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Imagine stepping into an elevator and realizing that you’re about to spend the 30-second ride with someone who could make your retirement dreams come true — if only you could explain them before the doors open again. How would you summarize your financial situation, outlook, aspirations, and plans if you had 30?seconds to make an “elevator pitch” about achieving one of your most important goals?

Avoiding Probate Probate is the process of proving the validity of a will and supervising the administration of an estate, usually in the probate court. State law governs the proceedings in the probate court, so the process can vary from state to state. Supervising the administration of an estate can result in additional expense, unwanted publicity, and delays in the distribution of estate assets for a year or longer, which is why planning to avoid the probate process may be beneficial. There..

High Inflation: How Long Will It Last? In March 2022, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), the most common measure of inflation, rose at an annual rate of 8.5%, the highest level since December 1981. It's not surprising that a Gallup poll at the end of March found that one out of six Americans considers inflation to be the most important problem facing the United States.2 When inflation began rising in the spring of 2021, many economists, including policymakers

As measured by the Consumer Price Index for food at home, grocery prices increased 3.4% in 2020, a faster rate than the 20-year historical average of 2.4%.1 More recently, food inflation accelerated by 6.5% during the 12 months ending in December 2021, while prices for the category that includes meat, poultry, fish, and eggs spiked 12.5%.2 Food prices have long been prone to volatility, in part because the crops grown to feed people...

Every year, the Internal Revenue Service announces cost-of-living adjustments that affect contribution limits for retirement plans and various tax deduction, exclusion, exemption, and threshold amounts. Here are a few of the key adjustments for 2022. Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax The annual gift tax exclusion (and annual generation-skipping transfer tax exclusion) for 2022 is $16,000, up from $15,000 in 2021.The gift and estate tax

Colliding Forces: Russia, Oil, Inflation, and Market Volatility The Russian invasion of Ukraine has drawn condemnation and punitive sanctions from the United States, Europe, and their allies. The humanitarian cost of war cannot be measured, and the long-term economic effects could take months or years to unfold. However, the early stages of the conflict pushed oil prices upward and sent the U.S. stock market plunging, only to see stocks bounce back and drop again...

The headline U.S. unemployment rate fell from 6.7% at the end of December 2020 to 3.9% in December 2021 — the biggest one-year improvement in history.1 While many workers took advantage of this strong rebound in the job market, companies large and small have been struggling with labor shortages.

Making long-term decisions about money can be difficult and even a little scary. Many people turn to an advisor for help with their financial decisions. Many advisors offer good advice but deciding whether they're worth the price can be difficult. Before an investor hires an advisor, they should make sure that the advisor has their best interests in mind. There are many benefits to hiring an advisor as they often have a broader, deeper knowledge of money...

Investors simply can't have it all (risk free). To get a reward, investors must be willing to accept some risk. That is the fundamental trade-off of investing; risk is involved with almost any investment. Investors must establish their establish their investor personality to structure their investment strategy.

Net Price Calculators Help Gauge College Affordability Fall is the time when many high school seniors narrow their college lists and start applying to colleges. One question that is often front and center on the minds of families is...

Covering relevant topics for what lies ahead throughout the week of November 8th-12th, while summarizing what happened during last week's earnings frenzy. Rick takes a dive into relevant economic data, including rising inflation, tapering, the Consumer Price Index, and more.

The fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic creates the need for a new type of financial advisor who can integrate digital marketing tools, use video conferencing to close business, provide virtual client servicing, and more.

In March 2021, a digital image by a graphic artist known as Beeple was sold in the form of a nonfungible token, or NFT, for $69.3 million, making him the third-most-valuable living artist. This was the first sa...

Annuities are insurance-based financial vehicles that can provide many benefits sought by retirement-minded investors. There are a number of reasons why people buy annuities. Deferral of taxes is a big benefit, and so is the ability to put large sums of money into an annuity — more than is allowed annually in a 401(k) plan or an IRA — all at once or over a period of time. Annuities offer flexible payout options that can help retirees meet their cash-flow needs.

Unfortunately, placing all your savings in taxable instruments like certificates of deposit can create quite an income tax bill. In an effort to help provide stability, some investors inadvertently produce a liability. It’s a bit like turning on all the taps in your house just to make certain the water is still running. Sure, you’ll know that the water is still running, but a lot of it will go down the drain. The solution is simply to turn off some of the taps.

Don't Let Debt Derail Your Retirement Debt poses a growing threat to the financial security of many Americans - and not just college graduates with exorbitant student loans. Recent studies by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College (CRR) and the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) reveal an alarming trend: The percentage of older Americans with debt is at its highest level in almost 30 years, and the amount and types of debt are on the rise. Debt Profile of Older

Are you on track to retire when you'd hoped?

When you purchase a fixed-indexed annuity, you have the opportunity to select from indexed strategies that offer you the opportunity to earn interest based, in part, on market performance without the risk of market loss...

Just as the seasons change throughout the year, the economy and its sectors go through cyclical changes over time.

Understanding company fundamentals is a key component when it comes to making smart investment decisions. Learn more about what are widely considered to be "The 3 Key" financial statements, with this easy to understand chart.

If you are self-employed or own a small business and you haven't established a retirement savings plan, what are you waiting for? A retirement plan can help you and your employees save for the future...

During the last week of February 2020, the S&P 500 lost 11.49% — the worst week for stocks since the 2008 financial crisis — only to jump by 4.6% on the first Monday in March...

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020. This $2 trillion emergency relief package represents a bipartisan effort to assist both individuals and businesses in the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic and accompanying economic crisis. The CARES Act provisions for retirement plan relief for individuals under federal tax law are discussed here.

A Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan is part of the $2 trillion CARES Act. The SBA classifies PPP loans as a 7(a) loan with $349 billion* designated for the program. The loans feature a streamlined application process, less documentation and fewer restrictions. If you’re considering such a loan for your business, it’s important to understand who does and doesn’t qualify, how much you can borrow, how forgiveness works and other key details.

On Friday, March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law. This $2 trillion emergency relief package is intended to assist individuals and businesses during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and accompanying economic crisis. Major relief provisions are summarized here. Unemployment provisions The legislation provides for:  An additional $600 weekly benefit to those collecting unemployment benefits, through July 31, 2020An additional 13

Rolling over your Employee Retirement Plan Assets can seem like an overwhelming task at times. It's important to understand the basics of these types of plans, as well which type of rollover you will be initiating. In this article find you can find a brief summary of the process you can expect when you begin a rollover.

For most working Americans, the road to retirement is a long haul focused on efficient money management and prudent investing. We spend decades planning, putting money away, and investing in hopes of building a nest egg that will one day grow large enough for us to one day retire. But what happens after retirement?

Why do so many people never obtain the financial independence that they desire? Often it's because they just don't take that first step — getting started.