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Make college affordable by saving today

Thursday, 12 January 2012 22:22 by Jacki It may seem strange to think about saving for a college education when your child is very young, but there are two things you should consider: [More]


How to Choose your Financial Advisor

Wednesday, 21 December 2011 00:10 by Jacki It’s been said that some people spend more time on choosing an automobile to purchase than they do on selecting a financial advisor. If that observation has a ring of truth to it, it may be because people are familiar with the daily driving experience and the ease of determining one’s preferences. In contrast, financial management is a task that, for most people, involves decisions and considerations that they know little about. Similarly, they are ill equipped to assess the qualifications of those who seek to provide financial services. [More]


Keeping Important Documents Up-To-Date

Monday, 28 November 2011 20:39 by Jacki If you’ve taken steps to protect those who depend upon you – such as obtaining life insurance, writing a will, or developing a trust – give yourself a pat on the back. If you haven’t taken those steps, you should. Having a will and/or a trust helps to ensure that your hard-earned assets are distributed properly, and life insurance can help your spouse, children, and any other dependents meet their financial needs if you can’t. [More]


Calculating Your Retirement Needs

Wednesday, 26 October 2011 09:49 by Jacki Calculating a retirement savings goal is one of the most important steps investors can take to help determine if they are on pace to meet that goal. However, less than half of American workers have tried to figure out how much money they will need to accumulate for retirement, and the wide majority of these individuals admit that they either guessed or did their own calculations. What about you? [More]


Rent or Own in Retirement?

Monday, 20 June 2011 23:00 by Jacki Deciding whether to remain in your current home, downsize to a smaller home, rent, or move to a retirement community is a hard decision but one that will need to be made around retirement. Weighing the pros and cons of owning and renting will help you determine which is best for your situation. [More]


Know the Difference: Traditional and Roth IRAs

Tuesday, 26 April 2011 23:57 by Jacki Every now and then it is important to take some time to inventory your retirement planning. If you own a Traditional IRA, for instance, you probably know your contributions may be tax deductible. Did you know that if you withdraw from that Traditional IRA early you must pay a 10% penalty in addition to income tax? [More]


Should You Purchase Long-Term Care Insurance?

Sunday, 27 March 2011 14:52 by Jacki One of the biggest misconceptions held by Americans is that Medicare will be there to help them if they have to move in to a nursing home someday. But the sad fact is that Medicare covers very little in the way of nursing home costs, and generally only if the reason for the stay is to receive specialized medical care. [More]


How Do You Know When You’re Ready to Retire?

Sunday, 27 February 2011 20:47 by Jacki You’ve been planning your retirement for years: what you’re going to do, where you’re going to live, and how you’re going to pay for it. But knowing when it is time to retire can still be a very difficult decision. Here are a few questions to answer to help you decide if you are financially prepared to retire. [More]


Why You Need a Financial Plan

Sunday, 30 January 2011 19:33 by Jacki A financial plan is a document that helps you determine how you’ll achieve the goals you want from life, as well as how you’ll meet your future financial needs. A thorough financial plan looks at every aspect of how finances affect you and your family, covering issues such as retirement, education, housing, medical needs, insurance and luxuries. It examines your present situation, spells out your needs, and decides what steps will allow you to meet those needs. A good financial plan also gives you benchmarks to use as targets, so you’ll be able to tell how much progress you’ve made. [More]


Investing Blunders to Avoid

Tuesday, 28 December 2010 22:12 by Jacki When it comes to investing, emotions and anxiety run high. One mistake can cost you thousands. With a good plan in place, you can rest a little easier. Here are some investment mistakes to avoid. [More]


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