Financial Planning
Preparing for a First Meeting with a Financial Advisor
You have a first meeting with a new financial advisor, congrats! You’re taking an essential step in forging a path to financial confidence and clarity. But this is more than just a casual chat; it’s a critical conversation to determine if this professional is the right fit for you. You’ll need to equip yourself with…
Read MoreKeep Politics Out of Your Portfolio
In our current environment, where political news comes from every direction, it’s important to remember the importance of impartiality in your portfolio. There is a certain allure of aligning your portfolio with your political beliefs, but the lessons of history underscore the significance of maintaining a clear boundary between the two. Here are a few…
Read MoreWe All Have Money Blind Spots
Blind spots, in the realm of investing, can be likened to the unnoticed smudges on a pair of glasses. They obscure a clear view of reality, but can easily go unnoticed. In the world of finance, this can have costly implications. Imagine Sarah, an IT executive. She’s tech-savvy and feels very confident investing in the…
Read MoreUnveiling the 2024 Medicare Changes: What You Need to Know
October 12, 2023, was a significant day for millions of Americans as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revealed the premium, deductible, and coinsurance adjustments for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs, along with the 2024 Medicare Part D income-related monthly adjustment amounts. These changes have far-reaching implications for beneficiaries and…
Read More2024 Social Security Benefits on the Rise: What You Need to Know
In 2024, more than 71 million Americans will experience a significant boost in their Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, thanks to a 3.2% increase. These adjustments are made to ensure that beneficiaries can keep up with the rising cost of living. Understanding the 3.2% Increase: The increase in Social Security benefits…
Read MoreMust-Know Retirement Deadlines
When can you access your savings without a penalty? When should you enroll in Medicare? At what age is it best to collect Social Security? In the years leading up to retirement, there are a number of key milestones and deadlines to consider. Without careful attention, it’s easy to miss these checkpoints and the consequences…
Read MoreTarget Date Funds: What They Are and When to Use Them
These financial tools automatically rebalance as you near retirement. A target date fund is an investment instrument designed to become more conservative as it approaches a predetermined future date. For investors looking to simplify their retirement strategies, target date funds can be appealing for their “set-it-and-forget-it” nature. But how do they work and are they…
Read More10 Questions To Ask When Relocating In Retirement
Did you know that 40% of workers today plan to move to a different city or region after they retire?1 This underscores a trend of retirees eager to explore new horizons, trade familiar environments for fresh ones, and even redefine what their retirement living might look like. However, the decision to relocate during retirement shouldn’t be…
Read MoreAre You Prepared For A 30 Year Retirement?
The good news? Retirees are living longer. The bad news? Many aren’t planning for it financially. Life expectancy is a key piece of retirement planning. After all, you’ll need to estimate your lifespan to determine how much money you’ll need to retire comfortably. Many pre-retirees speculate on this figure or overlook it entirely. So, how…
Read More3 Biases That Can Sabotage Your Wealth
Making financial decisions can often be more challenging than it appears. A variety of subtle influences can cloud our judgment. Among these, behavioral biases like anchoring, loss aversion, and herd behavior have been found to shape our choices significantly. In this article, we’ll explore each of these biases and ways to counteract their influence. Anchoring …
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