Investing

Buying your first home is an exciting journey. Knowing how to prepare and what to expect during the home-buying process is key to keeping things simple with a clear plan of action. From financial preparation to the home search and negotiating an offer on your dream home, get strategies to simplify the process of purchasing…

In September of 2024, the Federal Reserve announced its first interest rate cut in over four years. According to a press release from the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the reserve rate was cut by half a percentage point, bringing it to a range of 4.75 to 5 percent. The release mentioned that this cut…

Properly managing your 403b account to maximize its value long-term can help you ensure financial security through retirement. 403b Accounts with nearly $1.3 trillion in assets reported in 2023 are a popular way for not-for-profit organization employees to save for retirement and rank second in size only to 401k accounts. Using strategic financial planning and…

If you’re still new on your career path, retirement can feel like a lifetime away. However, the sooner you start planning for retirement the more time you will be giving your money to grow. An account growing for 30+ years will be much larger than one growing for just 10 to 20 years. When it…

Saving for retirement is a smart strategy to pursue financial security in retirement.  Which 401k optimization strategies and tips can help you grow your savings and create a brighter future? The Importance of Saving for Retirement Saving for retirement is a key part of early career financial planning. The younger you begin to contribute toward…

In the United States, raising children can be a costly endeavor. While it’s difficult to pinpoint an exact figure, most economists estimate the annual cost of raising children in the US is about $16,000 to $18,000 per year. However, this number doesn’t factor in the cost of college, which can be relatively high, depending on…

Self-Directed Brokerage One of the dangers of using an employer’s retirement plan is that you don’t get a financial advisor’s help.  In fact, the last day you likely saw your employer’s retirement plan financial advisor may have been your first day on the job.  How many years ago was that? That means one of your…

Debt Management When we think of investing we think of returns.  How much return does an investment offer in exchange for a certain amount of risk? The Opposite of Investment Return There’s an opposite side of return on your investment.  It’s the interest rate charged on debt you owe.  What’s charged to you as an…

Early Career Investing Basics The reluctant first thing you should consider when you enter the workforce full-time is that the paycheck you receive won’t always be there.  Some day, you will stop working either because you want to or because you have to.  Planning for your last working day should start with your first working…