There is a wide variety of financial professionals out there, and although there is some crossover between the responsibilities that fall under each title, one key difference is that they are not all governed by the same standards. The various titles and standards can be confusing, especially for people who have never worked with a professional before. This can make the process or 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…

There are many types of financial professionals. All the titles and accreditations can be very confusing; and the last thing you want to feel when putting your finances into someone else’s hands is confusion. To put your mind at ease, we’ve created an eBook that thoroughly explains what the title “financial planner” means and why you might benefit from working with one yourself. Simply put, a financial planner is a professional who helps you assess your current situation so they can then strategize actionable ways to achieve your long-term goals.

With the internet at your fingertips, you can become an expert at anything, right? That’s not exactly true. A little knowledge can lead to a lot of harm if research and implementation are not done responsibly. First, you want to be sure to consult resources that you can trust.

Many of us understand the importance of having an estate plan, but we can't stop there. It's equally as important to periodically check your estate plan for necessary updates.

Loans and credit cards all sound like a dream come true when you first hit some level of financial awareness. Many young adults have thought, “Am I about to be handed free money?” That’s before they have a true understanding of what it means to be in debt.

The initials ESG refer to the factors used to measure the environmental and ethical impact of investing in a company. The “G” stands for governance, corporate governance to be exact. A trend within the group of investors who care about the systems, structures and policies governing a corporation is investing in more women-owned and women-led businesses.

You’re probably familiar with the saying, if you give a man a fish you feed him for a day but if you teach a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime. This is how you should approach leaving a legacy for your grandchildren. There’s a huge amount of value in passing wealth down to your grandchildren, through 529 education savings plans, savings bonds, and many other traditional ways to gift them funds. However, it’s even more important to share financial lessons with your grandkids as they’re growing up. This will give them the ability to handle money they get from you, and anywhere else, in a knowledgeable manner well into their adult lives. Therefore, they’ll be less likely to experience losses and more likely to know how to grow their wealth.

Did you know that Albert Einstein once referred to compounding interest as “the eighth world wonder?” If you’re not familiar with this financial term, Einstein’s fondness for it might surprise you. The word “interest” can trigger some negative emotions because it’s often associated with others charging you interest on a debt, but don’t forget that you can also earn interest through your savings and investments.

The wide world of investment is full of opportunities. Unfortunately, along with these opportunities comes a lot of jargon and confusion. Common questions that people ask themselves are “What are mutual funds?” and “Should I invest in mutual funds?” Like most things in life, there are pros and cons to doing so. This breakdown will cut through the buzzwords so that you can get a better idea of what mutual funds are and whether or not investing in them is a good financial fit for you.