Investment
annuity investments

Introduction to Annuities

Annuities account for a significant part of all investment sales, partly because they offer features and benefits that are unavailable...

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Insurance
important asset

Protecting Your Most Important Asset

What is your most important asset? When asked this question, most people respond with their house, their 401(k), or the inheritance they hope...

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Starting a Family
Parents and Baby

Helping Parents Put Their Finances in For A Baby Arrival

Among all of life’s momentous occasions, having a baby is about as big as it gets. Given the sheer magnitude of the occasion and all the new...

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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
Restore Her Finances

A Single Mom's Plan to Restore Her Finances

The Problem/GoalStarting over is never easy. At 41, with four children to take care of, beginning a new life can put a pinch on anyone’s...

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College
Dont Pay-Off Your Student Loans

Dont Pay-Off Your Student Loans

If you are like most professionals, you graduated with over $100,000 in student loans. While that debt may feel like a monkey on your back, it...

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Getting Married
Plan a Wedding on a Budget

Weddings on a Budget A Plan to Pay for the Big Day

Now that the big question has been popped and the ring’s on her finger, it’s time to put the wedding planning machine in motion. Then the...

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Savings
holiday spending

9 Ways to Keep Holiday Spending Under Control

As the year comes to a close, spending in most households heads up – on holiday gifts, entertainment and, depending on where you live, on...

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Retirement
Maxed Retirement

I've Maxed Out My Retirement Plan... What Next?

First off, if this situation applies to you then let me say… “Congratulations!”You’re doing a great job of saving for your future, and it will...

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Investment
base rate neglect

Base Rate Neglect Help Yourself by Knowing the Odds

Behavioral finance is the study of the emotional and cognitive biases that can lead to irrational financial decisions. While behavioral finance...

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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
money resolutions

The Promise and Peril of New Year Money Resolutions

As is customary this time of year, we begin to reflect on the year that is ending as well as the approaching year. This process can create a...

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Investment
Play a Role

Financial Education - We Can All Play a Role

Last month, I participated in Accounting for Kids Day in Cincinnati, Ohio. Accounting for Kids is a non-profit that seeks to help local school...

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College
Funding surprise

The College Funding Surprise

Much has been written in this space and many others about the ins and outs and ups and downs of college planning. Information is available...

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Investment
Free Upgrade

Time For Your Free Upgrade

It is time for a new phone. It is? I have not learned to use many of the features my current phone. This phone still works fine. I will have to...

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Investment
Financial Planning Checklist

Checklist for Year-End Planning

I recently attended a large public seminar that focused on educating consumers about the value of financial planning. The headliner of the...

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Caring for a Loved One
AbuseandYou

Elder Financial Abuse and You

Last week FPA and Kiplinger’s hosted a free advice national call-in for the public to speak with advisors about elder financial abuse, and...

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Investment
Biggest Personal Finance Changes

The 5 Biggest Personal Finance Changes in the Last 20 Years

My son recently turned twenty and it inspired me to reflect on all of the changes in his life as well as in my professional life. My son’s...

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Investment
Investor or Speculator

Are you an Investor or Speculator?

How can you tell if you are you an investor or a speculator? Many casual investors buy stocks and assume they are investing, but in reality,...

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Retirement
retirement planning

Retirement Goals Start at the Beginning

A number of recent surveys indicate that many people no longer view 65 as a realistic retirement age and believe that they may find themselves...

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Starting a Family
Adopted Baby

Thinking About Adoption-Plan Your Finances First

Adopting a child is one of the biggest decisions you may ever make. It can also be a shockingly expensive decision that will have a huge effect...

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Investment
Life in Balance

Your Financial Life in Balance

Creating a balanced financial life is a lifelong process. As soon as you get one thing straightened out, it seems like another issue pops up...

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Starting a New Job
 Challenges Facing Business Owners

Top 5 Financial Challenges Facing Business Owners

As many business owners painfully discover, successfully building their enterprise does not always directly translate into successfully...

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Saving on Taxes
Common Tax Filing Mistakes

Avoid Common Tax Filing Mistakes

As with time-honored tax-saving strategies, there are common tax-filing mistakes that seem to snag taxpayers year in and year out, regardless...

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Investment
investing stocks

Dont Just Buy What You Know

Investors often embrace advice from accomplished professionals to, “buy what you know.” Legendary fund manager Peter Lynch and investing icon...

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Retirement
Brain Action

My Brain Made Me Do It

How does one get off this ride? 2011 was another year of market moving headlines. We saw the tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan. Osama Bin...

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Investment
my motivation

So What's My Motivation Here?

If you‘re reading this blog, you’ve at least taken some initiative to learn more about financial planning. Topics abound from setting goals to...

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Investment
Tips to Help in a Recession

5 Steps for Dealing with Recession

The economic news of late does not seem supportive of a rapid economic rebound. In fact, for a growing number of individuals there is concern...

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Investment

REITs 101 What You Need to Know About Real Estate Investment Trusts

What is a REIT?REIT is the acronym for Real Estate Investment Trust, which is a real estate company that offers shares to the public. Some...

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Retirement
retirement journey

Planning Your Retirement Journey

Imagine packing up your car for a trip, backing out of the driveway and you realize you have no gas or destination. Of course this would never...

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