The success rate for active managers has not been very good. In fact, it has been downright awful. It is really hard to beat an index. If you or your advisor are pursuing traditional active management, you’ll need to depend on some serious luck. The decisions you or your financial advisor make around the types of managers and investment strategies you invest in can make a big difference in your long-term returns.

How do we plan when we cannot know? There are always an array of tax breaks to encourage us to save toward our major life goals. However, it remains up to us to make the best use of these “tools of the trade.”

Have you been wondering, “When should I start taking my Social Security?”

The “right” answer to this common question depends on a wide array of personal variables. It depends on how Congress acts. It depends on how the unknowable future plays out.

Let’s take a closer look at how to find the right balance for you.

The SECURE 2.0 Act, was similarly enacted at year-end on December 29th, 2022. The legislation seeks to reform how Americans prepare for retirement while juggling current spending needs. Following is an overview of its key components.

There are many planning strategies you can take before the year ends to help potentially reduce your 2022 tax liability and maximize your financial plan as we move into 2023. Most investment-related strategies must be complete by December 31, 2022, so it is important to act now.

As the end of the year approaches, investors over the age of 72 need to ensure they have taken their 2022 Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs).

US stock market data suggests that making investment decisions based on which party controls Congress is unlikely to lead to better investment outcomes. Investors should remain focused on the long-term.

There were so many big events competing for our attention this summer. It is important to remember that we are inherently biased to pay more attention to recent alarms than long-term trends. As an investor, if you overemphasize the news that looms the largest, you’re far more likely to damage your investments than do them any favors.

529 College Savings Plans are a popular way to provide for your child’s college education. However, myths about these plans exist and prevent families from understanding the full value of this tool. If you’re seeking to be more prepared for your child’s college costs, don’t let these myths stop you.

Inflation is higher than it’s been in quite a while and everyone reading this is seeing price increases around them.

But what should we make of that information? As usual, it helps to consider current events in a historical context to discover informative insights.

At its March 15–16 Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, the U.S. Federal Reserve raised its federal target funds rate by a quarter-point. It was the first increase since December 2018, but it wasn’t a huge surprise. What does this mean and how will it impact the economy?

Thank you to all who joined us for our recent event, Planning a Smooth Estate Transition. We enjoyed an interactive discussion with guests, creating a great opportunity to understand the complexities and importance of a well-planned estate.

This 2021 end-of-year guide & checklist provides different strategies to consider to reduce your tax liability and maximize your financial plan. Download our free guide.

Don’t forget to take your 2021 RMDs before year-end! Once you reach age 72, you must start taking withdrawals from your traditional retirement accounts to avoid tax penalties.

2 tax-efficient & strategic ways that may help you use/avoid RMDs in the future include:

+ Roth Conversions

+ Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)

Medicare open enrollment is from October 15 – December 7th. This is an important time to review and/or modify healthcare coverage whether you are new to Medicare or have been a recipient for many years. Here are a few things to know during this period. 

There is nothing that can prepare you for the grief of losing your spouse. There are many decisions to be made, but some can and should wait. Here are some helpful handholds to hang on to if you've recently been widowed or know someone who has.

Around this time last year, COVID-19 was officially declared a global pandemic and the markets plummeted 30%. We reminded our clients and readers at that time to focus on the bigger perspective. Now, one year later, we can see the market correction in a larger context. What lessons should we learn?

We are all limited by our own behavior that may not be rational. When we are aware of our tendencies and we have the right checks in place, we can implement the necessary measures to avoid making costly mistakes.

2020 will certainly be remembered for many historical events. Here are 7 lessons that investors can learn from the year 2020.

How should you prep for 2021? Here's our guide for retirement, tax, and investment considerations as you consider 2020 year-end planning.