For most of your adult life, you’ve protected yourself and your family with life insurance. Having a back-up tool in place to help replace income for your family should you pass away is part of a sound wealth-preservation plan. For...
Read MoreFor many Americans, preparing to retire takes decades of investing and careful saving so you have the income you need to support your lifestyle. And once that retirement begins, you have to start collecting on your investments into...
Read MoreWith 2016 ending in a handful of weeks, we’ve officially entered into the terrain of year-end tax planning. And if your assets include annuities, then you have specific details to be aware of when managing your taxes. A variety of...
Read MoreThanksgiving flew by, and now here we are, deep in the holiday season. And if you’re a grandparent, finding the perfect gift for your grandchildren can be challenging. While the hottest new toys and gadgets offer an exciting present...
Read MoreYour Beneficiary Planning — Life Insurance and Annuities Investing brings with it a world of planning complexities to navigate as you pursue your unique financial goals. And your beneficiary planning when you have life insurance and...
Read MoreNo matter what life stage you’re in, making sure you have the income you need for retirement is an ongoing planning need. However, fewer than half of Americans are prepared to afford at least 80% of retirement expenses1. Retirees have...
Read MoreManaging your family’s financial needs requires daily, ongoing oversight and planning if you want to uphold lifelong wellness. And for families who have loved ones with disabilities, the planning needs become even more intricate. You...
Read MoreOwning a small business can be an incredibly rewarding experience. But, when you’re your own boss, you also control your business’ destiny — which can directly affect your own life outside of being a business owner. And in order to...
Read MoreSo, you’re looking to save more money to support the income you need in retirement and are considering or want to revisit your annuities. As a retirement-income investment, annuities can help you grow tax-deferred savings until you’re...
Read MoreGrowing older in America today isn’t what it used to be. Twenty years ago, the average person’s life expectancy was 76 years1. Fast forward to 2016, and a woman turning 65 today can expect to live until 87 years old and a man can...
Read MoreLife with grandchildren means getting to spend your later years doting on your favorite little ones. For some, it also means a new chapter of raising a family in a “second parenthood.” In fact, across the U.S., 2.7 million people are...
Read MoreRetiring in America is how many people look to their futures. Saying goodbye to your working years and entering a stage of enjoying your life in new ways — often in ways you’ve dreamed of — is a rite of passage for most Americans. Of...
Read MoreSo, you’ve saved with your 401(k) and maxed out your IRA contributions and other traditional retirement-savings strategies. And you still have taxable money that should be helping you develop lasting retirement income, rather than...
Read MoreWe all know that life isn’t static. A constant ebb and flow of events like family developments, career changes, and retirement inevitably bring changes to your financial needs and lifestyle. When these events occur, they can often...
Read MoreFor most people, life insurance is an essential tool for protecting your estate and loved ones should anything happen to you. When you take out a permanent life insurance policy — whole, universal, or variable — you gain another...
Read MoreSending a child or grandchild to college comes with new insurance responsibilities. Whether they’re already in college or still have a few years to go, your family’s insurance needs change when your children go off to school....
Read MoreIf you’ve ever had your credit card number stolen or found unauthorized activity on one of your financial accounts, you know what a headache financial fraud can cause. A 2016 study found that 13.1 Americans became the victims of...
Read MoreYou know you should be saving for retirement, but what about your other goals? Intermediate goals can be more challenging to plan for because they have a shorter timeframe ¬– three-to-seven years – and may be given short shrift by...
Read MoreWe’ve all made financial mistakes. Whether it’s living beyond our means and accumulating debt, buying a too-expensive house, saving too little for the future, or any other blunder – we’ve all been there. Here are some tips for learning...
Read MoreIf you are seeking to cut costs, reducing or dropping your life insurance may seem like a safe bet. In some cases, it might even be a good idea. However, think very carefully before making changes to your policy; once you drop...
Read MoreThere are many reasons to own an annuity and there are some situations in which using tax-deferred money to purchase an annuity can be a good idea. You want to turn some of your retirement savings into guaranteed income. Income that...
Read MoreHow long do you plan to live? Ridiculous question, right? If we could know exactly how long we will live, it would make life (and retirement planning) so much simpler. But, we don’t know. We can look at many variables to come up with...
Read MoreTraveling this summer? Save yourself a headache by using these tips to help keep your money safe while you’re away. Notify your financial institutions if you’ll be traveling abroad. Few things are more annoying than to have your cards...
Read MoreOne of the best gifts you can give a grandchild is the gift of being financially savvy. Unfortunately, many children leave home without understanding basic financial skills such as how to set a budget, use a credit card, or invest for...
Read MoreAre you and your spouse on the same page about money? Do you talk regularly about your finances? If not, a monthly family finance meeting might help. I know, talking about money and budgets every month doesn’t sound like a lot of fun,...
Read MoreMany couples prefer to divide household tasks and take on separate family responsibilities. However, when one member of the couple handles all financial chores, the other spouse may find himself or herself in the dark about the family...
Read MoreIf you’ve been watching the news, you probably know that Britain voted to exit the European Union (EU) on June 23rd after being a member of the European community since 1973. The shocking news caused financial markets to whipsaw, and...
Read MoreThough it may be hard to imagine retiring early, many Americans manage to do it while still living comfortable lifestyles. If you’re serious about ending your career early, think carefully about the challenges you face: preparing for...
Read MoreIf you’re like many Americans, the idea of spending your retirement on the couch isn’t all that attractive. The good news is that baby boomers are using their numbers and influence to redefine retirement. While some fill their time...
Read MoreMuhammad Ali, possibly one of the greatest boxers in history, passed away last week, leaving behind an incredible legacy of strength, perseverance, and vision. While we might not be world-class boxers, we can still take away some...
Read MoreSocial Security is a major source of income for most retirees, and deciding when to claim your benefit is critical to maximizing your guaranteed government income. Social Security rules changed in 2015, taking away two claiming...
Read MoreGrandparents are in a fantastic position to teach their grandchildren about money. Often, grandparents can more openly speak with grandchildren than their parents can. Grandparents often take on the role of family storyteller and...
Read MoreGuaranteed acceptance life insurance can be a boon to people who can’t get term life insurance coverage because of age, medical history, or other issues. Applications don’t require medical exams or even detailed questionnaires and...
Read MoreMost people have dozens of financial priorities competing for attention at any given time. Sitting down for an annual review can help you sift through those priorities and ensure that you are still on track to meet your goals. Though...
Read MoreA recent survey found that 68% of women and 56% of men are losing sleep over at least one money issue. While most respondents were concerned about saving enough for retirement, many also worried about healthcare, debt, education...
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