To help improve your financial situation, you might consider reducing your debt. Before starting any debt payoff strategy (or combination of strategies), be sure you understand the terms of your debts, including interest rates, payment requirements, and any prepayment or other penalties. Start with Understanding Minimum Payments You are generally required to [...]

Every year, the Internal Revenue Service announces cost-of-living adjustments that affect contribution limits for retirement plans and various tax deduction, exclusion, exemption, and threshold amounts. Here are a few of the key adjustments for 2023. Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax The annual gift tax exclusion (and annual generation-skipping transfer tax exclusion) for [...]

Here are some things to consider as you weigh potential tax moves before the end of the year. Set Aside Time to Plan Effective planning requires that you have a good understanding of your current tax situation, as well as a reasonable estimate of how your circumstances might change next year. There's a real opportunity [...]

With the prices for gas, oil, and electricity continuing to soar across the country, consumers are facing another winter of high heating bills. According to the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association, the average cost of home heating is estimated to increase by 17.2% this season.1 Here are some tips to help you keep your heating [...]

The U.S. stock market had a banner year in 2021, with the S&P 500 index up almost 27%. Unfortunately, stocks turned downward on the second trading day of 2022 and kept sliding into a bear market.1 Stocks in the S&P 500 are classified by 11 different business sectors, each of which responds differently to economic [...]

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)for the 2023-2024 school year opens on October 1,2022. Here are some things you should know. Why file it? The FAFSA is a prerequisite for federal student loans, grants, and work-study. In addition, colleges typically require the FAFSA before distributing their own need-based aid and, in some cases, [...]

The importance of proper estate planning cannot be overstated, regardless of the size of your estate or the stage of life you're in. Nevertheless, it's surprising how many American adults haven't put a plan in place. You might think that those who are rich and famous would be way ahead of the curve when it [...]

If you worry about your retirement investments during market downturns, you're not alone. Unfortunately, emotions are often the enemy of sound investing. Here are some points to help you stay clear-headed during periods of market volatility. Markets Rebound Historically, even the worst bear market has bounced back and eventually gone on to reach new highs. [...]

Throughout your life, your financial needs will change and life insurance can help you meet some of those needs. But how much life insurance do you need? There are a number of approaches to help you determine how much life insurance you should have. Here are three of those methods. Family Needs Approach With this [...]

A pooled income fund is a trust with both charitable and noncharitable beneficiaries. It is established and run by a public charity, not by you. The charity "pools" the irrevocable contributions of many people, invests the money, and then distributes to you (or your designated beneficiary) a periodic income payment(usually quarterly or annually) for life, [...]