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Whether you are just entering your golden years or are already several years in, setting goals to stay on track and maintain your health, happiness, and finances is essential. So why not use the New Year's holiday to turn these goals into resolutions you will work on for the upcoming year? Ready to get started tackling some new goals to help improve your mind, body, and finances? Below are a few resolutions worth considering. Create a Budget Creating a new budget each year is an excellent i

In the world of investing, the holiday effect as it is often referred to, is a phenomenon where stock prices see an increase right before a major holiday. There are many theories on why this may occur. It could be from trading volume being down due to investors taking a vacation or maybe because investors are becoming more averse to risk during the holiday season and off-loading their riskier investments.

When it comes to your estate plan, you don’t just have it drafted and put away until it is time for your loved ones to manage your lifetime of affairs. As your world changes year by year, it is critical that you review your estate plan and update it to stay aligned with your long-term financial goals. Here is an eight-step year-end estate planning checklist to help you organize and prioritize your estate planning strategy.  Have you reviewed your will? Reviewing your will as part of

After years of saving and planning for their golden years, many people nearing retirement fail to consider the tax burden they may face on income they receive after they stop working. While you will likely see a reduction in the amount of taxes you owe after the age of 65, you still need to plan ahead if you want to minimize your tax bill from the IRS.   Social Security Benefits Depending upon your total income and marital status, a portion of your Social Security benefits may be taxable.

The penultimate month of the year is often a time to reflect and offer thanks. And while economic and geopolitical uncertainty can overshadow the positives, there are things to be thankful for. Here is just some of what we’re thankful for, now that we’re in the second to last month of the year. Resilient U.S. economy. Coming into 2023, the dreaded R word (recession) seemed a near certainty. But the most recent data showed our economy grew at a strong 4.9% clip (annualized) during the

A 401(k) plan is one of the most popular and effective techniques for saving for your retirement. A company will automatically withdraw and contribute money from each paycheck to your 401(k) plan. Some employers will even match a percentage of the contribution. Are you maximizing these contributions? There are also limits on how much you are allowed to contribute annually. Here is a 401(k) end-of-the-year checklist you may find beneficial in keeping up with your retirement strategy.  Review

In today's rapidly evolving business environment, standing still is not an option. The companies that thrive are those that innovate, adapting to change and embracing new technologies. Innovation is more than just a buzzword – it's a vital strategy for future-proofing your business. Here's how small businesses can leverage innovation and benefit from a range of financial credits and incentives.

In the realm of estate planning, the ripple effects of our oversights often linger long after we're gone, impacting the lives of those we leave behind. It’s the uniqueness of this area of planning that makes it paramount to get things right. Yet, many often trip up. Here's a closer look at the six most common estate planning mistakes and how you can work towards sidestepping them.1. Not making a plan at all. The Mistake: The adage, “failing to plan is planning to fail”

Tax planning preparations include small-business owners taking necessary measures to optimize their taxes by taking advantage of deductions and benefits.Here is a brief tax planning overview for small-business owners preparing for tax filings. Incorporating these five tips into monthly, quarterly, and annual tax planning routines may help prevent errors, avoid delays, and help small-business owners manage their stress levels.  1. Get Organized Early tax planning may help integrate monitori

The S&P 500 lost 3.3% in the third quarter after sliding nearly 5% in September. Putting this into perspective, nothing really qualifies as out of the ordinary. Since 1950, the S&P 500 has historically declined in September 55% of the time, posting an average decline of 3.8%. September has certainly lived up to its reputation as being a weak seasonal period for stocks. The main culprits were rising interest rates and government shutdown fears.Whether your goal is growth, value, or probab

As professionals, managing our own finances can be a challenge. However, one area that we often overlook, yet is vitally important, is understanding and navigating our aging parents' finances. As they move into retirement and beyond, their financial landscape can become complicated, making it necessary for us to step in. Here are some crucial areas to focus on: Understand Their Income Understanding your parents' income sources is the first step in comprehending their financial status. T

Planning for your financial future and retirement looks much different now than in previous years. Some people must supplement their Social Security to have enough to maintain their desired lifestyle. This means financial planning is now a critical component of retirement. While having a financial professional on your side is vital to managing your financial future, so is visualizing what your future may include. Visualizing Helps You Determine How Much You Need in Retirement One of the most im

You often hear people discuss "saving for retirement,” but in many cases, they're actually referring to their investing. The adage "you can't save your way to wealth" is simplistic, but has a kernel of truth; putting your money in a savings account often won't be enough to outpace the rate of inflation, which can erode the value of your savings over time. Below, we discuss some of the key differences between investing and saving and how to choose the most optimal

Planning personal finances used to be the worry of the wealthy and their worry—usually preservation of wealth—was attended to by teams of trust officers and lawyers. Many of today’s middle class families have different concerns: funding retirement; educating children; protecting assets; and coping with unexpected changes in health, employment, and marital situations. But, whether your goal is to build or protect assets, it may be better to start sooner rather than later. W

Financial markets lived up to their reputation during the month of August, which has a record for being difficult. On the first day of August, markets had to contend with a downgrade of U.S. long-term debt by the rating agency, Fitch. They attributed the adjustment to the “expected fiscal deterioration over the next three years, a high and growing general debt burden, and the erosion of governance.” Many financial leaders characterized the downgrade as “ridiculous,” but t

Retirement is not what you retire from, but what you retire to When you plan for retirement, an exciting new phase of life, double-check your expectations. They may not match the reality. Baby boomers, currently in their 50s and 60s, view retirement differently than the previous generations. Many boomers consider retirement as an opportunity to begin a new career, hobby or passion, which is a good thing. But the upcoming retirees may not take everything into account. Five Misconceptions About

Women own nearly 20% of the businesses that employ people in the United States, and countless more women run their businesses without employees. There are over one million women-owned firms. They employ over 10 million people and generate nearly $1.8 trillion in revenue annually.1If you are a female entrepreneur, you help create these stunning statistics but may also face interesting challenges with personal and business finances. To analyze your finances as a female entrepreneur, check out thes

Regardless of the business's size, small business owners have 401(k) retirement savings plan options that may be suitable for their situation. Business owners must plan for retirement by utilizing retirement savings vehicles that may provide them with common IRS tax savings incentives when funding specific 401(k) options.A business owner can open several retirement savings plan types if they're the only employee or have anywhere from two to 100 employees. As you work with your financial

A well-structured estate plan can be invaluable to you and your family   It is common for people to put off planning their estates. After all, no one wants to anticipate their death. In addition, many may believe that only the wealthy require estate planning or that all that is involved is tax planning, which can be done “later.” They may well be wrong on both counts. Your level of wealth and the ultimate tax consequences of your estate becomes secondary to the planning and car

Making economic forecasts and stock market predictions can be humbling. It's especially tough when you expect stocks to go higher and get a big drop instead.

Nearly 56 million American adults are 65 or older, and the demand for community living and estate planning services may increase over the next few decades.1Do you know what arrangements you need to make when the time comes? What are the differences between elder law and estate planning? And what should you know before you begin to get your affairs in order? Elder Law: Protecting Seniors Today and Tomorrow Elder law encompasses various legal issues for seniors, including legal support for elder

A successful investor maximizes gain and minimizes loss. Though there can be no guarantee that any investment strategy will be successful and all investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal, here are six basic principles that may help you invest more successfully. Long-term compounding can help your nest egg grow It's the "rolling snowball" effect. Put simply, compounding pays you earnings on your reinvested earnings. The longer you leave your money at work f

If you're living paycheck-to-paycheck or stuck in a job you don't love just to pay the bills, it can be easy to feel as though you're financially trapped. But financial freedom doesn't need to be elusive—with some focused and consistent effort, you may be able to achieve financial freedom sooner than you expected. Below, we'll discuss the different stages of the financial freedom journey. Stage 1: Dependence One classic quote from the Cosby Show illustrates the reason

Nearly three quarters of workers and 77% of retirees in a recent survey said they remain at least somewhat confident that they will experience a comfortable retirement, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute. Nevertheless, a third of workers and a quarter of retirees felt less confident this year due to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many respondents citing inflation as the reason.Not surprisingly, those feeling less confident were also more likely to report po

A student's education expenses may be reduced when a parent uses their tax-advantaged retirement account to help cover tuition and other related costs. With many students graduating with college loan debt, using a 401(k) or IRA may help lessen the burden of paying off education-related debt. However, before deciding to withdraw from a 401(k) or an IRA, knowing the rules and how they may impact you is essential.Usually, if one withdraws money from a 401(k) or IRA before age 59 1/2, they will

A Backdoor Roth IRA is a strategy that allows individuals who earn too much to directly contribute to a Roth IRA to still contribute to one indirectly. The strategy takes advantage of a loophole in the tax code that allows individuals to convert their traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, regardless of their income level. This type of conversion has become increasingly popular in recent years because of the significant tax benefits that it offers to high earners.The primary advantage of a Backdoor Roth

Tips so employers can help employees plan a confident and stable retirement Amidst a backdrop of a volatile market and potential inflationary pressures, these shifts can shape the future of employee retirement planning significantly. Here are four critical trends that deserve attention. Planning for a Volatile Market The volatility of global markets, particularly in the face of ongoing geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, continues to impact retirement savings. Employers should co

As we finalize the log on the first six months of 2023, we believe there’s value in reflecting on recent months gone by. Doing so can help crystallize key learnings and help chart a course through the rest of the year. Looking back on the first half of 2023, it’s probably fair to say the outcome has been a bit better-than-expected for the stock and bond markets, especially compared to 2022’s tumult.So, what major points have we learned through the first half of the year? Inflat