Blog
Why the Fed Can't Figure Out the Jobs Market
As the Fed continues its fight against inflation, one of the more challenging parts of the economy is gauging what's happening in the jobs market.
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Wasn't There Supposed To Be A Recession?
In advance of 2023, the recession drum beats were so loud it was deafening. Market pundits warned that as the Fed raised interest rates, it was just a matter of time before the economy entered a recession.
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A.I. Is Everywhere
If you've heard CEOs mention "A.I." multiple times during second-quarter conference calls, you're not imagining it. There have been an astounding 1,072 mentions of A.I. (and counting) so far.
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Why You Should Not Write Your Own Will
Ever considered writing your own will? While you can draft a will on your own, there are plenty of reasons why you may not want to go that route.
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Swimming Without A Bathing Suit
There’s an old Wall Street saying, “You never know who’s swimming without a bathing suit until the tide goes out.” And so, apparently the naughty swimmers so far are Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. Both...
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Helpful Retirement Strategies for Women
Helpful Retirement Strategies for WomenPreparing for retirement can look a little different for women than it does for men. Although stereotypes are changing, women are still more likely to serve as caretakers than men are, meaning...
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The CEO's Unofficial Q2 Buzzword
You may have heard the expression, “You can talk yourself into just about anything.” If that’s true, corporate America better watch out.As publicly traded companies report quarterly sales and earnings, they often...
Read MoreSchool's Back. Who is Paying for It?
Schools across the nation are getting back to business. For students, it’s a return to education after vacations, summer jobs, and other activities.For parents, grandparents, and guardians, “back to school” often...
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Unpacking the Summer Economy
In the financial world, some weeks are more important than others, and we just lived through a big one. Let's unpack each of the four key stats:The Fed. As expected, the Fed bumped up short-term rates again at its July meeting. But the...
Read MoreSearching for the Goldilocks Economy
At the risk of slowing economic growth, the Fed has driven short-term rates higher to rein in inflation. But it’s a tricky proposition.Raise rates too much, and you may trigger a recession. Don’t raise rates enough, and you...
Read MoreWhen bears are loud, consider this
Some gloomy headlines are coming out of Wall Street lately. Have you noticed?In recent days, I’ve read things like “Brace yourself for economic hurricanes” and “Wall Street investor survey paints a dire outlook...
Read MoreSummertime Checkup
Summer’s here, and the time is right for vacations, outdoor activities, and fun. It’s also a good time to consider a few financial matters. Here are some questions to ask yourself mid-year.Goals still the same for 2022? Has...
Read MoreCare for a COLA with Your Social Security?
As you might have heard, people are talking about a big bump in Social Security benefits next year.The Senior Citizens League says payments could rise by as much as 8.6 percent in 2023, compared to an increase of 5.9 percent in 2022....
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April Is Financial Literacy Month
April marks the start of Financial Literacy Month, a nationally recognized movement to promote and support financial understanding in children and teens. For many, it's a fantastic opportunity to teach and connect with their children...
Read MoreDon't go it alone.
When markets cycle lower like they have been lately, perspective is critical. If you’re not connected to someone with experience, it can be easy to miss the big picture.If you zoom out a bit in history, most investors haven't...
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When Should You Benefit?
Social Security plays an important role in your retirement strategy. But, don’t forget, the amount you’ll receive depends on the age at which you file. You can start claiming benefits as early as 62, but for each...
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Distracted America
Over the last year, many have seen their lives impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ways in which we work, live, and communicate have drastically changed, to say the least.It’s difficult to predict what other aspects of life...
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2022 Contribution Limits
Preparing for retirement just got a little more financial wiggle room. This week, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced new contribution limits for 2022.Staying put for 2022 are traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs),...
Read MoreFinancial Planning
Financial planning is an ongoing process that creates a roadmap for your money and helps you attain your life's goals. Whether you want to build a home or travel to different countries, having a financial plan ensures you get to do all...
Read MoreEstate Planning
One of the most common misconceptions about estate planning is that it is only for wealthy individuals. The truth is that if you have assets of any kind, you have an estate and need to plan for what will happen to it once you've passed...
Read MoreHere’s What You Need To Know About 401(k) Rollovers
401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are both tax-advantaged retirements. However, they have important differences. 401(k)s are employer-sponsored and have limited investment options, whereas you open an IRA account...
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The Three Biggest Mistakes We Make When Planning for Retirement Without a Pension
We often dream about retirement, the day when we can finally hang up our aprons, put the tools on the shelf, and turn off the lights on our way out. All we have to do now is press the retirement income button and we are all set....
Read MoreAre You Getting Financial Advice from a Sales Person?
Three questions to ask in order to find out….Through years of endless marketing campaigns and beguiling sales practices the financial services industry has managed to convince the public and themselves for that matter, that...
Read MoreNo Retirement Pension? Three Ingredients You Need for Growing Your Money Tree.
Who says money doesn't grow on trees? That's one of the biggest lies ever told. Money does in fact, grow on trees. The key is in knowing how to plant and grow one. Would you like to have your own money tree? There are three essential...
Read MoreHow Much Will Your Retirement Cost? Getting beyond the calculator requires a plan
A 25 year retirement with a pre-tax annual income of $100,000 and an annual inflation rate of 2.5% will cost a total of $3,415,776. If you can achieve an annual return of 4.0% on your invested capital during retirement, you will need...
Read MoreRetiring in America without a Pension. Is it Just a Dream?
Most Americans envision spending their golden years traveling, playing golf, fishing, enjoying their grandchildren, or volunteering. Some will use retirement to start that dream business while others will finally get the chance to...
Read MoreFinancial Empowerment - Five keys to transforming your life!
Write down your financial goals. Writing down your financial goals gives you a 70% greater chance of achieving them. Your goals must be specific and complete with a “deadline and dollar sign”. What do you want? When do you...
Read MoreBuilding Wealth for Retirement: The Five Habits of True Wealth-builders
As a Personal Financial Counselor for more than 30 years, I closely observe the lifestyles of individuals and families of all income levels. I witness people with relatively small levels of income build relatively large levels of...
Read MoreMaximizing the Effectiveness of Your Financial Resources to Build Wealth
“They say I should save more for retirement." "They say I should save more for my children's college education." "They say I should pay-off my credit card debt." "So how am I supposed to do all those things? I am making more...
Read MoreThe 10 Most Common Mistakes Individuals Make in Managing their Finances
During my 25 year career in the financial services industry, I have had the pleasure of working with more people than I can accurately count. I have seen people make some incredibly smart choices with their money. I have also seen some...
Read MoreWant to accomplish something important? Three ways a financial plan can help you
Want to Accomplish Something Important? Three ways a financial plan can help you reach your goals….. Some things in life are just too important to leave to chance such as: accumulating the funds necessary to finance a...
Read MorePlanning Your Retirement Dream Without a Pension? Five Things You Must Do.
Are you planning the retirement of your dreams or are you just dreaming about retirement? If you are just dreaming, you had better get started planning. As the saying goes, "you get the retirement you can afford not necessarily the one...
Read MoreNow that rates have gone up what’s next?
The Federal Reserve's announced a quarter of a point rate hike last week. Finally! This has to be the most telegraphed rate hike in history. Now that rates have gone up a little, what's next? New projections show that central bankers...
Read MoreHave You Ever Worked with a Financial Advisor that does not Sell Investment Prod
Imagine being able to speak freely about the things you would like to accomplish financially in your life without having your thoughts used against you as a sales tool. Imagine a world where you could get unbiased financial advice and...
Read MoreAsset Allocation and the Psychology of Bull Markets
We are currently enjoying a bull market. This bull market started on March 9, 2009. It has been in full swing now for more than 8 years. I will never forget the day this bull market began, the sick feeling in my gut on the way home...
Read MoreRetirement Planning Illusions; Five Mistakes You Must Avoid.
For most people, success in retirement requires balance. You are trying to live comfortably and enjoy life, while at the same time, conserving your precious, financial resources. Keep in mind that your financial resources must last for...
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