Financial Advisor

November 18, 2021The IRS says that eligible families with children ages 17 or younger will start getting the first monthly cash payments from the federal Child Tax Credit on July 15. Qualifying families will get up to $3,600 for each child under 6 years old and $3,000 for each child between the ages of 6 and 17.… read more…

January 3, 2025Wealth management is the most comprehensive form of financial planning, encompassing an entire strategic plan to manage an individual’s assets. This offering typically includes advice on multiple financial matters at once, such as retirement planning, investment management, financial planning, estate planning and more. While wealth management is typically associated with the more affluent, almost anyone can… read more…

August 5, 2025An independent financial advisor can be either an investment advisory firm or an individual financial advisor. While their services are typically similar to those of any other advisor, independent advisors aren’t tied to any larger financial institutions. As a result, they… read more…

January 5, 2023Contributing to a 529 college savings account can offer tax advantages, including tax-deferred growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualified education expenses. But you may be wondering if you can also get a 529 tax deduction or credit. While no federal… read more…

November 15, 2024Hedge funds aim to deliver above-average returns to investors who are interested in owning more than just stocks in their portfolios. It’s the hedge fund manager’s job to determine how pooled money is invested to achieve specific objectives. They do this by employing different hedge fund strategies that often rely on advanced techniques such as… read more…

May 30, 2023Starting a family is a major life decision and one that doesn’t come cheap. On average, it costs anywhere from $5,000 to $11,000 to have a baby. And parents spend just over $233,000 on average to raise a single child… read more…

August 9, 2025The number of registered investment advisors (RIAs) in the U.S. is growing, as are the number of clients they serve and assets they manage. According to an annual report published jointly by the Investment Advisor Association and National Regulatory Services, there were 13,494 RIAs in 2020 – about 11% more than there were in 2017 (12,172). Last… read more…

February 27, 2025Tax season began on January 23, and millions of Americans are eagerly expecting a tax refund. They might be in for a tidy sum: the IRS says that the average tax refund in February 2023 is $1,997, which is down… read more…

May 8, 2023Retirement presents special challenges, financial and otherwise, to retirees. Fortunately, they don’t have to face those challenges alone. Retirement specialists are financial advisors who focus on counseling retirees and those approaching retirement about the best way to use their current… read more…

February 24, 2023Earning the certified pension consultant (CPC) designation demonstrates that an employee benefits professional has mastered the ability to plan, set up, manage and maintain company-sponsored retirement plans. CPC holders may work as insurance agents, financial planners, pension actuaries or company… read more…

August 23, 2023As people get older, they may face a multitude of challenges relating to many spheres of life including work, health and relationships. In addition, starting in middle age and lasting through retirement, aging citizens wrestle with how best to manage,… read more…

August 23, 2023Managing an investment portfolio calls for mastery of a challenging set of skills including understanding portfolio theory, allocating assets between debt and equity, decoding mutual fund investment policies, managing taxes and planning for retirement. The accredited portfolio management advisor (APMA) credential signifies that a financial professional has received graduate-level training in these skills and others.… read more…

March 18, 2023One of the limitations of using tested investment theory to provide people with rational financial advice is that people aren’t necessarily all that rational. Investors tend to get worried when the market is down and sell cheap at the bottom,… read more…

September 5, 2023Dave Ramsey is a well-known personal finance celebrity with a long-running radio show (also, more recently a video podcast), multiple best-selling books, online tools, educational courses and a large following. Endorsed local provider (ELP) is a designation Ramsey’s organization offers… read more…

February 7, 2024There is more to financial advising than passing out stock tips. Well-rounded financial advisors go beyond selecting securities and asset classes to take into account all the factors that can affect the client’s objectives. They can help clients plan for retirement, manage their estates, provide for children’s educational needs, save for a home purchase and… read more…

April 2, 2024The Certified Personal Risk Manager (CPRM) program was created for professionals who offer insurance and risk management services to high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs). Candidates develop their risk management expertise, learn technical information about creating comprehensive risk management and insurance programs, and cultivate… read more…

November 16, 2022Deciding how and especially when to claim Social Security benefits can be one of the most financially significant moves a person makes. Yet the rules used to calculate how much a beneficiary can receive from Social Security are complicated, making… read more…

April 2, 2024Managing an investment portfolio requires a solid grasp of theories, strategies and practices to design, assemble and oversee a package of financial assets for the specific objectives of individual or institutional clients. Chartered portfolio managers (CPM) meet these portfolio requirements and… read more…

March 19, 2023Financial advisors who want to acquire and display expertise at helping businesses set up and run effective and appropriate retirement plans for their employees can study for a Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS) certificate. The designation shows that an advisor… read more…

May 7, 2023When conventional married couples go through divorce or the death of one of the spouses, it can be complicated to sort out the financial and tax issues. Unmarried couples, that is, those in a domestic partnership, sometimes do not enjoy… read more…

February 23, 2021The number of Americans pulling in seven figures a year is on the rise. IRS data shows that less than three in 1,000 taxpayers earned over $1 million in 2018, up from less than two in 1,000 back in 2013. Those who have the good fortune of clearing the $1 million mark in annual income,… read more…

May 8, 2023Buying or selling a home usually involves a fair amount of paperwork. A warranty deed is one of the more important documents you may encounter during the process. Warranty deeds are used to verify that there are no obstacles, such… read more…

November 22, 2024Investing in dividend-paying stocks can be a strategic move for generating income from your portfolio. A dividend represents a percentage of company profits that are paid out to shareholders. Dividend aristocrats represent S&P 500 companies that have a track record… read more…

August 4, 2025Living wills and living trusts can both be useful tools for estate planning. Though they sound similar, they each serve a very different purpose. A living trust is something you might consider for managing the transfer of wealth and assets… read more…

February 17, 2021Retirees are on the move, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Though just 17% of the U.S. population is 65 and older, relocation company United Van Lines reports that seniors in that age group completed 29% of all its moves in 2020, one percentage point greater than in 2019. Moreover, about 20% of all surveyed movers listed… read more…