 2020  Dear Valued Investor: Our everyday lives have changed dramatically over the last few weeks as we work together to minimize [...]

The Risks of Market Timing

The Risks of Market Timing "Market timing" is the strategy of trying to predict when stock prices will rise and fall and attempting to buy low and sell [...]

February 28, 2020

A Letter To Our Clients February 28, 2020 Dear Valued Investor: “The stock market takes an escalator up, and an elevator down,” is a classic Wall Street saying. [...]

February 6, 2020

A Letter To Our Clients February 6, 2020Dear Valued Investor:The start of 2020 has brought increased stock market volatility. The uncharacteristically calm market environment we experienced for much of the [...]

Wealth Building Strategies While Raising a Family

Wealth Building Strategies While Raising a Family Raising a family is rewarding─and expensive. Consider taking these steps to support your family financially through a program of smart investing. [...]

December 3, 2019

A Letter To Our Clients December 3, 2019 Dear Valued Investor: Hindsight is 20/20, but finding clarity in future uncertainty can be fuzzy. 2019 has been a very [...]

November 7, 2019

A Letter To Our Clients November 7, 2019 Dear Valued Investor: Turning the calendar from October to November brought more than trick-or-treaters, pumpkins, and leaves to rake. It [...]

Estate Planning Checklist

Estate Planning Checklist Because you've worked hard to create a secure and comfortable lifestyle for your family and loved ones, you'll want to ensure that you have a [...]

October 3, 2019

A Letter To Our Clients October 3, 2019 Dear Valued Investor: Summer has turned to fall, and there’s already a little chill in the air. Three-quarters of the [...]

September 4, 2019

A Letter To Our Clients September 4, 2019 Dear Valued Investor: The Dog Days of Summer were on full display this past month, as a variety of concerns [...]

Volunteer Vacations

Volunteer Vacations They could be among the most memorable journeys you take. Travel with a difference: the essence of the volunteer vacation. You take the trip, you help [...]

Plan Ahead to Ease Travel Headaches

Plan Ahead to Ease Travel Headaches Waiting in a winding airport security checkpoint line is just one of many potential headaches today's travelers experience. In order to help [...]

529 Plans: Taking Distributions

529 Plans: Taking Distributions Parents looking to take advantage of the many benefits of a 529 plan will want to know the full details on which educational expenses [...]

August 1, 2019

A Letter To Our Clients August 1, 2019 Dear Valued Investor: This summer has been interesting. Thus far, temperatures have been at a maximum for much of the [...]

June 6, 2019

A Letter To Our Clients June 6, 2019 Dear Valued Investor: Trade tensions have interrupted an unusually calm year in U.S. stocks. In May, the S&P 500 Index [...]

Recognizing and Avoiding Online Scams

Recognizing and Avoiding Online Scams According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, the number of U.S. data breaches hit a new high in 2017. Nearly 20% of breaches [...]

April 4, 2019

A Letter To Our Clients April 4, 2019 Dear Valued Investor: April brings showers, baseball, and historically, the best month of the year for the S&P 500 Index [...]

A Financial Plan for All Seasons

A Financial Plan for All Seasons Grab your sunglasses -- spring's here, and it's time to kick back and relax. If only it were that easy. It would [...]

March 7, 2019

A Letter To Our Clients March 7, 2019 Dear Valued Investor: The S&P 500 Index has staged an impressive rally after nearly entering a bear market December 24, [...]

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