- Industry Group Pushes to Regulate Who’s a ‘Financial Planner’ – Could Consumers Benefit?
The Financial Planning Association (FPA) announced that it will lead a multiyear advocacy effort to get legal recognition for the term “financial planner.” This organization is a top membership and trade association for certified financial planners (CFPs) and others engaged in… read more…
- Financial Advisors for Athletes
Professional athletes need financial advice. Perhaps more than any other career, athletes suffer from a boom-and-bust lifestyle. For the highly-paid professionals in leagues like the NFL, NBA and MLB, these players can be extraordinarily wealthy by the age of 25. Yet… read more…
- Financial Advisors for Doctors (Physicians)
Doctors, as just about anyone in the medical field will tell you, aren’t always great with money. They can be brilliant with the human body and empathetic in their bedside manner. They can be relentlessly clever when it comes to stitching… read more…
- Financial Consultant vs. Financial Advisor
Financial advisors and financial consultants are broadly interchangeable job titles for financial professionals who help individuals and organizations manage money. Someone carrying either title may assist with preparing and executing strategies for budgeting, saving, investing, retirement planning, risk management, borrowing… read more…
- Financial Advisor vs. Self-Investing
Self-investing is the act of making your own investment choices instead of hiring a professional, such as a financial advisor. This can help you save on professional fees but it could cost you. Working with a financial advisor can increase… read more…
- Advisors Eye SEC’s New Conflict of Interest Guidance
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued new guidance for brokers, firms and financial professionals to avoid conflicts of interest with clients. The staff bulletin aims to help firms and professionals comply with their obligations to provide advice and… read more…
- Lawyer vs. Financial Advisor: Which Do You Need?
Investors use financial planners to provide wealth management and financial planning advice. Lawyers also provide financial planning advice that protects your assets. When it comes to a lawyer vs. financial advisor, which do you need? Let’s break down when you… read more…
- Financial Advisors for Dentists
Dental professionals have busy lives. Obligations can include caring for patients and running their practices, as well as family responsibilities. And it can be helpful for dentists to have someone on their side to guide them to financial success. Financial… read more…
- Non-Profit Financial Advisor Services
You might wonder why a nonprofit would need a financial advisor. After all, generating cash flow is not generally a central part of a nonprofit’s mission. But nonprofits have finances just like the rest of us. Their money must be… read more…
- Financial Advisors for Pilots
With multi-state tax filing, fixed retirement schedules and adjusting your finances to dynamics within aviation, airline pilots have more than their share of financial challenges. Besides dealing with the insecurities that stem from a sometimes-volatile industry, pilots should be aware… read more…
- Financial Advisors for Seniors
Seniors can face a host of challenges as they get older. Retirement planning, paying for healthcare and estate planning are just a few that may first come to mind. Fortunately, financial advisors have the skills to help seniors meet those challenges.… read more…
- Financial Advisors for Young Adults
Young adults face distinct financial opportunities, including early career challenges, figuring out how best to handle student loans, renting or buying a residence, starting a retirement savings program and even having children. Investing priorities are also distinct for young adults. For… read more…
- Military Financial Advisor Services
Financial advice for members of the military can be critical. The government offers a range of specific benefits, from home loans to education, available to people who serve in the armed forces. An active duty soldier’s financial needs are very… read more…
- Can You Have More Than One Financial Advisor?
Financial advisors help people create a comprehensive plan for managing their money and reaching their goals. Different advisors can offer different services, depending on the type of clients they typically work with. Can you have more than one financial advisor?… read more…
- Emergency Funds vs. Savings Accounts
If you were to have a car breakdown or surprise medical bill, how would you pay for it? Although stuffing money in a shoebox might sound like the simplest way to create a rainy-day fund, banks offer financial tools that… read more…
- Robo-Advisors vs. Target-Date Funds
While most people understand that investing is indispensable for a comfortable retirement, where and how to invest your money can be less clear. Fortunately, more tools and services are available to the average investor than ever before. Robo-advisors and target-date… read more…
- Biden Signs $740 Billion Inflation Reduction Act. Here’s What You Could Get
President Joe Biden has signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law. This legislation aims to pay down the national debt, lower energy costs and extend affordable healthcare coverage for millions of Americans. Let’s break down what’s in the act, what you… read more…
- Ask An Advisor: Where Should I Stash Short-Term Savings?
I’m holding $300,000 in cash that I plan to put into a new home. With the market as it is, I’m putting off that purchase for six to nine months. I’m 66 years old, single and plan to retire within… read more…
- Ask An Advisor: How Do I Find a Retirement Financial Advisor?
I am interested in working with a financial planner who specializes in retirement planning. I’d prefer someone with experience and with the newer retirement planning credentials. How do I narrow down my search to those types of planners? -Mark The hunt… read more…
- 5 Things to Consider If You’re Playing the $1.02 Billion Lottery
To quote Justin Timberlake’s character in “The Social Network,” David Fincher’s modern masterpiece about the founding of Facebook: “A million dollars isn’t cool. You know what’s cool? A billion dollars.” Founding a social networking company that worms its way into… read more…
- Nominal vs. Real Interest Rate
The nominal interest rate is the simple interest charged on a loan or paid on a deposit. Real interest is nominal interest after taking inflation’s effects into account. Economists, as well as lenders and borrowers, calculate real interest to get… read more…
- What Is the Nominal Interest Rate?
The nominal interest rate may be cited in a financial institution advertisement for a loan or deposit. But nominal interest rates provide only rough estimates of how much it costs to borrow money or how much return a deposit will… read more…
- What Is a Dependent Care FSA Account?
A dependent care flexible spending arrangement (DCFSA) lets you pay for child care and other dependent expenses with pretax dollars. This can reduce the income taxes you owe. Only someone whose employer offers a DCFSA can use one. There are… read more…
- How Much Should You Have in an Emergency Fund?
Life can throw your curveballs. Whether it’s a surprise expense, sudden job loss or unexpected opportunity, having quick access to cash is key. An emergency fund protects you from the unexpected so you don’t have to go into debt. Let’s break down how much you should have for your situation and how to get started. A… read more…
- What Is a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)?
A flexible spending account (FSA) is a type of savings account typically used for healthcare expenses. Many people use an FSA to cover expected healthcare costs throughout the year, saving money on taxes because the funds are put into the FSA tax-free. Using an FSA is dependent on the individual and it isn’t right for… read more…