Investment
Talking to Planner

Why Talk to a Financial Planner When You’re in Your 20s

It may seem like a challenge — you’re in your first job, you’re paying your own living expenses for the first time and, like many college...

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Credit Repair
404

Your Credit Score: Knowing Whats Behind the Number

Your credit score is one of the most important numbers in life. It ranks right up there with your Social Security number – except this one can...

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College
FAFSA

Applying for Financial Aid - A Quick FAFSA Primer

Financial aid is a broad term that covers financial help through the college your child attends. Financial aid includes merit and needs-based...

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Investment
Financial Abuse

Investment Abuse Part 2 How to Take Action if Youre a Victim

Last month we looked at several common investment abuses, such as misrepresentation, unsuitable recommendations, and excessive trading. Now we...

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Starting a New Job
college graduate

A Guide to Employee Benefits for the Recent College Graduate

If you are a young person who has recently graduated from college and are entering the professional workforce, you have your whole life ahead...

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Savings
Sound Financial Plan

Save with a Sound Financial Plan

Last Updated: February 17, 2012 Any recent efforts you've made to scrimp, save and pay off debt should become a permanent part of your...

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Investment
Insider Guide

Insiders Guide to Finding a Financial Planner

“Hi, I think I’m interested in a financial planning but I’m not sure of the scope of a financial planner. My priorities are reducing my...

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Investment
Money Resolutions

Money Resolutions

We are getting toward that time of the year again where we start to reflect on the events of the past year and look forward to the...

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Starting a New Job

Considerations in Starting a Business

When considering starting a business...

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Investment
Forward thinking

Forward Thinking

A few years ago I helped conduct a focus group. One of the conclusions was that those focus group members who had a longer term perspective...

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Saving on Taxes
Schedule D

What is This New Schedule D Form 8949?

You have all your tax documents in front of you and they look much the same as in prior years except for the report from your broker on those...

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Savings
taxes control

Dont Let Taxes Control Investment Decisions

Taxes can eat away a significant portion of an investment's return. Yet at the same time, financial planners caution against allowing the "tax...

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Investment

Get Off the Roller Coaster

The past 12 months perfectly captured the proverbial roller coaster of the stock market. It went up and down, it zigged and it zagged, and it...

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retirement
Retirement Account

RMD Time: Handling Retirement Account Distributions

Anyone who owns a tax-advantaged retirement account such as a 401(k) or individual retirement account (IRA) — that’s 63% of (or 77.5 million)...

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College
The Dream

College for Working Adults Financing the Dream

About 40 percent of American college students are 25 years of age or older, indicating it is never too late to seek a college degree. In order...

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Caring for a Loved One
financial help

If a Friend Needs Financial Help Do It the Right Way

There may indeed be someone close to you who needs financial help. It could be a tough decision. Perhaps that person has been hit by a perfect...

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Retirement
Prioritizing Retirement Decisions

Prioritizing Retirement Decisions

Retirement can be daunting to figure out, because the implications of your choices tend to get magnified. A market drop or negative health...

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Savings
Paper Bonds

The Real Cost of Paper US Savings Bonds

Do you have a stack of U.S. Savings Bonds stashed under your mattress or in a safe deposit box that you’ve been collecting since childhood? You...

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Estate Planning
Part II

Estate Planning for the Middle Class-Part II

Part II: Basic Documents: the WillAlthough there are many complex estate planning strategies,  it is often the simplest items that are...

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Divorce
Divorce Finalized

My Divorce is Finalized. Now What?

Many people mistakenly believe that once their divorce is finalized, their days of filling out paperwork and forms are over. The truth is you...

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Investment
overcoming fear

Overcoming Fear to Find Bargains

Behavioral finance is a relatively new field of study that blends economics with psychology by studying the decision making process. It is...

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Preparing for Disaster
flood insurance

What You Need to Know About Flood Insurance

I live in an area that was hit hard by Hurricane Irene. Although I lost power for a few days, that was nothing compared to the devastation...

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Starting a Family
New Parents

Financial Planning for New Parents

Dramatic changes in one's life often require a reassessment of one's personal finances. And few events have a more profound impact on one's...

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Retirement
retiring

7 Signs It’s Time to Retire

Deciding when to retire is not always easy. Many people simply base the decision on their birthday, but there are a whole host of other factors...

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Savings
Party on a Budget

How to Throw a Fabulous Holiday Party on a Budget

I love to entertain, especially during the holidays while my Christmas tree is up and the house is warm and inviting. However, hosting parties...

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Investment
americans overseas

Financial Planning for Americans Overseas

Globalization has not only moved many American jobs overseas but Americans, too. There can be real benefits to an overseas posting such as...

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Investment
SMART Goals

Setting SMART Goals

How often in life have you been able to accomplish something without first defining what it is that you’re attempting to do? For example, have...

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Divorce
Divorce mistakes

What Common QDRO Mistakes Should You Avoid in Your Divorce

How can you and your soon-to-be-former spouse split your individual qualified retirement savings, frequently the largest asset you may each own...

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Retirement
Retirement Today

Planning for Retirement in Today’s World

Twenty and thirty years ago, the picture of retirement most people had in mind was one where there was a finality to your job, you’d move to...

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