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What’s on our mind? You can read about it in our blog. Whether it’s ideas from the industry or emerging trends, you can read about it here. And once in a while, we may throw in a movie review or some other surprise. So keep checking in. We’re glad to have you reading along.

 

Monday, September 20, 2021

One minute you’re tooling down the sidewalk as you scroll through your phone looking for that important text message from yesterday… the next minute, WHAM! You’re broadsided as you absentmindedly step off the curb...

 

Sunday, September 12, 2021

RecapIt’s hard to believe we’re a few months away from turning the calendar to 2022. While this time of year can feel like it goes quickly, take a moment to enjoy fall: the weather cools, the leaves start to change,...

 

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

What does the Peace Corps, the US Senate, and the tax code have to do with education funding? They’re all related to Senator William Coverdell! Senator Coverdell represented Georgia from 1993 to 2000 after serving as the...

 

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Isn’t it the worst when you wake up after you’ve hit the snooze button? Just a few more minutes! If your child is approaching college and you're behind on education savings, it can feel like hitting the snooze button...

 

Sunday, August 8, 2021

As summer comes to an end and the excitement of a new school year begins, most parents dread the price tag associated with back-to-school shopping. And we don’t blame them! The amount of necessary supplies has climbed to new...

 

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Monday, August 2, 2021

This month's Retirement Readiness newsletter features insights into inflation, the choices for your 401(k) at a former employer, rethinking the 4% rule, and considering how to live a fulfilling retirement. Hope you enjoy, and as...

 

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

When you have a major life event such as getting married, having a child, or buying a home, your financial situation and priorities may change. As your life changes, your financial decisions must stay in line with your goals, values,...

 

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Recently, there’s been a lot of noise about the Biden Administration’s American Jobs Plan, commonly referred to as the ‘infrastructure bill.’ We’ve heard a lot about infrastructure over the few years, and...

 

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

We always hope our clients feel confident discussing money with their families. The truth is, talking about money can be uncomfortable! Where do you begin? What’s the right age? The good news is, it’s never too early to...

 

Thursday, June 17, 2021

Each year there are billions of dollars in federal financial aid available from the U.S. Department of Education in the form of grants, loans and work-study funds. Current college or prospective students that fill out the Free...

 

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

This month’s Your Money Matters newsletter features an overview on how inflation is reported and how it can affect investments, tips for inventorying your possessions plus how it can help you save in the event of a loss, ways to...

 

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Over the last four decades, the price of a college education has grown disproportionately to other costs. Inflation set aside, college cost has more than doubled since the 1960's and college costs have gone up by more than 50% for...

 

Monday, May 17, 2021

This month’s Your Money Matters newsletter features some tips on budgeting after a divorce, a brief video on choosing a mortgage, how disability insurance may be a good way to protect your income and savings, along with some fun...

 

Thursday, May 6, 2021

This month's Retirement Readiness newsletter features uncertainties we face in retirement that erode our sense of confidence, a brief video on how one might treat their next chapter in retirement, ideas around experiencing negative...

 

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Between celebrating mom and Memorial Day gatherings, May brings a month of transition from Spring into Summer. And with it, warmer temperatures that give us the chance to enjoy warm, lazy weekends with many opportunities to gather...

 

Monday, April 26, 2021

President Biden has unveiled his $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan; now, the focus turns to how the Administration proposes to pay for all (or some of) the measures. While these plans are still subject to significant change,...

 

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Once you complete this year’s taxes, you may wonder what to do with that pile of records, 1099s, receipts, and bank statements. The IRS recommends holding on to any documents related to the income you’re reporting or any...

 

Thursday, March 18, 2021

One year into the global pandemic, President Biden has signed into action a new $1.9 trillion stimulus package known as the American Rescue Plan Act. It’s designed to help the American people continue to recover from the...

 

Monday, February 1, 2021

Help Your Family Plan Your Care Avoid misunderstandings by planning now for the day you can no longer care for yourself. Becoming increasingly dependent on others for the normal activities of daily life can be a harsh reality. It can...

 

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

January is Financial Wellness Month, a time to remind people to make arrangements for their financial strategy.For me, it’s time for me to connect with new clients and discuss their financial situation and aspirations for their...

 

Monday, December 7, 2020

There may not be an easy way to protect your digital identity but there are steps you can take to thwart criminals. Freezing your credit, updating software on your devices, staying knowledgeable about the latest scams, making sure...

 

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Preventing Identity Theft Limiting exposure of your personal information is the best way to protect yourself from fraud. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that as many as nine million Americans have their identities stolen each...

 

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

During our working years, many of us have access to an employer-sponsored health insurance plan either through our own job or our spouse’s job. But when it comes to retirement, we typically rely on Medicare and Medicare...

 

Sunday, November 1, 2020

If you’re like me, getting older has brought with it the quicker passage of time and a handful of new aches and pains. But what hurts more than the occasional morning stiffness is witnessing cherished friends or family members...

 

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

The upcoming election is prompting some people to reconsider their investment strategy.In fact, 45% of consumers with $100,000 or more investable assets expect to make changes to their portfolio due to the upcoming 2020 presidential...

 

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

It’s a startling statistic.45% of consumers with $100,000 or more investable assets expect to make changes to their investments due to the upcoming 2020 presidential election.1Second-guessing your investment strategy is natural,...

 

Thursday, October 1, 2020

Four Basic Estate Planning Documents Estate planning is less overwhelming if you break it into four areas of focus. Being prepared for major life and death decisions requires thoughtful, thorough planning. When it comes to your estate...

 

Thursday, September 10, 2020

The U.S. stock market has suddenly been hit by a new bout of volatility, reminding uneasy investors of the sharp downturn last February and March. We are nowhere near that level of decline at this point, but the fact that it happened...

 

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Life Happens; Be Prepared September is Life Insurance Awareness Month, a campaign coordinated by the nonprofit Life HappensSM in response to growing concern about the number of Americans who lack adequate life insurance protection....

 

Thursday, August 27, 2020

New Shopping Habits The pandemic has changed our shopping habits, but how? A recent study by the consulting firm McKinsey & Co. shows some obvious—and not-so-obvious—changes in consumer behavior due to the Covid-19 economy....

 

Monday, August 17, 2020

Parental Attention See if you can relate to this. A recent study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family looked at childrearing trends in 11 developed nations, and found that, back in 1965, the average mother spent just 54...

 

Saturday, August 1, 2020

College costs can be more than a little painful, but with the proper financial planning, you could be whistling your child’s college fight song all the way to the bank. Although federal and state financial aid for college...

 

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

On Aug. 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law to help combat unemployment and guarantee income for retirees. Roosevelt acknowledged the limitations of the act, stating, "We can never insure...

 

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Talking to Parents about Letters of Instruction How to talk to your parents about their estate plans without looking like a vulture. Few conversations can be harder to have with your parents than asking about the plans they’ve...

 

Monday, June 1, 2020

Helping Your Parents Through Their Retirement In 1900, life expectancy at birth in the U.S. was 47 years. Now that number is closer to 79, and many of today’s children could live to see 100. But with an increase in longevity...

 

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Financial planning constantly asks the hard questions about life and death. Not just the “if” questions but also the “when” questions. Although it is often hard to think about the inevitable, the possible and...

 

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Coronavirus Legislation and Your Retirement Funds While it may be unpleasant to think about your 401(k) or IRA right now, you should know about changes COVID-19-related legislation has made to rules regarding tax-advantaged retirement...

 

Monday, April 6, 2020

3 Major Retirement Hazards to Avoid Retirement can mean the beginning of a new life. Here are a few common dangers to avoid. Retirement planning is a tricky process, one that requires careful planning and patience. But even if you have...

 

Friday, March 13, 2020

20200313_102047 from Karen Palomo on Vimeo.

 

Monday, March 2, 2020

Control Your Legacy with a Private Foundation Private foundations can let you control your gifts, reduce taxes and impart your values to future generations. Call it the golf and gala glut: the growing list of charitable parties, balls...

 

Friday, February 14, 2020

Protect Your Loved Ones from Financial Elder Abuse A study by MetLife Mature Market Institute, the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and Virginia Tech estimates the annual loss by victims of financial elder abuse is...

 

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Help Your Family Plan Your Care Avoid misunderstandings by planning now for the day you can no longer care for yourself. Becoming increasingly dependent on others for the normal activities of daily life can be a harsh reality. It can...

 

Thursday, January 2, 2020

With the New Year approaching, take time to make a list of your financial resolutions. Financial resolutions can be especially difficult to stick with because, like eating and exercising, our spending, saving and investing habits tend...

 

Monday, December 2, 2019

Free Credit Reports: Have you requested yours? Thanks to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), all Americans have access to a free copy of their credit report. It requires the consumer reporting companies to provide a free copy...

 

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

A Lasting Legacy Why planning for long-term care is so necessary in today’s world. James and Irene Norris have been married for 65 years, raised two sons, and owned and operated a small business together for more than 50 years....

 

Monday, October 28, 2019

Four Basic Estate Planning Documents Estate planning is less overwhelming if you break it into four areas of focus. Being prepared for major life and death decisions requires thoughtful, thorough planning. When it comes to your estate,...