Tuesday, March 17, 2026

How do you know you are psychologically ready to retire? As a start, ask yourself four questions.

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools have become a game changer in various industries, and they are also proving incredibly useful for retirees looking to start consulting or a small business venture. These tools can simplify tasks, streamline processes, and help retirees navigate the world of entrepreneurship more efficiently

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Most understand that waiting to claim Social Security benefits can result in higher monthly payments. However, many don't know that there are other ways to maximize their benefits, some of which depend on their marital status.

Understanding the strategies for maximizing your Social Security retirement income benefits should be prefaced with a review of the three basic forms of retirement benefits

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

An orchestra is merely a collection of instruments, each creating a unique sound. It is only when a conductor leads them that they produce the beautiful music imagined by the composer.

The same can be said about your retirement strategy.

The typical retirement strategy is built on the pillars of your 401(k) plan, your Traditional IRA, and taxable savings. Getting the instruments of your retirement to work in concert has the potential to help you realize the retirement you imagine.

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Many Americans, through circumstances beyond their control, find themselves needing to retire earlier than anticipated. Whatever the circumstances, it’s difficult not to feel wrongfooted and hurried by the situation. However, it’s important to get yourself back on track as soon as possible.

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Regardless of how you approach retirement, there are some things about it that might surprise you.

Tuesday, March 20, 2025

Retiring earlier than expected can be disheartening. Learn steps that can help you smoothe the road ahead.

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Whether you’re applying for Social Security in the future or currently receiving benefits, there are some important changes to earnings limits, Medicare premiums, and other differences to keep in mind. Ready to learn more?

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Retirement is a significant transition, and it can bring both challenges and opportunities for women who have spent many years focused on their careers. For women approaching retirement age, it is crucial to consider various tips and strategies to ensure a smooth and fulfilling transition. An elegant pivot from work life to a life of one's own requires careful consideration. A woman retiring at 65 may live another two decades or more.

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

For the second year in a row, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as the FAFSA, will be delayed. The FAFSA for the 2025–2026 school year will open on December 1 instead of the typical October 1 date.

Last year, despite a redesigned FAFSA that was supposed to be easier to complete, families faced a perfect storm — a delayed rollout, technical glitches, and processing delays, which led to confusion and late financial aid packages from colleges. By one estimate, as of March 2024, FAFSA completions for the class of 2024 were down 40% from the prior year, with only about 27% of the class of 2024 successfully completing a FAFSA, compared to 45% for the class of 2023.

The FAFSA must be submitted every year for students to be eligible for federal aid. Click for tips on submitting the FAFSA, and for more information, families can visit the federal student aid website at studentaid.gov.

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Several factors affect the cost and availability of life insurance, including age, health, and the type and amount of insurance purchased. Any guarantees associated with a policy are dependent on the ability of the issuing insurance company to continue making claim payments. Click below to assess your Life Insurance needs. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a meeting to discuss your results, feel free to reach out.

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

It’s not an understatement to say that your financial review is one of the most critical aspects of successful financial planning.

Many people assume that once their financial plan has been created, they can ‘set and forget’. However, it’s helpful to find out about big changes in your circumstances when they happen, the point of an annual review is to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.  There are several reasons why it’s necessary to update your plan as you progress along your financial planning journey:

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

The tax filing deadline is fast approaching, which means time is running out to fund an IRA for 2023. If you had earned income last year, you may be able to contribute up to $6,500 for 2023 ($7,500 for those age 50 or older by December 31, 2023) up until your tax return due date, excluding extensions. For most people, that date is Monday, April 15, 2024.

You can contribute to a traditional IRA, a Roth IRA, or both. Total contributions cannot exceed the annual limit or 100% of your taxable compensation, whichever is less. You may also be able to contribute to an IRA for your spouse for 2023, even if your spouse had no earned income.

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Three important developments occurred recently in the world of federal student loans: the U.S. Supreme Court blocked an executive order offering loan cancellation to certain borrowers; Congress set an expiration date for the payment moratorium that has been in effect since March 2020; and new student loan interest rates have been set for the 2023–2024 school year. 

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

The SECURE 2.0 Act, passed as part of an omnibus spending bill in December 2022, added new exceptions to the 10% federal income tax penalty for early withdrawals from tax-advantaged retirement accounts. The Act also expanded an existing exception that applies specifically to employer plans. These exceptions are often called 72(t) exceptions, because they are listed in Section 72(t) of the Internal Revenue Code. 

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Expecting a Form 1099? Be aware the IRS allows investment sponsors to request extensions to compile information, so 1099s may not even arrive until mid-March or later. You may want to wait until closer to the April 17th deadline to file. For fastest access, we recommend signing up for online access to the individual company's website, if offered. For tips to make filing easier click here.

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

With approximately 94% of American workers covered by Social Security and 65 million people currently receiving benefits, keeping Social Security healthy is a major concern. Social Security isn't in danger of going broke — it's financed primarily through payroll taxes — but its financial health is declining, and benefits may eventually be reduced unless Congress acts.

Each year, the Trustees of the Social Security Trust Funds release a detailed report to Congress that assesses the financial health and outlook of this program. The most recent report, released on June 2, 2022, shows that the effects of the pandemic were not as significant as projected in last year's report — a bit of good news this year.