How many of us can reflect on our childhood and say we wish we learned more about money? Maybe you even graduated college and still had no clue how to manage your money and pay off your debts. Most people gain money skills and knowledge from their parents and caregivers as they grow and develop. Your children will learn their financial habits from watching you spend, save, borrow, and earn. The good news is you don’t have to be a money expert to help them achieve positive and strong financial habits.
Standards of Care in the Finance Industry: Fiduciary vs. Best Interest
There is a wide variety of financial professionals out there. Although there is some crossover between the responsibilities that fall under each title, one key difference is that the same standards do not all govern them. The various titles and standards can be confusing, especially for people who have never worked with a professional. This can make finding help even more daunting for beginners who may already be hesitant about letting someone else handle their money. If you’re in that boat, look for a fiduciary financial advisor. You can confidently trust these professionals, and here’s why…
How to Bring Up Conversations About Estate Planning
Estate planning is a crucial topic for families, yet it’s often avoided due to its sensitive nature. Discussing finances, wealth transfer, and inheritance can be uncomfortable, but it’s essential for ensuring that a family’s financial future is secure. Families can feel more prepared and confident by approaching the conversation thoughtfully and with the right mindset. This guide offers actionable steps to make estate planning discussions smoother and more productive.
Unfortunately, investing 101 is not a mandatory class for most people. If you’re not particularly interested in finance, you can cruise through high school, college, and even the beginning of your adult life with little understanding of the subject. One day, it hits you that you need to start building the future you’ve always wanted for your retirement to look like it does in your dreams.
Jargon is wonderful when it applies to your profession but is not so enduring when it applies to someone else’s. I am surrounded in my family by medical professionals and engineers. So, one can only imagine the conversations around my house flying over the head of a financial planner. However, my industry jargon can confuse clients of financial services. In this blog, I will shed some light on a significant word that gets used quite often but remains shrouded in mystery for some: fiduciary.
Does managing your finances ever feel like navigating a maze blindfolded? With temptations at every turn and endless options vying for our attention, it's easy to lose sight of our long-term financial well-being and make snap decisions. But fear not! By adopting a few simple habits, you can become a smart spender, enjoying the present moment while paving the way to a healthy financial future. Here are seven to get you started!
Does the ritual of gathering documents and navigating the complex maze of tax laws stress you out every year? You’re not alone. If you want to avoid tax season anxiety, careful planning is the best way to do so. This blog outlines multiple tips and strategies to help you streamline your process, confidently tackle tax season, and achieve peace of mind.
Do you remember those resolutions you made just a couple of months ago? It’s okay if you answered “no.” An estimated 80% of people fail to keep their New Year’s resolutions by February. If you’re one of the rare few who have been keeping up with yours until now, that’s very impressive. The majority break theirs within just a matter of days.
Over time, we have all become generally smarter about identifying and avoiding cyber threats. Unfortunately, scammers and hackers have become more creative with their deceptive techniques in response to society's increasing awareness of their activities. Therefore, it is important to still take cybersecurity issues seriously. You must diligently review communications and look for telltale signs of fraud. Keep reading to learn how to recognize these early on!
Year-end giving, or “Giving Season,” refers to the last two months of the year when the amount of incoming charitable donations dramatically increases. Overall, 31% of yearly charitable giving happens in December. Here are some other related facts you may not be aware of yet:
Do you have a hard time discussing finances? You’re not alone. This topic has historically been somewhat taboo and even though Gen Z has already significantly shifted societal conversations to be more open, for some reason many people of all generations still struggle to speak up about money.
There has been a lot of hype about self-driving cars. But when, realistically, can we expect to be driven to our destination by a vehicle that has no steering wheel, gas pedal, or seat specifically designated for a driver? In 2021, self-driving cabs hit the roads in select test cities. Companies like Waymo, Tesla, and Uber have been actively involved in autonomous taxi development, but this service is still not commonly available in most places.