Trends in Charitable Giving
According to the most recent report by Giving USA, Americans gave $499 billion to charity in 2022.1 Americans usually give to charity for two main reasons: to support a cause or organization they care about or to leave a legacy through their support. When giving to charitable organizations, some people elect to support through cash […]
Estate Management Checklist
Do you have a will? A will enables you to specify who you want to inherit your property and other assets. A will also enables you to name a guardian for your minor children. Do you have healthcare documents in place? Healthcare documents spell out your wishes for health care if you become unable to […]
An Overview of Renter’s Insurance
Renters sometimes overlook the need for insurance based on the belief that they may not have a significant amount of personal possessions, or because the property is already insured by the owner. While it is true that a rental property is insured by the owner, the destruction or loss of your personal belongings is not. […]
A Decision Not Made Is Still a Decision
Whether through inertia or trepidation, investors who put off important investment decisions might consider the admonition offered by motivational speaker Brian Tracy, “Almost any decision is better than no decision at all.” This investment inaction is played out in many ways, often silently, invisibly, and with potential consequences to an individual’s future financial security. Let’s […]
Insurance Needs Assessment: For Empty Nesters and Retirees
With the children now out of the house, financial priorities become more focused on preparing for retirement. At this stage, you may very likely be at the height of your earning power and fast approaching peak savings as you lay the groundwork for retirement. During this final leg to retirement—and throughout your retirement period—wealth protection […]
Financial Aid for Students 101
Preparing for college while still in high school can be difficult for even the most academically-minded student. These days, you need to excel in the classroom, make sure you’re involved in extracurricular activities, and enroll in challenging classes to impress a college admissions board. On top of that, the financial cost of higher education may […]
Inflation and the Real Rate of Return
The real rate of return is an important personal finance concept to understand. It’s the rate of return on your investments after inflation. The real rate of return indicates whether you are gaining or losing purchasing power with your money. So if inflation checks in at a rate of 6%, does that mean any investment […]
Changing Unhealthy Behaviors
Permanent change is evolutionary, not revolutionary
9 Facts About Social Security
Benefits are based on an individual’s average earnings during a lifetime of work under the Social Security system. The calculation is based on the 35 highest years of earnings. If an individual has years of low or no earnings, Social Security may count those years to bring the total years to 35.
Caring for Aging Parents
For many people, one of the most difficult conversations to have involves talking with an aging parent about extended medical care.