Financial

One of the most important decisions you will make in retirement is when to begin receiving your Social Security benefits. Yet this decision often depends on another: whether you plan to retire or keep working. The following are some pointers to help you make both decisions with confidence. When you can claim Social Security benefits Understanding your Social Security … [Read more...] about Will You Retire or Keep Working? Your Answer May Impact Your Social Security Check

Professionals in many industries tout their education and professional experience as a way to demonstrate their expertise and set themselves apart. The financial industry is a prime example, with almost 200 professional credentials advisors can obtain to sharpen their ability to serve clients well. If you are searching for a financial advisor and seeking clarity on what the … [Read more...] about What Do the Letters After A Financial Advisor’s Name Mean?

If you’re like a lot of investors, you may have trouble quantifying the level of risk you are comfortable taking on in your portfolio. Do you like to play it safe, staying in conservative investments even if it means potentially missing out on bigger returns? Or are you willing to take on more risk in the hopes of capturing higher gains? If you’re not sure where you land on the … [Read more...] about How Much Market Risk Are You Really Willing to Accept?

Currently trending in the media is the concept of an incredibly early retirement, called the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement. News outlets are printing stories of people successfully retiring in their 50s, 40s and even 30s. If you are intrigued by the idea of retiring early, you are probably wondering if moving your retirement date forward is something … [Read more...] about Dreaming of Retiring Early? Here’s Your Playbook

As a financial advisor, I’ve worked with many clients as they plan for their dream home and gleaned insights on the process along the way. Building a home can be an exciting, but challenging time. It takes a plan with realistic timelines, budgets and expectations to stay on track and keep your sanity through what can feel like an overwhelming process. If building a home is on … [Read more...] about Planning to Build Your Dream Home? Here Are Some Steps to Prepare

Insurance is one of the fundamental financial tools for any household. Most people recognize the important role of insurance, but many are unsure about how it works. If you have questions about insurance, you aren’t alone. As a financial advisor, I get a variety of questions about insurance. Here are some of the most common:  Q: I usually just renew my policies every … [Read more...] about Answers to Common Questions About Insurance

Parents want good things for their children, and a good credit record is certainly something that falls into that category. To help children achieve one, it’s important to teach them sound financial habits. Among the most fundamental lessons is valuing the money they earn and that they shouldn’t spend what they don’t have. This is the philosophy behind building a strong credit … [Read more...] about Put Your Child on a Path to Building a Solid Credit Score

Technology has inspired new ways for investors to manage their finances – often with added convenience and efficiency. Yet anything new comes with a degree of risk. Here is an introduction to four new money trends, including what each one is designed to do and some considerations before you decide whether to incorporate them into your life.  Transfer money … [Read more...] about Insights on the Newest Trends for Your Money

The current U.S. economic expansion recently enjoyed its ten-year anniversary. This means that for the past decade the economy, as measured by the nation’s gross domestic product has been consistently growing without a measurable pull-back, or recession. This long expansion follows the very difficult economic decline of 2008 and 2009, a period often referred to as the Great … [Read more...] about The Current Economic Expansion is Now the Longest in U.S. History.