When the Federal Reserve raises its benchmark federal funds rate, there are a number of ways it could affect you as a consumer and investor. What is the federal funds rate? The federal funds rate is the interest rate at which banks lend funds to each other overnight to maintain legally required reserves. It applies … Read more
A charitable lead trust can be a great way for an individual to leverage his or her generosity, producing tax savings that can be used to provide greater benefits to both the individual’s favorite charity and his or her own family. The tax savings are generated because of the way donation values are calculated and … Read more
Whether you have a prenuptial agreement in place or not, whether your divorce is amicable or not, you are no longer part of a pair. You’re flying solo, for now, and that means the joint money decisions you used to make must be altered to suit a newly single lifestyle. Working with a financial advisor … Read more
You’ve worked hard your whole life and you’re ready to start thinking retirement. Now is not the time to rest on your laurels or to assume that Social Security alone will take care of your needs as you age. Smart retirees plan ahead, whether you’re ready to hang it up within months or whether you … Read more
When you want to invest, there is always somewhere to put your money. However, if you’re considering paying off debts too, most notably your mortgage, the question then becomes: Where is the best place to put your money – your mortgage or the market? Here are some important factors to consider. If You Want to … Read more
Regardless of whether you prepare your taxes yourself or use a professional’s services, it’s a good idea to gather the information and documentation you need well in advance of your actual tax filing date. Below, we’ve listed some key information you need when preparing this year’s taxes. YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION The personal information you may … Read more
Nearly 7 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia today. This number is predicted to increase to 13.8 million by 2060 unless there is some type of medical breakthrough that slows down the disease or outright cures it. Alzheimer’s remains the fifth-leading cause of death among Americans aged 65 and older … Read more
INSURANCEREAD TIME: 3 MIN Did you know that… Sixty-one percent of American workers have no private short-term disability insurance.1,2 Sixty-seven percent of working people in the U.S. lack private long-term disability coverage.1,2 Forty-eight percent of Americans have no life insurance.3,4 Approximately 14 percent of American drivers are uninsured.5 If you ask a homeowner, replacing a … Read more
INVESTMENTREAD TIME: 2 MIN YOUR SHIFTING RISK TOLERANCE When you created your investment strategy, your asset allocation should have reflected your goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk. But over time, any of those three factors may have changed, and your portfolio may now need adjustments to reflect your new investing priorities. It’s important to … Read more
Investing with an eye toward promoting social, political, or environmental concerns (or at least not supporting activities you feel are harmful) doesn’t mean you have to forgo pursuing a return on your money. Socially responsible investing may allow you to further both your own economic interests and a greater good, in whatever way you define that term. The concept of putting … Read more
Today marks the 52nd Earth Day, with this year’s theme “Invest in Our Planet.” We took this opportunity to look at some of the risks relating to global climate change. While from the top down governments have been grappling with the commitments needed for climate change solutions, from the bottom up the private sector’s innovation … Read more
As the stock market recovered from the 2020 pandemic lows, valuations reached levels not seen since the dotcom bubble more than 20 years ago. The reopening economy and massive fiscal stimulus helped fuel one of the strongest starts to a bull market ever (a bull market that just turned two-years-old last week). Low interest rates were a big … Read more
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