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Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Where will you retire?

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

As the holiday season approaches, many of us are thinking about giving back to our communities and supporting the causes that we care about. One way to do this is through charitable giving, which can provide valuable support to...

Monday, December 5, 2022

Over the years, the Fed has followed a similar pattern with interest rates. It raises interest rates, then pauses, so it can see how the economy is adjusting to the higher rates. The chart below shows the Fed’s pattern with...

Thursday, November 17, 2022

2 minute readHave you looked at your bank statement lately? Getting much interest? Yea, I didn't think so. This is the issue with bank money. Low interest. But this isn't the ONLY problem with letting your hard earned dollars sit in a...

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

How well do you remember 1981? Harrison Ford had his first bow as Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Frogger and Donkey Kong were all the rage at video arcades. Bob Ross left the Air Force and took up painting. On top of that,...

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Tuesday, September 13, 2022

You know when you turn on the radio and a song from a certain time in you life comes on and it brings you back there in an instant? I have had those musical moments more and more as I get more "mature". A song from high school brings...

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Your Emergency Fund: How Much Is Enough?Have you ever had one of those months? The water heater stops heating, the dishwasher stops washing, and your family ends up on a first-name basis with the nurse at urgent care. Then, as you're...

Thursday, August 11, 2022

"Where there's a will, there's a way." Sage advice that applies not only to our lives but to your estate strategy.When was the last time you reviewed your will or estate strategy? August is National "Make a Will" Month, an excellent...

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Stocks rallied last week as investor spirits lifted thanks to a better-than-expected start to the second-quarter earnings season.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.95%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 added 2.55%. The...

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

 The Stock Market is truly driving many folks crazy. We got so comfortable with the highs of the past 12 years we all forgot what it feels like to go down. It doesn’t feel good if you are invested in the stock market, I can...

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Making a decision around financial matters is often stressful. Second guessing oneself, wondering if you did the right or wrong move can keep you up at night. Now add in a life partner and their opinion and the whole situation can...

Friday, June 3, 2022

With the children now out of the house, financial priorities become more focused on preparing for retirement. At this stage, you may very likely be at the height of your earning power and fast approaching peak savings as you lay the...

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Rare collectibles can provide an entertaining form of alternative “investment,” and might seem particularly intriguing when markets are wobblier than Aunt Gertrude’s jello salad. Comic books can sell for millions of...

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Monday, March 21, 2022

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Friday, March 4, 2022

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Saturday, January 29, 2022

When markets fall, it’s easy to forget that downtrends are part of the investing cycle. So when prices slip, it's a good time to review some common terms that you may be hearing that describe today’s financial markets.

Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Left Your Job...What About Your 401K? One of the common threads of a mobile workforce is that many individuals who leave their job are faced with a decision about what to do with their 401(k) account.¹Individuals have four...

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Call it a wrap....2021 is out of here! I love a NEW year. It gives me an opportunity to have a clean slate. I don't spend a ton of time reminiscing. I am more of a forward thinker. I love new opportunities and personal growth. That is why M

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

If you’ve been watching inflation news in recent months, you might have found it a bit overwhelming. I know at our house, we’re paying more for everything from milk to batteries to holiday gifts this year.

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Most likely, you’ve heard what’s brewing in Washington, D.C., called by one of these names. The Build Back Better Act. Or the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill. Or the Jobs and Economic Recovery Plan for Working...

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

On October 13, 2021, the Social Security Administration (SSA) officially announced that Social Security recipients will receive a 5.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2022, the largest increase in four decades. This...

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Usually on a normal day, (are days normal anymore?), our blogs are about retirement financial goals or retirement lifestyle choices. This week I am inspired to write about manners. You know, the PLEASE & THANK YOU phrases that seem to...

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Traditional Vs. Roth IRA Traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA), which were created in 1974, are owned by roughly 36.1 million U.S. households. And Roth IRAs, created as part of the Taxpayer Relief Act in 1997, are owned by...

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

It's a little scary budgeting when your usual income is coming to a screeching halt, right? Retirement is something you have worked for your whole life, on income you were used to. Now you begin on a fixed income. (Most people). That's...

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

I love my dogs. Tootsie is 15 years old & Snickers is probably 13 years old. We don't really know for sure because he is a rescue. They are really part of our family and have been for years. We have been fortunate that they have lived...

Friday, September 10, 2021

I think it's safe to say many people plan to do some form of volunteering after they retire. But how often does it get put into action? A common feeling retirees have when volunteering is unpreparedness. People spend 50 years working,...

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

Some of us share a common experience. You're driving along when a police cruiser pulls up behind you with its lights flashing. You pull over, the officer gets out, and your heart drops. “Are you aware the registration on your car...

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Your retirement is facing the boogeyman.. INFLATION. It's time to be strategic on how to protect your retirement savings and conquer inflation once and for all. So what exactly is inflation? The definition: the rate at which the value...

Monday, August 23, 2021

For many of us, we find a sense of purpose in our careers. It's a motivator to show up and be great. So what happens when you retire? What's the motivation when your career is removed? I love this question because it forces you to stop...

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Financial Independence, Retire Early. Sounds pretty nice right? This movement is dedicated to a program of extreme savings and investment that allows individuals to retire far earlier than traditional budgets and retirement plans would...

Tuesday, August 10, 2021

It can be exhausting trying to keep up with the whims of Wall Street. Lately, the financial markets have been fixated on federal taxes and what may be proposed on Capitol Hill in the weeks and months ahead. Wall Street’s focus...

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

Retiring is more than likely the biggest financial decision you will ever make, don't take it lightly..

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Are you the person in your relationship who lets your partner/spouse handle all the finances in your household? Do you have absolutely no idea where your life savings is kept? Like no idea about all the accounts you jointly own or...

Thursday, July 15, 2021

The uncertainties we face in retirement can erode our sense of confidence, potentially undermining our outlook during those years. Indeed, according to the 2017 Retirement Confidence Survey by the Employee Benefits Research Institute,...

Monday, July 12, 2021

Few life events are more stressful than a job loss.If you or someone you know is in this situation due to COVID-19, you’ll likely have several questions about job hunting, unemployment insurance, and health care. You may also be...

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

THIS MAY BE BIG NEWS!!!! You may have seen headlines regarding the Securing a Strong Retirement Act, also referred to as the second version of the SECURE Act, or SECURE Act 2.0. As the bill moves from the House of Representatives to...

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

The real rate of return is an important personal finance concept to understand. It’s the rate of return on your investments after inflation. The real rate of return indicates whether you are gaining or losing purchasing power...

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

I remember getting an allowance when I was a kid. I did a chore, got paid and bought candy! Sweet😊I also remember having a piggy bank (yes it was a pig) and I would open it up from time to time and count my coins. But when I think...

Monday, June 14, 2021

How confident are you in your financial planning? You're not alone if you're feeling a little insecure about it. One study found that 71% of U.S. adults admin that their financial planning could use some work- but only 29% actually...