- Banks in Distress: What You Need to Know About the Safety of Your Money
In less than a week, the U.S. banking system has suffered two of the largest collapses in American history. Regulators shut down Silicon Valley Bank on Friday after customers rushed to withdraw their money as fears rose about the bank’s… read more…
- Ask an Advisor: I’m 81, Have a $118K Mortgage and a $110K IRA. Should I Withdraw From My Investments to Pay off My Mortgage?
I am 81 years old. I have a home mortgage balance of $118,300. I also have a $110,000 rollover individual retirement account (IRA) invested with a bank. Should I withdraw the money from my investment and put the money to… read more…
- How Investors Use IntraFi to Keep Money Insured
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insures bank deposits in the event that a bank fails. The National Credit Union Association (NCUA) does the same for deposits at credit unions. But this insurance only goes so far, as there are… read more…
- Are You Rich? Biden Wants to Double Your Capital Gains Taxes and Implement a Wealth Tax
While social issues have dominated news coverage recently, one of the most contentious and important issues in Washington never changes — tax policy. One of former President Donald Trump’s biggest victories was his 2017 tax plan that drastically reduced taxes… read more…
- These Charts Show How Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs Stack Up Against Each Other
When saving for retirement, you’ll typically have two choices for how you’ll fund your IRA. With a traditional IRA, you’ll contribute pre-tax dollars that will grow inside the account tax-free and be taxed when the money is withdrawn. A Roth IRA,… read more…
- Roth IRA Income Limits for 2025
A Roth individual retirement account (IRA) can be a helpful tool for retirement planning. These tax-advantaged accounts offer a way to save money in addition to what you might be contributing to a 401(k) or similar workplace plan. And if… read more…
- 5 Strategies to Lower Financial Advisor Fees
Hiring a financial advisor can be a smart move – but it doesn’t always come cheap. Fees may cut into your budget and might even disrupt how you plan to save money down the line. We’ll discuss strategies that can… read more…
- Research Shows This One Move Can Help You Retire
An eye-opening new study has found that simply talking to a financial advisor may be enough to dramatically boost people’s savings rates for retirement. Researchers examining exclusive data from more than 20,000 clients of a large Swiss bank found that… read more…
- Financial Advisor vs. Insurance Agent: When Do You Need One?
A financial advisor can help you create a strategic plan for managing your money. Part of that plan might include buying insurance, something that an insurance agent can also help with. When working with a financial advisor vs. insurance agent,… read more…
- Money Can Buy Happiness, At Least If You Make Up to This Amount
The old adage that “money can’t buy you happiness” may need to be updated. A new study of the connection between money and well-being found that happiness, for most people, increases with more income. Previous research asserted that happiness plateaus… read more…
- What Is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)?
The federal government passes financial regulations to protect consumers from unfair practices. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) exists to make sure that banks, lenders and other financial institutions follow those regulations. You might not give much thought to the… read more…
- Boutique Financial Advisors
When choosing a financial advisor, it’s important to consider the types of services offered and the fees you’ll pay. Size may also be something to weigh if you’re looking for a more personalized experienced. Boutique financial advisors tend to operate… read more…
- Does an LLC Protect Your Personal Assets?
Setting up a business as a limited liability company (LLC) can protect the business owner’s personal assets from being claimed by business creditors. An LLC creates a shield between business liabilities and personal assets. This means, in most cases, a… read more…
- Ask an Advisor: ‘Am I Getting Fleeced?’ I’m 66, Contributing $272 Per Month to an IRA and Paying $136 Monthly in Fees. That’s 50% of My Contribution
I am 66 years old, still working and with very good health insurance. My company does not have a 401(k). I do have an individual retirement account (IRA) with approximately $120,000 invested. I contribute $272 per month, yet my program… read more…
- Biden Wants to Close Tax Loopholes and Raise Taxes on Rich People to Protect Medicare
When he was running for president, Joe Biden was very clear that he was not Bernie Sanders — he wasn’t a socialist, and he didn’t believe the American economy and political system did not need to be completely torn down.… read more…
- The Supreme Court May Quash Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness: Here’s What Borrowers Should Do
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard challenges to President Joe Biden’s student debt relief plan. The proposal, which would cancel between $10,000 and $20,000 in current debt for most borrowers, has been on hold since conservative opponents filed a series… read more…
- Should You Follow Cash Stuffing, TikTok’s Viral Budgeting Trend?
In the 21st century, there are a lot of places where you can get financial advice. There are traditional channels — such as finding a financial advisor — but you can also look to modern sources like social media for… read more…
- Ask an Advisor: Should I Pay off My Mortgage or Invest in CDs? I Refinanced My Mortgage at 2.375%, But I Can Get a CD at 4%. Plus, I Want to Retire in 7 Years.
I’ve been debating whether to pay off my mortgage. I’ve refinanced at 2.375% and can get a certificate of deposit (CD) for a year at 4%. I was adding to my mortgage payment by about $1,000 a month to pay… read more…
- These Republican Bills Want to Make Tax Cheats Richer
The first bill introduced in a new session of Congress can be an important symbol of political priorities and values. For the Republicans who took over a slim majority in the House of Representatives, then, the main priority is eliminating… read more…
- How to Find a Socially Responsible Financial Advisor
Making social change is an admirable goal. And you can do so even if you can’t make a million-dollar donation to your favorite charity. If you’re looking for investment advice while you save for retirement, a socially responsible financial advisor… read more…
- You Can Now Get an Easy 5% Return on Your Cash With No Risk
As inflation and interest rates have increased, the rates paid on cash deposits have barely budged – until now. With inflation averaging more than 8% for 2022, the Federal Reserve increased interest rates several times, hiking the benchmark federal funds rate… read more…
- Ask an Advisor: Can a Single Financial Advising Firm Address ‘My Complete Spectrum of Financial Concerns?’
Can one individual or organization cover my complete spectrum of financial concerns, including investment diversification and maximum returns, income tax optimization, required minimum distribution (RMD) management, and steady income cash flow? Is there a good way to survey fiduciary candidates… read more…
- What Is Elder Law?
Elder law refers to legal issues that concern older adults, generally defined as people above the age of 65. It is often understood as an extension of traditional trust and estate law, but overlaps other legal specialties too. The growing… read more…
- How to Use (and Calculate) Debt-to-Income Ratio
Your debt-to-income ratio or DTI represents the amount of your income that goes to debt repayment each month. So why does that matter? For one thing, debt to income can be an important factor in determining whether you qualify for… read more…
- This Is the Asset Class You Want in Your Portfolio Over the Next 10 Years
Value stocks may be the one asset class you must have in your portfolio for the next decade. After a decade-plus of underperformance and decline, value investing began to rebound in September 2020. While the emergence of the Delta variant… read more…