- Financial Advisor vs. Accountant
The world of finance can be a complicated and confusing place. Myriad types of financial professionals offer services to help you with the various aspects of finance that affect your life. If you have wondered whether a financial advisor or an accountant is best for your financial planning needs, this will steer you in the… read more…
- What Is Financial Wellness? How Do You Achieve It?
Money is the No. 1 stressor for most adults. You may be struggling with credit card debt, an emergency that involves a large expenditure or whether you are saving enough for retirement. The pandemic has added an extra layer of… read more…
- This $1.4 Billion Robo-Advisor Deal Will Affect 130 Million Millennial and Gen Z Investors
Robo-advisors are poised to grow over $41 billion by 2027. And Zurich-based bank UBS is targeting tech-savvy investors with the acquisition of one of the top robo-advisors, Wealthfront. Financial experts say this is part of a larger industry trend that uses… read more…
- 84 Trillion Reasons Why Having a Financial Advisor May Be More Vital Than Ever
It’s been dubbed the “Great Wealth Transfer” — a massive intergenerational shift in assets that will reshape the American financial landscape. Just how large? Boston-based financial research firm Cerulli Associates projects $84.4 trillion will be transferred to family members and charities by 2045, including $72.6 trillion in assets that will pass to heirs. While the… read more…
- What Is a Certified Financial Therapist (CFT-I)?
Few of us would claim to be perfect with our money. We may save less than we planned, overspend on occasion or forgo the monthly budget on vacation. However, there are some financial habits that are much more serious, such as compulsive spending or money-related anxiety. A certified financial therapist, or CFT-I, may be able to… read more…
- What Does Separate Property Mean?
When you get married, you agree to share property with your spouse simply because you’re married. However, there is property that you may have had before your marriage that can remain yours alone, meaning it’s considered “separate property.” There is… read more…
- Check for This Red Flag Before Hiring a Financial Advisor
When selecting a financial advisor, there are a number of things you should consider, including an advisor’s professional credentials, fee structure and investing philosophy, not to mention your personal rapport with this expert. A new study, though, highlights the importance of researching the ownership of a financial advisory firm. Research from the University of Oregon… read more…
- Want Your Dividend in Bitcoin? There’s a Stock for That
Cash dividends are so last year. A blockchain infrastructure company will break new ground in March when it issues its first Bitcoin dividend to shareholders. BTCS Inc. announced Wednesday that it would become the first Nasdaq-listed company to distribute a dividend… read more…
- What Is a Self-Proving Affidavit?
A self-proving affidavit is a sworn document that attests to the validity of a will. While not required, a self-proving affidavit can speed up the probate process and render the court testimony of witnesses unnecessary. A financial advisor who offers estate planning services can prepare a self-proving affidavit and help with other end-of-life needs that… read more…
- If You Have This Much Money, You Should Have a Financial Advisor
Money can’t buy happiness directly, but it seems like paying a financial advisor sure can help. A new survey found people with more than $1.2 million in household assets report higher levels of happiness when working with a financial advisor… read more…
- Ask an Advisor: Should I Get an Annuity Now, or Wait for Better Rates?
I have just turned 60 years old and am interested in a QLAC. Is it worthwhile to wait to see if interest rates increase in the next year or so, or should I start shopping now? Also, if I don’t live long enough to use most of my investment, is a return on death benefit… read more…
- What is Web3 and How Will It Impact Your Money?
Blockchain, the technology that powers cryptocurrencies, may soon be responsible for the creation of an entirely new internet — and it could have an impact on how you manage your finances. “Web3” is the new decentralized, blockchain-based web that’s getting a lot of attention lately. As the name implies, it’s probably thought of as the… read more…
- New ETF Adds Steady Stream of Income to Your Portfolio
Investors looking to add an income boost to their portfolios now have a new option. John Hancock Investment Management announced this week the launch of its Preferred Income ETF (JHPI), an exchange-traded fund that invests 80% of its assets into preferred stocks and other preferred securities. The ETF joins a growing pool of actively managed… read more…
- Big Fund Managers Are Betting on These Sectors in 2022
2021 offered investors a robust recovery from the early economic turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic. But will it hold in 2022? A survey of 500 institutional investors from around the world by Natixis Investment Managers identified the sectors and asset classes where the biggest gains are expected next year, as well as the biggest risks.… read more…
- What Constitutes a Buyer’s Market?
A buyer’s market occurs when more goods or services are offered for sale than there are buyers to buy them. Buyer’s markets feature low prices and ample selection, which represent advantages for buyers. Sellers in a buyer’s market must confront… read more…
- Grant Deed vs. Deed of Trust
As a homeowner, you may use a deed to transfer ownership or take out a loan on your property. There are several different types of deeds that you may use, but two of the most common are grant deeds and… read more…
- Pros and Cons of Getting Paid in Bitcoin
El Salvador’s adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender in September 2021, only months after China outlawed mining of the digital currency, neatly captures the controversy and conflict excited by cryptocurrency. Businesses and people considering accepting Bitcoin as payment for goods… read more…
- How the New Infrastructure Spending Package Affects Crypto Investors
Crypto investors better look up from their Coinbase and Gemini apps. Changes are afoot. President Joe Biden signed into law a $1.2 trillion infrastructure spending package on Nov. 15, and though the law was a key achievement as it pertained to infrastructure spending, there were a number of other politically relevant provisions — namely regarding measures… read more…
- Here’s How Much Your State Could Get From Biden’s $1.2 Trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
President Joe Biden signed the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law on Nov. 15. Over the next few years, states will get multi-billion dollar windfall investments in physical infrastructure to build roads and bridges, public transit, clean drinking water and waste water systems, electric vehicle charging networks and high-speed internet. Though investors… read more…
- Understanding Financial Needs Analysis
A financial needs analysis (FNA) is an overview of your current and future financial situation. It takes into account assets, such as wealth and income, set off against liabilities, such as debt and dependents. By creating a financial needs analysis… read more…
- How Much Should You Save for College?
Paying for college can put a tremendous burden on a family’s finances. However, when you start saving for college early, it becomes a more attainable goal. Taking advantage of a college saving plan offers tax-free withdrawals so you can keep… read more…
- What Is Inflation and How Does It Affect You?
Inflation is at once one of the most simple and complicated topics in economics. Analysts and others can write multi-volume studies on the subject. Indeed, many economists dedicate entire careers to understanding inflation. But we can tackle the broad strokes in… read more…
- Make These Investments to Profit From the Infrastructure Bill
After months of debate and delay, President Biden’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan has passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill, which invests in the nation’s roads, bridges and ports, will also pump billions of dollars into broadband infrastructure, clean water systems and other projects. Investors hoping to capitalize on the massive federal plan have… read more…
- Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC)
Individuals who have the designation of chartered special needs consultant (ChSNC) are the only financial advisors who have been specifically equipped and vetted to advise you on the financial and estate planning needs of special needs clients. Since 25% of adults in the U.S. have a disability, it’s very likely that you or one of… read more…
- Understanding How Structured Settlements Work
A structured settlement is designed to compensate individuals following the outcome of a civil lawsuit. For example, if you were involved in a car accident and were seriously injured, you may choose to sue the driver who was responsible. If… read more…