Blog
Check out our blogs to stay up to date on financial news, resources, and tips, as we publish new content weekly.
Maximizing Wealth: 5 Ways a Financial Professional May Help Propel High Earners Towards HNW
The journey to prosperity involves more than just a high income. It requires strategic planning, wise investment decisions, and a keen understanding of your financial landscape. On Financial Professional Day, explore how working with a...
Read MoreHow a 529 Can Benefit You: Estate Planning Wealth Transfer
A 529 plan may offer multiple benefits as part of an estate planning and wealth transfer strategy. It is a tax-advantaged savings plan that encourages saving for future education costs. These plans enable parents to save for their...
Read MoreEstate Tax Changes in 2025
Understanding the anticipated changes in tax laws and regulations in 2025 will become increasingly crucial. One area that requires attention is the estate tax sunset at the end of 2025. The estate tax, also known as the inheritance,...
Read MoreHow to Address Wealth Management in Today's Market Environment
Addressing wealth management comprehensively in today's market environment is essential for individuals and business entities. Given the dynamic nature of global markets and the ever-changing economic landscape, navigating investment...
Read MoreShould You Be Concerned About the State of Social Security?
Social Security, established in 1935, provides financial benefits to the elderly, disabled, and disadvantaged groups. However, there are concerns regarding its sustainability. Social Security is particularly concerning among younger...
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The Unexpected Limitations of Personal Tax Deductions
The world of personal taxation and tax deductions can often be puzzling. While these elements aid in reducing one's tax burden, they may also come with unexpected limitations. These limitations can take taxpayers by surprise, reducing...
Read MorePat Broeske Recognized as one of LPL Financial's Top Financial Advisors
PAT BROESKE OF LAKESIDE WEALTH MANAGEMENT RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF LPL FINANCIAL’S TOP FINANCIAL ADVISORS Fond du Lac, WI — January 14, 2025 – Pat Broeske, a financial advisor at Lakeside Wealth Management in Fond du Lac, WI, today...
Read MoreEverything You Need To Know About Tax Deductions for Your Business in 2024
Knowing how to take the deductions you are entitled to may help your bottom line if you are a business owner.1 You may use various deductions this tax season 2024 to manage your taxable income and hopefully keep more of your...
Read More10 Things to Know About the Ten-Year Rule: Inherited Accounts and RMDs
Understanding the guidelines surrounding Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) becomes crucial as we navigate the complexities of personal finance and retirement planning. For those who have inherited retirement accounts or are...
Read MoreEverything You Need To Know About Bonus Depreciation for the 2024 Tax Season
When it comes time to file your 2024 taxes, most business owners want to optimize their tax planning and manage their taxes. Bonus depreciation, which lets businesses immediately deduct a significant percentage of the cost of...
Read MoreStrategic Tax Insights for High-Net-Worth Individuals
High-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) often face a complex financial landscape characterized by diverse investments and sophisticated financial concerns. They require comprehensive financial planning to preserve and manage their wealth....
Read MoreDeath and Taxes: What to Know About Estate and Inheritance Taxes
There are only two things in life you can count on happening at some point--death and taxes. In death, these two circumstances can come together at the same time. When a person dies, leaving a significant estate, there is the expense...
Read MoreThink You Know Retirement? Take Our Five-Question Quiz
Even if you're saving money in a 401(k), IRA, or another type of retirement account, you may not be paying much attention to the specific rules and regulations governing these accounts. After all, if you're years away from retirement,...
Read MoreOutlook 2025: Pragmatic Optimism
Looking back, 2024 clearly echoed many of the themes from 2023. By and large, the economy continued to defy expectations and surprised once again. Stocks continued their strong performance, driven by powerful trends in artificial...
Read MoreMake the Most of Your Tax Write-Offs for Giving Tuesday
On Giving Tuesday1—the day after Cyber Monday—millions of people across the world focus their attention on giving back. Whether as a way to eke out meaningful legacies or trim your tax bills, end-of-year philanthropy is a good cause...
Read MoreNew Year, New Giving: Mapping Out Your Charitable Gifts for the Year Ahead
Charitable giving is a way for you to participate in something meaningful to you and your family, a cause that aligns with your core values while benefiting members of the community. People can benefit greatly from giving – personally,...
Read MoreYou Might Not Want to Max Out Your 401(k) Right Away
Contributing to a 401(k) plan is an excellent method for saving for retirement. There are many benefits to having a 401(k) plan, and you often hear that you are supposed to max out your account. Yes, that is true, but not so fast....
Read MorePATRICK BROESKE RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF LPL FINANCIAL’S TOP FINANCIAL ADVISORS
PATRICK BROESKE OF LAKESIDE WEALTH MANAGEMENT RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF LPL FINANCIAL’S TOP FINANCIAL ADVISORS FOND DU LAC, WI — September, 2024 – Pat Broeske, a financial advisor and founder of Lakeside Wealth Management in Fond du Lac,...
Read MorePrepare, Don't Repair: Engaging a Financial Professional Before Crisis Strikes
Between work commitments, children’s schedules, and fall cleaning, how much time is left in our busy days to think about financial planning? Many of us choose to delay thinking about our finances until much later or to manage them on...
Read MoreTurning Fortune into Financial Freedom: A Beneficiary’s Guide to Handling an Inheritance
Inheriting comes with many emotions, from sadness to confusion to perhaps even joy or relief. An inheritance can take various forms, such as cash, properties, stocks, bonds, property, or other assets. The person leaving the inheritance...
Read MoreElevate Your Retirement Savings: What to Do After Maxing Out Your 401(k)
The 401(k) plan is an excellent way for HENRYs, high earners not rich yet, to save for retirement. Hitting the maximum contribution limit is a goal many work toward to reap the benefits of this tax-deferred saving strategy fully. But...
Read MoreBeachside Investing: Navigating the Financial Seas
If you're someone who loves nothing more than spending a relaxing day at the beach, you likely hope your retirement plans will let you spend much more time there. By applying ‘beach day’ lessons toward your investment strategies,...
Read MoreRetiring on Your Terms: 7 Ways You Can Work Toward an Early Retirement
Many dream of working toward early retirement, but getting there generally doesn’t happen by accident. Retiring early requires financial independence that can last for decades, but that is much easier said than done. To get there...
Read MoreWealth, Family, and Legacy: A Guide for High-Net-Worth Individuals in the Sandwich Generation
Wealth and estate planning are vital for all individuals but are particularly essential for high-net-worth (HNW) individuals in the sandwich generation. "Sandwich generation" refers to individuals caring for their aging parents and...
Read MoreMidyear Outlook 2024: Still Waiting for the Turn
As we reach the halfway point of 2024, a sense of persistence defines the economic and market landscape. Trends from late 2023 have continued, with surprisingly resilient economic growth mixed with stubborn but decelerating inflation....
Read MoreThe Founding Fathers' Guide to Financial Independence
“A penny saved is a penny earned.” This nugget of financial wisdom from Benjamin Franklin, shared in the late 1700s, remains as relevant today as it was then. Despite living in a different era, our founding fathers were remarkably...
Read MoreRetirement Planning: The Ultimate Endless Summer Adventure
If you're like some, you may have spent large parts of your working life missing the carefree summer days of your childhood. That is, of course, assuming you had a happy childhood. If not, try to imagine how it might be if your...
Read More6 Telltale Signs You're Not Saving Enough for Retirement
As a young person, you imagine you have all the time in the world to save for retirement. You live in the present with the future a mere blip out on the horizon. But time has a way of flying by, and you realize that maybe you are not...
Read More529 Plans Demystified: What Affluent Families Need to Know
As an affluent family, planning for your children's education is likely a top priority. You want to ensure that they have access to the best education possible without worrying about the high cost of tuition; this is where 529 plans...
Read MoreAssessing Your Retirement Preparedness in the Modern Age
Did you know, according to CNBC, more Americans are expected to turn 65 through 2027 than at any other time in history? This rapid population increase of older adults is often called the “Silver or Gray Tsunami,” though many new...
Read MoreThe Hidden Gems of IRAs: 5 Little-Known Facts You May Not Know
When it comes to financial accounts like the IRA, details are everything. Look past the surface, examine it closer, and you may be surprised that numerous accounts, including your IRAs, contain hidden gems and little-known facts you...
Read MoreSocial Security Isn’t Enough: How Social Security Fits into a Well-Rounded Retirement Plan
If you're nearing retirement age, you know the Social Security process and how much you will likely receive. With that information, you may have also anticipated that your Social Security benefit would not be enough to sustain you in...
Read MoreIt’s Not Too Late to Become Financially Literate
Financial literacy is crucial to a solid financial future and an enjoyable retirement. No matter your age, when you understand how to manage your money and finances, you can make sound financial decisions and take the needed steps...
Read MoreSocial Security Simplified: Common Questions and Answers
Most American workers who earn wage income and pay Social Security taxes via withholding receive Social Security benefits at some point in retirement. While the Social Security Administration has tried to make the process easier to...
Read MoreIs a 529 to Roth IRA Rollover Right for You? Here's What You Need to Know
If you have a 529 education savings plan, it can now be converted to a Roth IRA. Both plans are funded by after-tax money. Initially, the money put into a 529 plan had to be used toward education expenses. If, for whatever reason, the...
Read MoreHow High Earners Can Build a Strong Retirement with Their 401(k)
Approximately 60 million workers contribute to a 401(k)-retirement plan. A 401(k) is a tax-advantaged retirement savings plan companies offer employees and is funded through elective salary deferrals. There are several benefits to...
Read MoreThe Secure Act 2.0 Guide
On December 29th, 2022, the Omnibus Appropriations package was signed into law, introducing over 90 new provisions to enable employees and employers alike to establish or update their retirement plans and strategies. Through these new...
Read MorePearls of Wisdom: Wealth Preservation for High-Net-Worth Women
Wealth preservation is essential for high-net-worth (HNW) individuals, but it warrants a gender-specific focus, too. Particularly for HNW women, understanding the complexities of wealth preservation is crucial. Whether due to...
Read MoreRetirement Planning: A Map to Changes in 2024
Navigating these demands an adaptable approach to planning your finances As we kick off 2024, the world of retirement planning is undergoing a fairly significant transformation, as tax brackets, retirement contribution limits, estate...
Read MoreA Taxpayer’s Guide to Exemptions, Deductions, and Credits
When filing your income taxes, each taxpayer is different. Some prefer reducing the taxes they owe and getting the most significant possible refund, while others work to keep the taxes they pay as low as legally required. The IRS...
Read MoreRetiring Early As a Couple: A Financial Love Story
Retiring early as a couple is a goal shared by many, and if planned comprehensively, it may provide opportunities for travel, passion projects, and more quality time together. Retiring simultaneously can bring many benefits, such as...
Read MoreStrategizing for Success: The Parallels Between Estate Planning and a Super Bowl Game Plan
Just as a winning team meticulously plans its Super Bowl plays, individuals and families may benefit from developing a comprehensive plan for their estate. Estate planning isn't just for the wealthy. Estate planning is a strategic move...
Read MoreSolid Start to 2024
Stocks are off to a solid start in 2024. January gains are particularly enjoyable because of the old adage from the Stock Trader’s Almanac, “As goes January, so goes the year.” Nearly 75 years of historical data shows...
Read MoreProtect Yourself From Tax Identity Theft As You Approach Retirement
Tax identity theft is a serious type of fraud that affects individuals of all ages and stages of life. To steal a person's tax identity, a scammer uses that person's Social Security number and other personal and financial information...
Read MoreTax Prep: 4 Tax Planning Tips for High-Net-Worth Families
Tax planning might be complex, but it's also essential—especially for high-net-worth families, where missing tax breaks or failing to optimize income could cost significant dollars, maybe millions, over a lifetime. And even in...
Read More8 Financial Wellness Tips to Help Manage Generational Wealth
Asset management and financial wellness can help develop long-term confidence when wealth transfers from generation to generation. Understanding and implementing financial wellness techniques is essential for effectively sharing wealth...
Read MoreKey Financial Wellness Metrics for Near-Retirement Individuals
As one approaches retirement, monitoring your financial situation by understanding your net worth and assessing the assets and resources needed to maintain a comfortable lifestyle throughout retirement is vital. This article explores...
Read MoreRinging in the New Year in Your Golden Years
Whether you are just entering your golden years or are already several years in, setting goals to stay on track and maintain your health, happiness, and finances is essential. So why not use the New Year's holiday to turn these goals...
Read MoreFinancial Resolutions for Individuals Nearing Retirement
Getting close to retirement is exciting, but it often brings a little worry about your financial future. The closer you get, the more you may be concerned with the rising living costs and if your finances are on track to allow you to...
Read MoreOutlook 2024: A Turning Point
In 2024, LPL Research believes markets will make a definitive turn to a more recognizable place. En route, the transition will be marked by meaningful shifts in a few key areas. Inflation is going down. The risk of a recession is...
Read MoreHoliday Spending vs. Retirement Savings: Give Yourself the Gift of Balance
Ho, ho, ho! The holidays are a time of giving and making time for friends and loved ones. It is also a time of spending money, often more than we anticipated. There are gifts, decorations, ingredients for recipes, and travel expenses...
Read MoreA November to Remember
Dear Valued Investor, Solid gains for both stocks and bonds gave investors a November to remember. As financial markets continue to defy skeptics, I’m reminded of a quote from Warren Buffett’s long-time partner and one of...
Read MoreYear-End Tax Planning Considerations for Capital Gains
As the end of the year approaches, investors need to focus on tax-related considerations, particularly regarding capital gains. Year-end tax planning can help investors manage their overall tax liability while seeking to manage...
Read More7 Estate Planning Topics to Discuss with the Family over Thanksgiving Dinner
One of the more difficult conversations for family members to have is talking about estate planning. There are several reasons for this, including the reality of our own mortality and that of our loved ones. In some families, it is an...
Read MoreThe Philanthropic Mindset: How to Give Well and Wisely
Having a desire to give and a philanthropic mindset are both important qualities to possess in modern society. With so many economic and social challenges in society, contributions to charities and philanthropy efforts are needed now...
Read MoreDos and Don'ts for Investing During the Holidays
In the world of investing, the "holiday effect," as it is often referred to, is a phenomenon where stock prices see an increase right before a major holiday. There are many theories on why this may occur. It could be from trading...
Read MoreYear-End Tax Planning Considerations for Capital Gains
As the end of the year approaches, investors need to focus on tax-related considerations, particularly regarding capital gains. Year-end tax planning can help investors manage their overall tax liability while seeking to manage...
Read MoreYour Traditional 401(k) Year-End Review Checklist
A 401(k) plan is one of the most popular and effective techniques for saving for your retirement. A company will automatically withdraw and contribute money from each paycheck to your 401(k) plan. Some employers will even match a...
Read More5 Do’s and Don'ts for Charitable Giving During the Holidays
The fourth quarter holidays are often seen as one of the prime times to take out your checkbook — not only do many charities put in extra efforts helping others this time of year, but donating is also a smart financial move....
Read MoreGot Investophobia? Here are 6 Steps to Overcome Your Investing Fears
Investing your money for the future might be one of the quickest ways to grow your wealth, whether saving for retirement or making a large purchase. While most people know investing is a potential way toward a more manageable financial...
Read MoreWhat to Know About Multigenerational Estate Planning
Baby Boomers — those born between 1946 and 1964 — hold about $20 trillion in wealth.1 Over the next few decades, many Boomers may transfer this wealth to their Gen X, millennial, and Gen Z children, perhaps incurring a...
Read MoreEstate Planning and Asset Protection: Are They The Same?
You may sometimes hear the terms "estate planning" and "asset protection" used interchangeably. They actually have different meanings, and it's important to incorporate both strategies into future financial plans. Below, we discuss key...
Read MoreNavigating the 4 Phases of Retirement
Retirement seems like a long way off, but it arrives faster than you think. The big question is, are you ready? What exactly does retirement entail? Analysts suggest there are four designated phases of retirement that a person often...
Read MoreStaying the Course
Dear Valued Investor, The S&P 500 lost 3.3% in the third quarter after sliding nearly 5% in September. Putting this into perspective, nothing really qualifies as out of the ordinary. Since 1950, the S&P 500 has historically declined in...
Read MoreHow to Make Keeping Track of Your Finances Easy
Now is an excellent time to start evaluating your current financial situation, determining your future goals and expectations, and working toward pursuing them. If you need help pulling together a plan for your finances, a financial...
Read MoreThe Facts of Life Insurance: Debunking 5 Common Life Insurance Myths
Having a solid life insurance policy in place is crucial for any adult who has assets, a business, or a steady income. While most adults know that having a life insurance policy is a vital piece in their financial puzzle, there are...
Read MoreFootball, Finances, and Fumbles: What to Do When Life Calls an Audible
Are you a football fan? If so, you understand the significance of an audible call at the line of scrimmage and how sometimes you are also forced to call an audible in life. Modern football has evolved since the late 19th century when...
Read MoreSmart Savings: 5 Tax Breaks for College Students and Parents
With the cost of college expensive for many, receiving a tax break from the IRS for college-related expenses may be appealing. 529 Plans and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) offer tax-advantaged withdrawals when used for...
Read MoreNavigating Market Setbacks
September 6, 2023 Dear Valued Investor, Financial markets lived up to their reputation during the month of August, which has a record for being difficult. On the first day of August, markets had to contend with a downgrade of U.S....
Read MoreFiguring Out a 401(k) Strategy That Works for You
Matching your tolerance for risk with your investment objectives Everyone wants a comfortable retirement, but the road you take there will depend on your specific situation. When you invest, you assume a certain level of risk (but like...
Read MoreThe Craziest College Football Towns to Visit
The intimidating glare of a “white out” at Beaver Stadium in State College, the jet-engine-like roar of the crowds in Ann Arbor—college football is a relative religion in America, and it shows in the dedication of its...
Read MoreAn Essential Guide to Estate Planning Preparedness
A recent survey by Caring.com found that a whopping two in three American adults do not have an estate plan1—an alarming statistic, considering that an estate plan can protect your assets and ensure that they go to the right...
Read MoreRetirement Re-education: Back to School Time for Retirement Planning
Retirement planning is a constantly evolving process. Strategies that may have worked fine a few years ago may no longer be the optimal direction to continue. Your life may have taken unexpected turns, you may have different retirement...
Read MoreFinancial Management 101: Business Owners, Are You Doing Your Homework?
As a business owner, prudent financial management can help ensure your business remains healthy and stable. But what does good business financial management look like in practice? Here are four tips that may benefit business owners...
Read MoreStaying on Track with Your Retirement Investments
All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal, and there can be no assurance that any investment strategy will be successful. And asset allocation and diversification alone cannot guarantee a profit or eliminate...
Read MoreStaying Invested in a Tricky Market Environment
Making economic forecasts and stock market predictions can be humbling. It’s especially tough when you expect stocks to go higher and get a big drop instead. The environment today is the opposite, but still tricky, as recession...
Read MoreWhat to Know Before You Open Your Next Investment Account
Understanding the difference between taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-exempt accounts can improve portfolio diversification and make a difference in how much you earn over time. But investors may not fully understand how a strategy...
Read MoreFinancial Freedom, Market Volatility, and You
If recent market volatility has you questioning your opportunities for financial freedom, you are not alone. Due to rising inflation, higher interest rates, a volatile stock market, and recession fears, many investors find themselves...
Read MoreMidyear Outlook 2023: The Path Toward Stability
Our 2023 investing outlook started with a theme of returning to normalcy. Considering 2022’s market volatility and the aftereffects of the pandemic, the idea of finding balance was certainly a welcomed change. It’s a theme...
Read MoreStepping Up to the Plate: Four Baseball Money Lessons
Baseball and financial management can have more in common than meets the eye. Below, we discuss four key lessons that investors—and everyone else—can learn from America's favorite pastime.Diversification of Assets is...
Read More6 Retirement Tips for Surviving the Sandwich Generation Squeeze
Adults caring for aging parents and children simultaneously have now become known as the "sandwich generation." While each generation comes with its own array of financial challenges, the sandwich generation often feels...
Read MoreGenerational Wealth and the Gift of Financial Freedom
Those who receive an inheritance with the passing of a loved one are potentially given the gift of financial freedom if they choose to manage the wealth carefully. Did you know that only about one-third of adults have a prepared will,...
Read MoreInvestor Summer School: 3 Investing Moves to Make Before Summer is Over
Many investors still adhere to the old adage—"sell in May and go away"—while others remain fully invested even as the summer heat waves begin. What goes unsaid is that if your asset allocation accurately reflects your risk...
Read More3 Ways Planning For Retirement is Like Planning For Summer Break
For kids, teens, and college students, summer break often represents freedom from schedules, responsibilities, and all those other drains on your time. Retirement actually can provide a similar level of freedom, but only if you've...
Read More5 Homeowner Estate Planning Tips to Consider
Estate planning helps disperse your assets according to your wishes. The effort may seem daunting at first, but estate planning does not have to be overly complicated. With the proper planning, you may find yourself resting a little...
Read MoreDebt Ceiling Drama Is Behind Us
June 7, 2023Dear Valued Investor,Every so often Washington likes to remind us how hard it can be to get things accomplished. The most recent example is the debt ceiling—the amount Congress can borrow to pay its bills. It seems...
Read More529 Plans and Alternatives: Making an Educated Decision about Education Savings Options
Those that choose to invest in the education of a family member, friend or acquaintance are investing not only in that individual’s future, but also the future of society. It is an act of generosity, forward-thinking, and love....
Read More3 Tips for Preserving Wealth in Your Golden Years
After spending so much of your life saving for retirement, it may be challenging to transition from depositing funds to withdrawing them. You may wonder whether there is any way to maintain your lifestyle and preserve your wealth to...
Read More529 Plans: The Ins and Outs of Contributions and Withdrawals
529 plans can be powerful college savings tools, but you need to understand how your plan works before you can take full advantage of it. Among other things, this means becoming familiar with the finer points of contributions and...
Read MoreUtilizing a 529 Plan as a Wealth Transfer Tool
529 plans are designed for saving for education and are beneficial since contributions accumulate and grow tax-free as long as withdrawals are used for qualified education expenses. But 529 plans may also be part of a wealth transfer...
Read MoreHow to Stay Committed to Your Financial Goals
Setting healthy financial goals is critical. Even more important is staying committed to those financial goals.Keeping yourself committed to your goals may be difficult, especially when times may be financially tough. But by staying on...
Read MoreSmall Business Owners: Are You Retirement Ready (or Not)?
Whether you are an employee in corporate America or a small business owner, retirement is a part of life. For many, the thought of retiring and whether or not you are ready to take those first steps might be overwhelming or...
Read MoreInvestor Sentiment Tested
May 3, 2023Dear Valued Investor,Spring is often thought of as an uplifting time, marked by growth and renewed hope as we emerge from the long months of winter and look ahead to the rest of year. Investors saw signs of such renewed hope...
Read MoreStrategies Using Life Insurance
What is it?Life insurance is not only about protecting your survivors in the event of your death. Depending upon the type of policy you purchase, it can also enable you to meet specific life goals: retiring comfortably, paying for your...
Read MoreTips to Help Financial Stress
With so much going on in the world today—from a global pandemic through economic hardship—it comes as no surprise that many people have recently found themselves under heavy financial stress. Whether it is due to the loss...
Read MoreOptimizing Your Social Security Retirement Benefits
What does it mean?Getting the most out of your contributionsOptimizing your Social Security retirement benefits means getting the best return possible on each dollar you've contributed to the system. Every pay period, you pay 6.2...
Read More6 Money Myths That Are Limiting Your Wealth
When people think of “myths,” they often think of such stories as Pandora’s Box (the woman who took the lid off of a jar releasing all of the world’s ills upon the world, were taxes one of them?), or the Tale of...
Read More7 Retirement Considerations: Thoughts from a financial professional
When helping people get ready for retirement, financial professionals find the same issues come up over and over. Thinking ahead can spell the difference between a retirement with enough money and a stressful one with difficult...
Read MoreA Resilient March
April 5, 2023The financial markets’ resilient performance during March was striking, despite pockets of uncertainty surrounding the strength of the economy—and not to mention concerns over the durability of the banking...
Read More3 Golf Tips to Keep Your Retirement Plan on Course
In golf, as in finances, there are a few rules of thumb that may improve your game: keep a level head, avoid traps, practice before trying something new and stay the course. Applying lessons from the golf course to your financial life...
Read MoreUnderstanding Social Security Strategies
Understanding Social Security Strategies As you age, the question of when to collect Social Security (SS) retirement benefits will likely come to mind. There is no one size fits all age; your unique circumstances and goals will dictate...
Read MoreSpring Has Sprung: Time to Refresh Your Retirement Plan
Spring can be a fantastic time to refresh your retirement plan and savings habits. With 2023 bringing increased limits for 401(k)s, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and other tax-advantaged...
Read MoreSVB Collapse
Dear Valued Investor,Financial markets were shaken last week as Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), the California bank subsidiary of SVB Financial Group (SIVB), fell into FDIC receivership. SVB is the first FDIC-insured institution to fail...
Read MoreMaking the Most of Your Relationship with a Financial Professional
Heading to your first meeting with a new financial professional may be a lot like going on a blind date. Can you have anything in common? Can you click? Can you trust this other person with what's most important to you? A strong...
Read MoreThinking About Working in Retirement? Here's What to Consider
If you're thinking about working in retirement, you must consider a few things before making your decision. As you get older, the question of when to collect Social Security retirement benefits and how your monthly payment may be...
Read MoreWomen’s History Month: Retirement Focus
Ten strategies to help you take care of yourself and prepare for retirementWomen’s History Month has its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed and authorized a resolution and requested the President to...
Read MoreWaiting for New Highs
March 1, 2023Dear Valued Investor,Financial markets have experienced quite a bit of change this year in just two short months. We started the year hopeful that stocks would benefit from a better economic and monetary policy environment...
Read MoreRe-fired Not Retired: Making The Best of the Rest of Your Life
While retirement is a time to enjoy the things you have worked hard for in life, the next chapter may leave some a little anxious. Retirement doesn't mean you have to retire from the excitement in life. In fact, it is the perfect time...
Read MoreTax Prep Checklist: Everything You Need to Be Ready for Tax Season
Regardless of whether you prepare your taxes yourself or use a professional's services, it's a good idea to gather the information and documentation you need well in advance of your actual tax filing date. Below, we've listed some key...
Read MoreWHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE SECURE ACT 2.0
With the signing of the Omnibus Appropriations package into law, both employees and employers can take advantage of more than 90 new provisions aimed at creating opportunities to create or modify workplace retirement plans and...
Read MoreHealthcare in Retirement
What health care benefits are available in retirement?Health care in retirement is available from many sources. Government programs (such as Medicaid and Medicare) offer numerous health care benefits. However, you may need to purchase...
Read MoreWealth Due to Inheritance
What is it?IntroductionIf you're the beneficiary of a large inheritance, you may find yourself suddenly wealthy. Even if you expected the inheritance, you may be surprised by the size of the bequest or the diverse assets you've...
Read More10 Tips to Develop Financial Wellness This Year
Financial wellness is a state of being when one is in control of their finances, can cover expenses, and save for future goals. Consider financial wellness as your relationship with money; it can be either healthy or unhealthy....
Read MoreNew Year's Financial Resolutions to Implement Now
When it comes to New Year's Resolutions that include financial goals, writing them down and being visible is essential to your success. After you’ve written down what your financial resolutions for the New Year are, tell others...
Read MoreWays to Minimize Tax on an Investment Portfolio
Although we are all obligated to pay our fair share of taxes, few of us would be pleased to pay taxes unnecessarily. Because taxes lower the actual return on your investments, you should be...
Read MoreThe Importance of Financial Wellness
Financial wellness, like physical wellness, isn’t something you should ignore. Instead, it's a critical concept for anyone who wants to be knowledgeable and confident about their finances, and in fact, financial wellness is so...
Read MoreHere’s How You Can Marie Kondo Your Entire Life
While this strategy is most often applied to ridding your home of your grandmother’s antiques and stacks of old CDs, you can also use this idea to rid your entire life of excess—mentally and physically.
Read MoreCountdown To Investing in the New Year: 10 Questions To Ask Yourself
If one of your New Year's resolutions involves enhancing and expanding your investment portfolio, look no further. In a true New Year's Eve countdown tradition, ask yourself these 10 questions to help review your investment plans...
Read MoreGiving Back to Your Community While Improving Your Bottom Line
Regardless of size, companies can benefit when the community in which they do business thrives. For entrepreneurs, giving back to the community may be more than just a charitable act; it can also make good business sense. If you have...
Read MoreDeveloping a Dynamic Business Plan
A well-crafted business plan can be a blueprint for entrepreneurial confidence. This multifaceted tool is as important to established business owners looking to grow their companies as it is to budding entrepreneurs.A business plan...
Read MoreLPL Research’s Outlook 2023: Finding Balance
Through all the challenges, newfound opportunities, and every high and low we’ve experienced during the last couple of years, it’s no surprise why we might be striving for more balance. Whether it’s about the markets...
Read MoreThe 12 Days of Year-End Planning: Things to Consider Going into “The New Year" (Year-End Planning Ch
The end of the year is necessary to reflect on your financial picture, review the last 12 months, and plan for the future. With all that is involved, it can seem overwhelming. Consider breaking up the responsibilities over twelve days,...
Read MoreFamily Wealth Transfer Planning: Keeping It In The Family Through Generational Giving
What is family wealth, and how do you preserve it?You have worked hard for years and accumulated wealth. You earned this money through your job, investing, and saving, and you want to preserve it for yourself and to take care of the...
Read MoreSmart Financial Moves to Make If You're in the Military
Every week is the perfect week for military families to take stock of their finances, make the most of special saving opportunities, and prepare for the future.Here are seven moves that military families should make right now.1. Make...
Read MoreAn Attitude for Gratitude: How Your Attitude About Money Shapes Your Financial Decisions
Are you a spender, a saver, or somewhere in between? Do you view your money with an "easy come, easy go" attitude or focus on saving all you can, "making hay while the sun shines"? Your overall financial philosophy doesn't just affect...
Read More5 Year-End Tax Planning Questions to Ask Your Financial Professional
The average U.S. income tax rate stands at just over 13%—and if you're like many taxpayers, you're always looking for new tips and tricks to help reduce this percentage.1There are a number of different tax planning moves you can...
Read MoreA Year-End Wealth Planning Guide
As we approach the end of the year, you may want to review areas that may impact your wealth and estate planning next year. In this year-end planning guide, we examine four critical areas to consider that may affect your finances:...
Read MoreNovember Letter To Our Clients: Looking Ahead
November 2, 2022Dear Valued Clients,October is now behind us and it has delivered on its track record as a historically favorable month for stocks, offering some respite for investors as major equity indices rose for the month. The...
Read MoreEnduring Market Volatility With a Financial Plan
If you hope to retire soon and are concerned about what the future may hold for your investments, you are not alone. Inflation has many retirees and soon-to-be retirees worried about outliving their savings and investments.1 What...
Read MoreHow Financial Planning Can Help Prepare for LTC Costs
How Financial Planning Can Help Prepare for LTC CostsWith the cost of long-term care (LTC) increasing year over year, considering how the costs of long-term LTC will impact your financial plan is essential. According to insurance...
Read MoreHigh Net-Worth Individuals: Are You Missing Opportunities in Your Financial Planning?
High Net-Worth Individuals: Are You Missing Opportunities in Your Financial Planning?High Net-Worth executives and those that have been self-employed, can experience common problems in their financial planning journey. Often, they have...
Read MoreYour Long Term Care Action Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide
Your Long Term Care Action Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide Those turning 65 this year have a 7 in 10 chance of needing long-term care (LTC) at some point.1 With the cost of a private room in a nursing home now topping $100,000 per year...
Read MoreA Quick Guide to Estate Planning for Those With High Net Worth
A Quick Guide to Estate Planning for Those With High Net WorthEven if you never thought of yourself as especially wealthy, there may be a fair chance that you fall into the category of "high net worth individuals"—those who have...
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