They say men are from Mars and women are from Venus, but is this true when it comes to estate planning? Absolutely. And because women often find themselves in such different circumstances than men, it is even more crucial for them to educate themselves about estate planning, and consult an experienced estate planning professional. Women [...]
Four Money Mistakes You Might Be Making
March 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Three years after the economic crisis led many Americans to re-evaluate their financial picture, economic uncertainty is still the norm. While there’s little you can do about the shaky economy, you can help stabilize your own finances over the long term by evaluating what you’re doing right … and wrong. There’s no guarantee, but avoiding [...]
Election Year Tax Talk: Deciphering the Terminology
March 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment
This year’s election chatter is sure to include a healthy dose of tax talk. To keep up, here are five terms you should know. The “Bush tax cuts” A number of major tax changes were enacted in 2001 and 2003, including lower federal income tax rates, special maximum rates for long-term capital gains and qualifying [...]
Tax-Deferred Annuities: Are They Right for You?
March 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Tax-deferred annuities can be a valuable tool, particularly for retirement savings. However, they are not appropriate for everyone. Five questions to consider Think about each of the following questions. If you can answer yes to all of them, an annuity may be a good choice for you. Are you making the maximum allowable pretax contribution [...]
How Student Loans Impact Your Credit
March 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
If you’ve finished college within the last few years, chances are you’re paying off your student loans. What happens with your student loans now that they’ve entered repayment status will have a significant impact–positive or negative–on your credit history and credit score. It’s payback time When you left school, you enjoyed a grace period of [...]
Understanding Social Security
February 27, 2012 By 1 Comment
Over 59 million people today receive some form of Social Security benefits, including approximately 38 million individuals age 65 or older. (Source: Fast Facts & Figures About Social Security, 2011) But Social Security is more than just a retirement program. Its scope has expanded to include other benefits as well, such as disability, family, and [...]
Financial Planning Issues for New Parents
February 23, 2012 By 1 Comment
As you prepare for life with your new child, it’s time to prepare a new financial plan for your family or make any necessary changes to your existing plan. You’ll want to consider how your baby will affect your budget, make sure you have adequate insurance, protect your child’s future with a well-thought-out estate plan, [...]
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