Have you ever come out on top at a casino and decided to treat yourself to something extravagant? Did you spend your last tax refund on a vacation instead of paying down debt? Do you frequently dip into your savings but wouldn’t dare touch your 401(k)? If any of these...
7 Ways to Help You Cut College Costs
As we gear up for back to school season, you might be feeling the heat of those college tuition bills. You're not alone there. In fact, many parents choose to swallow the bitter pill, assuming they earn too much to qualify for financial aid. However, there are a...
July 2017 Monthly Insight: On the Importance of Ignoring Distractions and Financial Literacy
Ignore the Distractions Beyond last month’s synopsis regarding how the markets are reacting to Washington, we’ll stay out of the political weeds and let you form your own opinions. The current environment in Washington is generating an enormous amount of political...
What’s Your Money ‘Archetype?’
There are eight common money behavior patterns or ‘archetypes’ battling it out in every investor. Being aware of your unconscious attitudes and behaviors toward money can give you an edge in managing your finances. Have you ever had a friend who blew big sums of money...
50 Things: What a Professional Advisor Does for You
Still on the fence about hiring a professional to help you manage your finance? Want to make sure you're getting the most out of your financial advisory experience? Just curious about what financial advisors do? Then have we got a list for you! Click the thumbnail...
Test your Knowledge of Financial Basics
How well do you understand personal finance? The following brief quiz can help you gauge your knowledge of a few basics. In the answer section, you'll find details to help you learn more. TAKE THE QUIZ!
Active vs. Passive Management
One of the longest-standing debates in investing is over the relative merits of active portfolio management versus passive management. With an actively managed portfolio, a manager tries to beat the performance of a given benchmark index by using his or her judgment...
The Art of Managing Retirement Assumptions
A retirement plan is built on a set of assumptions that can’t be validated until it’s too late. One key to successful retirement planning is carefully setting assumptions and revising them often. Retirement calculators make it so easy. Pick a retirement date. Estimate...
May 2017 Monthly Insight – Creating a Legacy Plan for Your Social Media Accounts
“Your story is the greatest legacy that you will leave to your friends. It’s the longest-lasting legacy you will leave to your heirs.” —Steve Saint Maybe you’ve seen a lighthearted infographic, widely circulated on the internet, which attempts to explain social media...
Converting Retirement Savings to Retirement Income
You've been saving diligently for years, and now it's time to think about how to convert the money in your traditional 401(k)s (or similar workplace savings plans) into retirement income. But hold on, not so fast. You may need to take a few steps first. Evaluate your...