Reading a homeowners insurance policy for the first time can be intimidating. With all the jargon, exclusions and conditions you’ll encounter, you may start thinking that Mom was right – you should have gone to law school. Nevertheless, all homeowners policies share certain common elements and follow a recognizable design. Once you understand the roadmap,…

Do you picture yourself owning a new home, starting a business or retiring comfortably? These are a few of the financial goals that may be important to you, and each comes with a price tag attached. That’s where financial planning comes in. Financial planning can help you target your goals by evaluating your whole financial…

Beginning Nov. 1, 2019, individuals and families may apply for new health insurance, switch to a different health-care plan or re-enroll in their current plan through a Health Insurance Marketplace under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The open enrollment period for 2020 health coverage ends on Dec. 15, 2019. If you have questions about your…

Parenthood can be both wonderfully rewarding and frighteningly challenging. Children give gifts only a parent can understand — from sticky-finger hugs to heartfelt pleas to tag along on Saturday morning errands. You raise them with a clear goal that you secretly dread will actually take place — that someday they will be grown, independent, and…

Knowing how much retirement income you might receive from Social Security may help you decide when to begin claiming benefits, and how Social Security might fit into your overall retirement income plan. Our clients enjoy retirement planning as part of their comprehensive financial plan, which considers all sources of retirement income, not just Social Security.…

Proposed legislation in Congress would make three significant changes to the way you can contribute to and withdraw from your IRAs. While Washington gridlock could of course sidetrack the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019, or SECURE Act, the measure does enjoy broad bipartisan support. Here’s what it would mean, if…

An important part of managing your personal finances is keeping your financial records organized. Whether it’s a utility bill to show proof of residency or a Social Security card for wage reporting purposes, there may be times when you need to locate a financial record or document – and you’ll need to locate it relatively…

Over time, the value of your home has grown and your mortgage balance has been reduced or even eliminated. The equity – the property’s value minus any liens against it – you now have in your home is a reservoir of funding potential. You may decide to tap into it for various purposes, such as…

We’ve all heard about the importance of having life insurance, but is it really necessary? Often, the answer is “yes,” but it depends on your specific situation. And it’s also important to determine how much coverage you need. Our comprehensive financial planning process allows us to get to know you well enough to Stand in…

Your credit report contains information about your past and present credit transactions. It’s used primarily by potential lenders to evaluate your creditworthiness. So if you’re about to apply for credit, especially for something significant like a mortgage, you’ll want to get and review a copy of your credit report. We provide our clients with complimentary…