There used to be a singular notion of retirement: Walk away from your career one day and begin a life of leisure the next. You never envision working another day in your life. When planning for the retirement date circled on your calendar, you saved as much as you could for decades to ensure that…

By Brian K. Case, CFP® Chief Experience Officer Thing 1 Not too long ago, the game was to keep our personal information off the Internet and if we had to put it out there, protect it with all of our might. Some of us do this by keeping usernames and passwords in a notebook under…

The $2 trillion coronavirus financial stimulus that Congress approved last week contains several important provisions that may affect you, your family and your small business. The measure includes a range of financial benefits, including loans and outright payments or tax credits aimed at helping individuals, businesses, healthcare entities and state and local governments. Key items…

Even though tax filing season is well under way, there’s still time to make a regular IRA contribution for 2019. You have until your tax return due date (not including extensions) to contribute up to $6,000 for 2019 ($7,000 if you were age 50 or older on Dec. 31, 2019). For most taxpayers, the contribution…

Owning a home outright is a dream that many Americans share. Having a mortgage can be a huge burden, and paying it off may be the first item on your financial to-do list. But competing with the desire to own your home free and clear is your need to invest for retirement, your child’s college…

Legislation that passed Congress at the end of 2019 makes three significant changes to the way you can contribute to and withdraw from your IRAs. The changes in the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019, or SECURE Act, make it worthwhile for everyone with IRAs to re-evaluate their retirement savings strategies.…

Medicare premiums, deductibles and coinsurance amounts change annually. Here’s a look at some of the costs that will apply in 2020 if you’re enrolled in Original Medicare Part A and Part B. Medicare Part B premiums According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, most people with Medicare who receive Social Security benefits will…

Supporting charities that are important to you is often part of a comprehensive financial plan. The tax benefits associated with charitable giving could potentially enhance your ability to give and should be considered as part of your tax planning. As part of our financial planning process, our clients receive advice on how to best approach…

When your local weather forecaster tells you that it’s going to rain, what do you do? That’s easy – you reach for your umbrella. So why not purchase an umbrella that can protect you in stormy financial weather? Umbrella liability insurance can do just that. By providing liability protection above and beyond the basic coverage…

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,…