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Famous people are all too human. Tabloid newspapers and celebrity magazines and websites make bank chronicling their every moment, from going out for a coffee to attending glamorous premieres and glitzy concerts.

The road to better health may sometimes involve an extra expense here and there, but you should be careful about wasting money on diet ideas with promises that are more based on myth than fact.

Preparing for retirement can look a little different for women than it does for men.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, productivity losses linked to employees not showing up to work due to five risk factors.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Warren Burger is famous for more than just his time on the bench. When he died in 1995, he left a 176-word will that gave no specific power to his executors.

Preparing your estate can be complicated, and if you're a part of a blended family, estate decisions can be even more complex and nuanced.

Reaching six figures is no easy feat. If you’re one of the hard-working few who have made it to this milestone, give yourself a pat on the back and celebrate.

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools have become a game changer in various industries, and they are also proving incredibly useful for retirees looking to start consulting or a small business venture.

In 2022, there were 17,597 dog bite claims nationwide, totaling aggregate damages of over $1 billion, according to the Insurance Information Institute.1

The desire to leave a legacy may be the height of altruism for it is a gift to the future, the benefit of which you may never witness, nor ever feel its appreciation by others.

When looking for income-generating investments, some investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. When a company makes a profit, that money can be put to two uses: It can be reinvested in the business.

If your family relies on your income, it's critical to consider having enough life insurance to provide for them after you pass away. But too often, life insurance is an overlooked aspect of personal finances.

The irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) can be an important estate strategy tool that may accomplish a number of estate objectives; however, it may not be appropriate for every individual.

For the average investor, the financial landscape can sometimes feel like a complex maze with limited access to certain investment opportunities. However, within this realm exists a distinct category known as accredited investors.

Employers do what they can to foster a sense of ownership in their employees. After all, if you stand to benefit from a company’s success, you’re more likely to do a great job for them, or so the logic goes.

Many Americans, through circumstances beyond their control, find themselves needing to retire earlier than anticipated. Whatever the circumstances, it’s difficult not to feel wrongfooted and hurried by the situation.

If you have built up company securities within your employer-sponsored retirement plan, you may find yourself with a range of choices when the time comes to take a distribution.

One of the most common questions people ask about Social Security is when they should start taking benefits. Making the right decision for you can have a meaningful impact on your financial income in retirement.

If the idea of retiring in your early 50s, 40s, 30s, or even late 20s appeals to you, you may be interested in joining the FIRE retirement movement.

Only four in ten Americans have a home inventory, despite the fact that 3.4 million Americans were displaced by natural disasters in 2022.

The Internal Revenue Service estimates that taxpayers and businesses spend about 8 billion hours a year complying with tax-filing requirements.

Between 30 percent and 60 percent of taxable property has an inflated assessment, which may lead to higher property tax bills. Moreover, typically fewer than 5 percent of taxpayers dispute their assessment.1

Forty-two percent of Americans do not own any stocks or stock-related investments, according to a recent Gallup poll.1

As a parent, you of course want to give your child the best opportunity for success, and for many, attending the "right" university or college is that opportunity.

Most children stop being "and-a-half" somewhere around age 12. Kids add "and-a-half" to make sure everyone knows they're closer to the next age than the last. When you are older, "and-a-half" birthdays start making a comeback.

When a family member passes away, there are many decisions that need to be made and many emotions to handle. The last thing anyone thinks about is taxes. Unfortunately, even the deceased can't escape taxation.

Thanks to healthier lifestyles and advances in modern medicine, the worldwide population over age 65 is growing.

College marks a great milestone in a child’s life. It may be the first time he or she will live away from home.

In 2021, the average flood claim payout from the National Flood Insurance Program was $44,401.1 The financial loss that comes with flooding can be devastating. Yet, many Americans are not protected against flood damages, primarily...

In 2021, the U.S. had a record 24.5 million millionaires, up from 202 million in the previous year. An increase in personal wealth may bring greater financial flexibility; it may also bring greater liability. Individuals with high net...

New retirees sometimes worry that they are spending too much, too soon. Should they scale back? Are they at risk of outliving their money? This concern may be legitimate. Some households "live it up" and spend more than they anticipate...

It's natural to wonder exactly how a bank safeguards your money. Fortunately, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance exists for this very reason: to help protect your funds once deposited. Read on to explore the...

In a recent survey, 70% of current workers stated they plan to work for pay after retiring.1 And that possibility raises an interesting question: how will working affect Social Security benefits? The answer to that question requires an...

The Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) can make tax sense for those taxpayers who are eligible.

Here's a helpful list of key dates to know in the 2023 tax calendar.

Perhaps nothing better illustrates the need for an asset allocation plan than this chart, which shows how various asset classes performed on a year-by-year basis from 2003 through 2022. The best-performing asset class for each calendar year

Bear markets may be brutal, but bull markets have a tendency to charge back. These tables show some great examples of this. Contact me with any questions. Bulls & Bears

These 6 P's can help you fend off cyberattacks with stronger, more secure passwords.

In January, the trade deficit in goods and services hit $68.3 billion as exports expanded faster than imports.

Your last will and testament only directs certain assets after you pass away. Accounts that have beneficiary designations will direct who is to take ownership upon your passing.

What Keeps You Up at Night?

David Nagy

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

People come to financial planners seeking help for a variety of reasons. This checklist addresses various ways we can help.

Everyone loves a winner. If an investment is successful, most people naturally want to stick with it. But is that the best approach? It may sound counterintuitive, but it may be possible to have too much of a good thing. Over time, the...

When markets become volatile, a lot of people try to guess when stocks will bottom out. In the meantime, they often park their investments in cash. But just as many investors are slow to recognize a retreating stock market, many also...

There is a lot to remember when it comes to Social Security benefits. Here are the top 10 things to keep in mind before claiming Social Security.

Who among us wants to pay the IRS more taxes than we have to? While few may raise their hands, Americans regularly overpay because they fail to take tax deductions for which they are eligible. Let's take a quick look at the five most...

Employer-issued stocks can be one attractive benefit an employer can offer. But while it has its benefits, it's natural to wonder what happens if you leave that job. That's where net unrealized appreciation (NUA) strategies can...

According to Yale University's Crash Confidence Index, only about 24% of investors are confident the stock market will not crash sometime during the next six months.1 If fear leads investors to avoid the entire investment class, they...

Tax-loss harvesting means taking capital losses (selling securities for less than what you initially paid for them) to offset any capital gains you may have.While this doesn't get rid of your losses, it can help you manage your tax...

When it comes to retirement, women may face unique obstacles that can make saving for retirement more challenging. Given that women typically live longer than men, retirement money for women may need to stretch even further.

Whether through inertia or trepidation, investors who put off important investment decisions might consider the admonition offered by motivational speaker Brian Tracy, "Almost any decision is better than no decision at all." This...

In the final days of 2022, Congress passed a new set of retirement rules designed to facilitate contribution to retirement plans and access to those funds earmarked for retirement. The law is called SECURE 2.0, and it is a follow-up to...

One of the common threads of a mobile workforce is that many individuals who leave their job are faced with a decision about what to do with their 401(k) account.¹Individuals have four choices with the 401(k) account they accrued...

Buying a home is the single-largest financial commitment most people ever make. And sorting through mortgages involves a lot of critical choices. One of these is choosing between a fixed or variable interest rate mortgage. True to its...

The latest research suggests that divorce rates in the U.S. have been falling in recent decades. Still, many people face the difficult crossroads that comes when their marriage ends.1 Getting a divorce is often a painful, emotional...

While the vast majority of insurance companies use credit-based insurance scores to help determine the price of insurance, it is banned in the states of Massachusetts, Michigan, Hawaii, and California. Some states only allow it as a...

Find That Lost Retirement AccountDo you have a long-lost retirement account left with a former employer? Maybe it’s been so long that you can’t even remember. With over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts...

If you want to add investment real estate to your portfolio, you may want to know what a 1031 Exchange is. While the rules and regulations for this tactic can get complicated, understanding the basic concepts may help you decide if...

Risk is a factor in any investment decision that you make. Your tolerance for risk is something that you will want to consider when you make decisions alongside your trusted financial professional. Your risk tolerance is balanced...

In a 2022 survey, 35% of all workers reported they were either “not too” or “not at all” confident that they would have enough money to pay for their medical expenses in retirement. Regardless of your confidence...

Federal estate taxes have been a source of funding for the federal government almost since the U.S. was founded. In 1797, Congress instituted a system of federal stamps that were required on all wills offered for probate when property...

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released new limits for certain retirement accounts for the coming year. After months of high inflation and financial uncertainty, some of these cost-of-living-based adjustments have reached...

The Social Security Disability Insurance program paid out over $140 billion in benefits in 2021. And with new applicants each year, the system is expected to exhaust its reserves at the end of 2034 if changes aren’t made.1...

American educational reformer Horace Mann called education “the great equalizer.”1 In football, it’s been said that turnovers are the great equalizer. And anyone who’s ever watched CBS’s “The...

If you have yet to develop a retirement plan for your business, or if you're not sure the plan you've chosen is the right one, here are some things to consider. How much can my business afford to contribute? The cost of contributions may...

Did you recently add a second comma to your bank balance? Has a recent financial event raised your net worth to the next level? It's an exciting time, whether it's the result of your long-term goals (e.g., from the sale of a business),...

A recent survey found that 28% of workers are very confident about having enough money to live comfortably through their retirement years. At the same time, 27% are not confident.1 In 2001 congress passed a law that can help older...

Chris Rock once remarked, "You don't pay taxes – they take taxes." That applies not only to income but also to capital gains. Capital gains result when an individual sells an investment for an amount greater than their purchase...

As parents, we encourage our children to work, so they can learn important values about work and independence. At what point, if at all, do children need to file an income tax return for the money they earn?The IRS does not exempt...

Some of the biggest challenges many face when it comes to education are financial. Luckily, a 529 college saving plan can help. And they're not just for college anymore - added to the tuition eligibility are K-12, private and religious...

The federal estate tax threshold rose to $24.12 million in 2022 for married couples and $12.06 million for individuals, as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Like several TCJA provisions, the higher estate tax limit is due to...

Social Security's been a fact of retirement life ever since it was established in 1935. We all think we know how it works, but how much do you really know? Here are nine things that might surprise you.The Social Security trust fund is...

Many Americans have taken steps in recent years to protect their identity. According to a recent report, total dollars lost due to identity theft in 2021 was $24 billion and affected 15 million consumers. If you haven’t taken measures to pr

Retirement can have many meanings. For some, it will be a time to travel and spend time with family members. For others, it will be a time to start a new business or begin a charitable endeavor. Regardless of what approach you intend

Do you have a will?A will enables you to specify who you want to inherit your property and other assets. A will also enables you to name a guardian for your minor children.Do you have healthcare documents in place?Healthcare documents...

The famous saying from Poor Richard’s Almanack is frequently misquoted. It was published by founder Benjamin Franklin in 1737: “A penny saved is two pence clear.” Finding ways to manage expenses is one of the cornerstones of a sound financi

"What is your greatest retirement fear?"

How the gains from the sale of a primary residence are taxed has changed in recent years. If you have recently sold your home or are considering doing so, you may want to be aware of these new rules.

"If the current annual inflation rate is 7.9 percent, why do my bills seem like they're 10 percent higher than last year?"

When you created your investment strategy, your asset allocation should have reflected your goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk.But over time, any of those three factors may have changed, and your portfolio may now need...