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How Financial Asset Management May Help Investors Stay the Course
Most people who decide to purchase stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or other investment vehicles do so understanding that there are risks associated with investing, but believing that the potential growth they may realize over time...
Read MoreCommon Retirement Investment Mistakes
Only one-in-four Americans (27%) feel very confident that they will have enough money to live comfortably when they retire, according to the 2020 Retirement Confidence Survey Summary Report.11 While the number is up slightly from the...
Read MoreProtecting Yourself from Tax Identity Theft
Tax identity theft is when someone steals your Social Security Number, files a tax return with your number, and directs a refund to their own bank account. In other cases, this type of identity theft may involve a scam artist calling...
Read MoreHow Financial Asset Management May Help Investors Stay the Course
Most people who decide to purchase stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or other investment vehicles do so understanding that there are risks associated with investing, but believing that the potential growth they may realize over time...
Read MoreFebruary is a Great Time to File Your Taxes
Tax tips to make sure your money is working for you, not Uncle Sam When should you file your income tax? Generally speaking, the earlier, the better, after January 1st if you expect to get a refund. If you file by the end of February,...
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Pop Quiz! - Tax Planning Basics
Pop Quiz!—Tax Planning Basics Q: What’s the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction? A: A tax credit reduces your tax dollar for dollar—that is, a $1,000 tax credit actually saves you $1,000 in taxes. By...
Read MoreWhat Retirement Plans Are Available?
What Retirement Plans Are Available? When securing your financial future, saving for retirement usually is a no-brainer. But between an IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k), 457(b), SEP IRA, and the other retirement vehicles, how can you know which...
Read MoreThe Importance of Financial Wellness
Financial wellness, like physical wellness, isn’t something you should ignore. Instead, it's a critical concept for anyone who wants to be knowledgeable and confident about their finances, and in fact, financial wellness is so...
Read MoreThe Elusive Buy-Sell Strategy of Perfect Timing
Buying low or selling high is a prudent strategy for most investors, an effort to maximize returns. But buying lowest or selling highest is an elusive strategy, one that is difficult to execute and that may lead to lower returns and...
Read MoreHow the Winter Solstice Can Impact Your Budget
Last year, the average American spent nearly $1,000 per person on holiday gifts, up from about $885 per person in 2018.1 Though the COVID-19 pandemic continues to weigh on the retail sector (and many Americans' bank accounts), some...
Read MoreEnd of Year (EOY) Deadlines Checklist
2020 has been one of the most unprecedented years in recent history, but some things—like tax contributions and retirement deadlines—don't change much, if at all. And with the uncertainty surrounding just about everything,...
Read MoreOutlook 2021: Powering Forward
More than most years, it’s hard to look ahead to the next year, to 2021, without looking back at 2020. A global pandemic, a massive economic collapse, a bear market, a surprisingly sharp reversal, a hotly contested election...
Read MoreReady to Retire? How to Know for Sure
Retirement is an exciting time for many, and the reward for years of hard work. While there is no set age for retirement, it is important to be prepared before you make the leap, so that you enjoy your retirement and financial...
Read MoreYear-End Tax Planning
As the end of the year approaches, it's time to consider strategies that could help you reduce your tax bill. But most tax tips, suggestions, and strategies are of little practical help without a good understanding of your current tax...
Read MoreXtreme Hike to Benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Carolyn Russell of Russell Wealth Management joined her daughter Rachael Russell on the Xtreme Hike to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Vail, Colorado on September 19, 2020. It was a 20 mile hike. The Russell family has three...
Read MoreManaging Risk With Diversification
When you first considered investing, it probably seemed like a good idea to focus heavily on what worked best for you from the beginning. If stocks from a particular company brought you high yields, why not double up on your original...
Read MoreWondering Whether You Missed the Recovery?
It is only natural that investors would want to find some way to sit out bear markets and get back just in time for the next bull run. The belief that you can foresee the direction of the stock market is a seductive one. Some investors...
Read MoreCharitable Giving: How it Affects You Financially as Well as Personally
The holiday season is just around the corner and many charitable organizations are in desperate need of donations to help provide the vital services needed in the community. You are most often inundated with a number of charitable...
Read More10 Money Mistakes Millennials Should Avoid
Many millennial households are on their way to building substantial wealth. They are saving 20% or more of their paychecks, investing in 401(k) accounts, and keeping their debt levels low. But others, even those with good educations...
Read MoreCollege Funding: Planning Ahead for Financial Security
In recent years, the cost of higher education has risen well ahead of inflation. At some private colleges and universities, the net cost for one year’s full-time education, including tuition, fees, and room and board, tops $40...
Read MoreAre 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 Security may no longer provide a sufficient income to live on during retirement. To...
Read MoreFour Money-Saving Tips for Members of Generation X
Members of Generation X, those born between 1965 and 1980, largely grew up before the internet and cell phones.1 This generation prides itself on self-reliance and entrepreneurship, boasting membership as diverse as Jeff Bezos, Serena...
Read MoreA Quick Look at Life Insurance Needs
Have you ever wondered how much life insurance is “enough”? One general rule of thumb says that you should buy an amount equal to five to seven times your annual income. Sure, it may be a reasonable guideline, but this...
Read MoreLife Insurance and Charitable Giving
Life insurance can be an excellent tool for charitable giving. Not only does life insurance allow you to make a substantial gift to charity at relatively little cost to you, but you may also benefit from tax rules that apply to gifts...
Read MoreAnnuity Options: Choices Abound for Today's Retiree
As the earliest baby boomers begin to enter retirement, the various income guarantees and other living benefits offered through variable annuities (VAs) are gaining in importance. Yet before you rush to add a VA to your retirement...
Read MoreHow Much Life Insurance Do You Need?
Your life insurance needs change as your life changes. When you are young, you may not have a need for life insurance. However, as you take on more responsibility and your family grows, your life insurance needs increase. Your needs...
Read MoreNational Life Insurance Awareness Month
September is National Life Insurance Awareness month. And while most of us likely recognize that life insurance provides us peace of mind and security, there may be a few things you don’t know. Life Insurance is Not Just for the...
Read MoreShould You Buy Your Partner’s Book of Business When They Retire?
You have spent years building your business with your partner, and now, they are getting ready to leave the firm. But that doesn't have to mean that their clients have to leave the firm. Instead, you may want to buy your partner's...
Read MoreHow to Work With a Financial Professional
A flurry of new investment products, the emergence of global investing, the shift from company-funded pension plans to employee-driven retirement plans (like 401(k) plans), and uncertainty about Social Security have all contributed to...
Read MoreRetiring Business Owners - Plan for Succession
If you’re a small business owner, you’ve invested a great deal of time and effort into building your company. With day-to-day demands, it may be difficult to imagine your eventual transition into retirement. Yet, if you...
Read MoreGetting Started: Establishing a Financial Safety Net
In times of crisis, you don't want to be shaking pennies out of a piggy bank. Having a financial safety net in place can ensure that you're protected when a financial emergency arises. One way to accomplish this is by setting up a...
Read MoreFed Says We’ve Got Your Back For As Long As It Takes
The Federal Reserve (Fed) completed its latest two-day policy meeting Wednesday, July 29, and the primary message coming from the world’s most important central bank was a continued commitment to supporting the economy as long as...
Read MoreA “Reality Check” for Emerging Families
Steven and Pamela Jackson, both in their late twenties, have been married for five years. Steven is a customer service supervisor for a newspaper distribution company and Pamela works as a receptionist at a large bank. During the...
Read MoreLeading Indicators Elicit Cautious Optimism
Leading economic indicators continued to rebound in June, albeit at a slightly slower pace than in May. Yesterday, The Conference Board released its June report detailing the latest reading for its Leading Economic Index (LEI), a...
Read MoreHow to Save for Retirement and Avoid Overspending During Your Career
You know you want to enjoy your retirement, but getting to that point can feel difficult. Worried that you're not saving enough? Trying to get your spending under control? These problems are common for many people who are trying to...
Read MoreLPL Financial Research Midyear Outlook 2020: The Trail to Recovery
LPL Financial Research is looking ahead for new ways to face current challenges and prepare for better times. Use our Midyear Outlook 2020 to chart a path to eventual economic and market recovery. Plus, learn how stocks may predict the...
Read MoreAging Parents and Money
Getting old is hard. Your parents’ ability to manage their own finances may decline as they age. Helping them with money matters is a sensitive issue you need to approach carefully. When you hit a certain age of your life, you...
Read MoreThe Sandwich Generation: Juggling Family Responsibilities
At a time when your career is reaching a peak and you are looking ahead to your own retirement, you may find yourself in the position of having to help your children with college expenses while at the same time looking after the needs...
Read MoreTaking Stock at the Halfway Mark
It’s certainly been a wild ride for stocks in 2020. Barely past the halfway point, the year has already brought the worst pandemic to hit the US in over 100 years, an unprecedented government-induced recession as much of the...
Read MoreAre CLOs a Systemic Risk?
What is a Collateralized Loan Obligation (CLO)? Collateralized loan obligations (CLO) are portfolios of leveraged loans, a type of below-investment grade loan usually taken out by more heavily indebted companies. Each CLO is divided...
Read More529 Plans vs. Other College Savings Options
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 funds Mutual funds are an option to...
Read MoreEstate 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 sound financial plan that includes trust and estate planning. With some forethought, you may...
Read MoreNext Hike We See May Be 2023
The Federal Reserve (Fed) completed its third scheduled policy meeting of the year Wednesday, June 10, and continued to signal strong support for the economy, committing to keeping rates near zero until it is confident of a recovery...
Read MoreSmall Business Owners Guide to the CARES Act
As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the government has funded a number of initiatives to help small businesses. As you navigate this difficult time, you may want to look into the following...
Read MoreInvesting With Your Heart
Some individuals believe that return on investment shouldn’t be the only criterion for how they invest their money. For them, the social impact of investing is just as important – perhaps more important. The history of...
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