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 in planning, preparing, and celebrating this annual feast.1 Here are four Thanksgiving lessons that might help your household's financial plan [...]

5 Do’s and Don'ts for Charitable Giving During the Holidays The fourth quarter holidays are often seen as one of the prime times to take out your checkbook — not only do many charities put in extra efforts helping others this time of year, but donating is also a smart financial move. Giving to a [...]

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 transfer assets from your name into your trust's name while you still retain control of the assets until you die. [...]

6 Scary Money Mistakes and How to Avoid Becoming a Financial Horror Story Managing money may seem stressful at times. Unexpected expenses, changes in employment, and changes in family or lifestyle may all lead to money issues. Making sure you have money saved up for the unexpected is crucial. Here are some other scary money [...]

Got Investophobia? Here are 6 Steps to Overcome Your Investing Fears Investing your money for the future might be one of the quickest ways to grow your wealth, whether saving for retirement or making a large purchase. While most people know investing is a potential way toward a more manageable financial future, some may find [...]

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 a collection of steps that help you to evaluate your financial condition and determine how to prepare for your financial [...]

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 help pulling together a plan for your finances, a financial professional can explain how you can work together to identify [...]

How a Financial Professional Can Help You Apply Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” to Your Investment Strategy In 1989, Stephen Covey, an American author, educator, and businessman, published his groundbreaking self-help book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Regardless of income level, age, or career, anyone can learn and practice the skills [...]

Smart Savings: 5 Tax Breaks for College Students and Parents With the cost of college expensive for many, receiving a tax break from the IRS for college-related expenses may be appealing. 529 Plans and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) offer tax-advantaged withdrawals when used for qualified expenses. But for those seeking an additional tax deduction [...]

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 many challenges—from the cost of childcare to inconvenient scheduling issues. There are a few steps working parents may wish to [...]