One Economy, Two Realities: Understanding Today’s Economic Divide
It’s possible for one economy to tell two different stories. One of growth, opportunity, and abundance. Another of constraint, anxiety, and scarcity. This isn't new. But recent economic data makes the divide unusually visible. Recognizing this divide can change how we...
How to Talk to Your Aging Parents About Estate Planning (Without Making It Tense)
These conversations aren’t easy. Bringing up long-term care or estate planning with aging parents can feel like stepping on a landmine—awkward, emotional, maybe even a little intrusive. But if you wait until something happens—a fall, a diagnosis, a hospital...
What Recent Inflation Signals Mean for Financial Planning
Inflation has been the boogeyman of the economy for months. Sticky prices. Rising gas costs. A looming rate hike. The latest report provided useful data for planning ahead. When inflation cools—even slightly—it can affect everything from interest rates to your travel...
Rethinking Retirement: Why True Wealth Is More Than Money
You’ve mapped out your dream retirement. Maybe it’s a cozy beach town, golf twice a week, time with family, or finally starting that side project. But here’s the truth most planning overlooks: even with a solid financial plan, your ideal retirement could still fall...
Overlooked Retirement Expenses (And How to Plan for Them)
A comfortable retirement doesn’t come with a fixed price tag. Expenses can change over time, and some of the most important ones are easy to overlook. That’s one reason about 45% of retirees could run out of money in retirement.1 The good news? That outcome isn’t...
Why Your Brain Sabotages Your Investment Plan (No Matter What the Market Does)
The Dow crosses 45,000. Your brain whispers: "This has to be the top." The market drops 15%. Your brain screams: "Get out before it gets worse!" Different scenarios. Same result: your brain hijacking your long-term investment strategy. If you've ever felt paralyzed by...
Why Patience Beats Perfection: The Long-Term Investor’s Guide to Market Timing
Over the course of your investing life, you’ll encounter market lows and highs. Headlines often spotlight the extremes, especially when markets reach record levels. Take, for example: “Stocks Hit Record Highs. What’s Behind the Rally.”1 All-time highs have an...
The New Face of Fraud: How AI Is Changing the Scam Game
Technology has changed nearly everything about the way we live, work, and connect including how scammers operate. Once upon a time, scams came in the form of clunky emails riddled with typos or too-good-to-be-true lottery wins. These days? The tactics are smoother,...
Financial Spring Cleaning: 8 Ways To Refresh Your Finances
As spring arrives and the weather warms up, many people turn their attention to cleaning out closets and organizing their homes. According to a recent survey, about 80% of Americans have spring cleaning on their radar this year.1 While most focus on the physical...