August is “Make A Will” Month
August is Make a Will Month, a time dedicated to strategizing for the future. You may have seen in the news that Aretha Franklin’s loved ones are still caught in a legal battle due to the existence of multiple wills. The lesson from this situation is clear: creating a thorough…
10 Tips To Help Empower Women Investors
For many women, financial independence is their No. 1 concern. But what steps can a woman take to help her achieve this throughout her life? Here are a few key action items you can take to help create financial confidence in your retirement years: 1. Keep money in your name.…
Moves Millionaires Can Make To Access More Coverage On Deposits
A recent CNBC survey reveals that 63% of millionaires support raising Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) coverage limits. The wealthiest millionaires, with $5 million or more in assets, are even more supportive, with 67% in favor of the change. The survey included 764 respondents with $1 million or more in…
5 Benefits of Working in Retirement
In the past, retirement has been portrayed as an ending, a grand exit from your years in the workplace. But the rules are shifting. Labor force participation among those aged 65-74 is predicted to reach 30.7 percent by 2031, up from just 25.8 percent in 2021. As the Boomer generation…
A Brief History of Estate Taxes
Federal estate taxes have been a source of funding for the federal government almost since the U.S. was founded. In 1797, Congress instituted a system of federal stamps that were required on all wills offered for probate when property (land, homes) was transferred from one generation to the next. The…
“Tipflation” May Be Causing Tipping Backlash As More Digital Prompts Ask For Tips
Tired of “tipflation”? It’s time to talk about the tipping backlash! According to Bankrate, 2/3 of Americans now hold a negative view of tipping, and the number of consistent tippers is declining. Digital payments and automatic tipping prompts are fueling the frustration. Eliminating tipping practices is challenging, as restaurants that…
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: June 18-24, 2023
The Week in Review: June 18-24, 2023 Markets pause as summer officially starts and Powell weighs in After reaching 4,400 points at breakneck speed, the S&P naturally took a few steps back last week. Markets have slumped since the last Federal Reserve meeting, as they digested recent gains and consolidated…
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: May 21-May 27
The Week in Review: May 21-27 Take it to the limit – one more time! “So put me on a highwayAnd show me a signAnd take it to the limit one more time” Remember the Eagles song? It must feature prominently on our elected officials’ playlists, because no matter how…
Update on the TD Ameritrade/Charles Schwab Merger
TD Ameritrade/Charles Schwab Transition Update Key Info Packets Key info packets were mailed around Aug. 1. This packet includes a letter with the client’s new account number(s), plus important details about the transition and what they can do to avoid disruptions in accessing their account after the conversion. The packet…
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: July 23-29, 2023
The Week in Review: July 23-29, 2023 Another Fed meeting, another rate hike As anticipated, the Federal Reserve increased interest rates by another 25 basis points during last week’s meeting, taking the Fed Funds rate to 5.25-5.50% (the highest level since 2001). In his post-meeting remarks, Fed Chair Jerome Powell…
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