Articles

When Should You Select a Professional Trustee?

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:00

Selecting the right family or professional trustee(s) to be responsible for investing and distributing your estate is one of the most important decisions in executing an estate plan and preserving your family legacy.

Financial Planning for Your Family’s Well-being

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00

As a current member of the evolving Sandwich Generation spanning in age from the 30s to the 60s, you may feel the ever-challenging financial squeeze of simultaneously caring for you and your spouse, your aging parents and your dependent children.

Are You Vulnerable to Identity Theft?

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00

Security experts say that identity theft evolves as quickly as law enforcement and consumers find new ways of fighting back. What can you do? Here are some ideas.

How to Appeal Your Property Taxes & Why You Should Consider It

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00

While housing prices in many communities have fallen, many local governments have failed to adjust their property tax valuations, meaning that many taxpayers still have homes with assessments based on the market’s peak in 2005 and 2006. Add that to the continued financial threat from a slow job market and stagnant pay raises, and expensive tax bills can put a considerable crimp in your financial picture.

Eldercare is Expensive, so Planning & Negotiation are Key

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:00

Each day, millions of Americans discover an aging relative or friend needs help. It can mean planning for more services and assistance to get them through their daily lives or it can mean dealing with a sudden and serious health crisis.

Get Your Student Off to the Right Financial Start at College

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00

As the summer approaches and you are looking towards the Fall when your son or daughter will head off to college, it’s time to take some steps to help prepare your student to be financially responsible and protected.

Your 2010 Mid-year Financial Planning Checkup

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00

Now is your ideal time to perform a mid-year financial checkup and determine the steps essential to improving your financial future in the second half of this year and going forward.

For Love & Money: Divorce-proofing Finances in a Domestic Union (Part 2)

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00

The most common cause for divorce is debatable but nearly all studies rank financial stress among the top five contributing factors. In the second half of this two-part article, financial planners continue sharing how they help clients approach the financial transition that comes with a committed relationship.

Retirement is Risky Business

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:00

Everyone is familiar with the concept of risk. When you discuss risk with an investment professional, it’s typically in terms of market fluctuations and your individual risk tolerance. While market risk is an important factor, there are several other risks you will likely face in retirement.

How to Lose a Financial Future in 90 Days

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:00:00

While the Health Care Reform may help you with your medical bills, it does nothing to help you replace your lost income when you are sick or recovering from an accident.

How to Adjust Your Financial Plan for Inflation

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:00:00

Inflation — or at least significant inflation — hasn't been a factor in the lives of Americans since the 1970s. But now, many experts are predicting that inflation may once again become a factor in the lives of Americans.

Is It Better to Lease or Buy a Car?

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:00:00

At this point, one side of you is undoubtedly attracted to the lower monthly payment of the lease. But the other side of you remembers always hearing that buying is the more responsible decision. As with most other financial decisions, there is no single "right" answer for everyone. The answer for you is…it depends.

Financial Planning for Americans Overseas

Mon, 24 May 2010 00:00:00

While taking up residency in other countries may help stretch a dollar, the principles of financial planning become exponentially more complicated and the decision should be carefully considered.

Retirement Runway: Calculating and Securing Income

Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00

While we cannot know the future, developing a retirement plan that can accommodate personal and financial goals requires some creativity and perhaps a bit of compromise too.

The European Debt Crisis: What It Means to You

Mon, 10 May 2010 00:00:00

As you hear discussions about further possible global contagion, you may wonder how these rapidly expanding developments can affect your financial plan, including your savings and investments.

Coping with Alzheimer's: Are You Prepared?

Mon, 03 May 2010 00:00:00

A failure to plan for Alzheimer's, however, can be emotionally and financially devastating for patients and their caregivers. Proactive planning can significantly improve quality of life for people who suffer from Alzheimer's and for their caregivers.

Why “Fiduciary” Matters to You

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00

A single fiduciary standard among financial professionals will strengthen consumer protection but this may be slow coming. In the meantime, consumers would be wise to learn how to protect their interests.

Navigate Your Retirement

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:00:00

Of course, everyone's situation is different, but these are rules of thumb that may give you a frame of reference for where you are as you think about your retirement.

Until Death Do You Part: Financial Pre-Planning During Marriage

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:00:00

Each widow's circumstances is very different from the next, but almost all widows experience a dimension of grief invading their lives, clouding the decision-making capabilities of even the sharpest among us. That's why one of the greatest gifts a husband can share with his wife is to pre-plan with her.

What to Do if You're Facing Foreclosure

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 00:00:00

If you are among the millions at risk of losing your house, what should you do? To be sure, the amount of information available can be overwhelming, even contradicting. Couple that with the fact that this can be a frightening, emotionally taxing period and it is not surprising that many borrowers who find themselves underwater on their mortgage or in danger of default do not do anything until it may be too late.

IRA vs. Roth IRA: Which is Appropriate and When?

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00

In a tax code rife with acronyms, even savvy investors are confused by popular retirement vehicles like traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and Roth IRAs. Understanding these subtle differences can help you strategically plan for retirement.

What Do All Those Financial Designations Mean?

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00

There are so many designations available to those in the financial planning industry, it's hard to know who's who! Below I've highlighted the details of a few of the more widely known and used designations in the financial planning industry.

Making the Most of the New Post 9-11 G.I. Bill

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00

There is no question that the new Post 9-11 G.I. Bill represents a game-changing educational opportunity for currently serving, recently separated and recently retired service members.

The Generational Communication Gap

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00

This communication gap can lead to some poor financial planning decisions and in some cases damage some otherwise healthy family relationships.

Do It Yourself Financial Planning

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00

Whether you love it or you hate it, if you do your own financial planning, here are some recommendations from financial planning professionals to increase your success.

Managing Risk in Your Financial Life

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00

Understanding the nature of risk is the first step to managing it. Very simply, risk is unpredictable damage to your assets.

Choosing Your Retirement Health Coverage

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00

Except for those who are eligible for Medicaid, answering the following questions should enable you to determine which coverage best meets your needs, given your income level, health and risk tolerance.

Financial Life Planning: Why Combining Money & Meaning Matters

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00

Financial life planning, in its simplest terms, is about understanding what is truly important to you in your life, and then building a financial plan around that. Everyone's plan is unique. Many of us want a more meaningful life and a job, but also face the realities of planning for our child's college education and our own retirement.

Make Your Estate Plan Disaster Proof

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00

It is easy to delay estate planning when tragedy is only a headline, yet the statistics of death tell us that we should all prepare our families for the worst, regardless of age or wealth.

Asset Allocation in a Crisis

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00

In my view, the financial crisis of 2007 and 2008 also created a crisis in asset allocation. However, I believe that it was the implementation, and not the essence, of asset allocation that failed.

What Will Happen To Your Retirement Values in 2010?

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:00:00

You may have sought good advice, created a sound financial plan, and done everything right — only to discover you'll have less retirement income than you thought.

Withdrawal Rates: Rules of Thumb to Spend Wisely

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00

What happens if the withdrawal rate goes above the "safe" rate? A better question is, what will you do when the rate goes above the safe rate? Higher than desired withdrawal rates are indeed a "when" proposition. There are two ways a withdrawal rate increases.

New Year Money Resolutions for 2010

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:00

This time of year, many Americans start to ponder the year just passed and the year to come.

Roth Conversions: What is New for 2010 and Beyond?

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:00:00

Recent tax law changes create an opportunity to consider converting a traditional retirement account to a Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA).

Building a Financial Plan? Factor in Human Capital

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00

When it comes to building a financial plan, more and more people are starting to factor in their human capital — their careers.

Getting a Divorce? What it Means for Your Business

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00

Divorce is special in part because unlike most things in financial planning, it represents the destruction of a plan rather than the construction of a plan.

Long-term Care Costs. What Should You Consider?

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00

Price rollbacks throughout the U.S. economy during the past year did not apply to long-term care service providers, according to the 2009 MetLife Market Survey of Nursing Home, Assisted Living, Adult Day Services, and Home Care Costs.

7 Steps to Create a Self-investment Plan

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00

The end of the year is a good time to think about how you'll handle your financial investments, but it's also a good time to consider how you'll handle your number one investment – you.

Have Medicare? Plan for Health Care Expenses

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00

If you're in retirement or planning for retirement, it's quite possible that you may have to adjust your projected health care expenses for next year.

Protect Your Legacy. Update Your Estate Plan.

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00

If you don't have an estate plan in place, a will, a trust, a health care proxy and the like, now — regardless of your age or life stage — would be a good time to put your affairs in order.

Protect Your Future with Long-term Care Insurance

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00

It’s not necessarily easy to predict whether you might need long-term care when you age. But you can at least evaluate whether long-term care insurance might make sense or not.

Financial Planning: The Purpose and Benefits

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00

Financial planning is about helping individuals and families, regardless of age and financial circumstances, envision and realize their dreams and goals by marshaling and managing their financial resources.

A Financial Planning ToolKit to Get Debt Free

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00

When it comes to getting out of debt, financial planners suggest that you need a financial planning toolkit. But what kind of tools belong in the kit? A recent article in the Journal of Financial Planning suggests the following.

Financial Planning for Cancer Survivors

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00

There’s nothing quite like an illness to reek havoc with your financial plan. And that’s especially the case when it comes to advanced cancer.

Investing in Municipal Bonds? Are There Risks?

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:00:00

Americans are pouring money into long-term municipal bond funds at near-record levels, according to a published report. Indeed, investors put $1.5 billion into what are also called tax-exempt funds during one recent week.

Ready for a Rainy Day? Why You Need an Emergency Fund

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:00:00

Set aside three to six months of money in an emergency fund. Well, that advice — given the effects of the recession and the fact that nearly one in 10 workers is now unemployed — is no longer something that you can ignore, say financial planners.

Your Financial Plan After the Recession

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:00:00

If you haven’t done so already, it might be time to evaluate your financial plan and consider what, if anything, needs to be updated and tweaked in the post-2009 recessionary world.

Rent or Buy? What Should You Do?

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:00:00

More than nine in 10 Americans do believe that owning a home is still a good investment

How to Handle a Divorce Settlement

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00

It’s not a certainty, but the odds are high that your spouse and you might get divorced some day. And should that happen, you’ll have to figure out what to do with your divorce settlement.

Build a Sound Financial Plan!

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:00:00

Any recent efforts you've made to scrimp, save and pay off debt should become a permanent part of your financial philosophy.

Economic Trends and Your Financial Plan

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:00:00

It’s hard not to read stories about economic trends these days and not wonder how such things affect your investments and financial plan.

Be Proactive: Plan for Long-term Care

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00

A recent study shows that the cost of long-term care associated with Alzheimer’s disease could be staggering.

Facing Foreclosure? Save Your Home

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00

The housing crisis took a breather for a bit. But now, foreclosures are on the rise, again.

Estate Planning: Safeguard Your Wishes

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00

In the case of America’s most favorite icon, all chaos could follow in the wake of your death if you’re not careful about your estate plan.

Just Married? Financial Planning for Newlyweds

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00

Now it's time, if you haven't already, to talk seriously about your money and your financial plan as a couple.

Prepare for the Unexpected

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00

Financial planners and others say hurricane season is a time to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

Secure Your Retirement Savings

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00

Financial planners are exploring ways to insure your investment portfolio, and especially your retirement portfolio, against the risk of bear markets.

Medical Bankruptcy — Are You at Risk?

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00

One risk that you should definitely try to manage, through insurance and other means, is the risk of bankruptcy due to illness and medical bills. It’s both large and increasing.

GM Bankruptcy — How It May Affect You

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00

Financial planners say average Americans have plenty to consider as the bankruptcy of GM and other companies play out in these curious times.

Have a Credit Card? Learn Your New Bill of Rights

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00

On May 22, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights. The new law prohibits credit card companies from arbitrarily raising the interest rate on your credit cards and charging certain fees, among other provisions.