By Zach Barton Have you ever come down with a case of shingles, needed a knee replacement, or undergone emergency surgery? Let’s hope not – for the sake of your finances. Many people don’t realize just how much an illness can impact their financial lives. Independent contractors, business owners and...

C onsidering the news about COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and that markets are notably off this week, we wanted to provide you with a few thoughts on the subject. Historical Context In the past, similar outbreaks have been transitory and eventually pass; but the risk to markets is if the disease spreads mu...

Y ou may not get much of a thrill from filing your taxes, but the process becomes much more enjoyable if you're expecting a refund. So, if one is headed your way, what should you do with the money? The answer depends somewhat on the size of the refund. For the 2017 tax year, the average refund was a...

y most measures, 2017 was a pretty good year for investors. But what can you expect in 2018? It’s difficult to precisely predict the immediate future of the financial markets. However, many signs point to improved global economic growth and rising corporate earnings – both of which are important dri...

ith the holiday season upon us, you may be getting pretty busy. But once the holidays are over, you’ll enter into a new season – tax season. The filing deadline for the 2017 tax year is April 17, 2018, but until that date – and especially before the end of the calendar year – you may want to explore...

ou probably already know about the two big shopping days – Black Friday and Cyber Monday – that follow Thanksgiving. But did you know that Giving Tuesday is observed on Nov. 28? By showing your generosity on this day and throughout the holiday season, you can benefit charitable organizations and you...

ou may spend decades contributing to your IRA and 401(k). But, eventually, you’ll need to use this money. Before that day arrives, you’ll want to be familiar with the rules governing withdrawals – and you’ll want to know just how much you should take out. To begin with, withdrawals from traditional ...

f you want to enjoy a comfortable retirement lifestyle, you don’t need to have been born rich or even to have earned scads of money during your working years. But you do need to make the right moves at the right time – which means you might want to start a “retirement countdown” well before you draw...

eptember is Life Insurance Awareness Month.   And “awareness” is an appropriate designation, because many people remain unaware of the many ways in which life insurance can help families meet their key financial goals. Here are three of the biggest of these objectives, as seen through the eyes of a ...

nless you live near an amusement park that does a lot of advertising, you probably didn’t know that Aug. 16 is National Roller Coaster Day. Actual roller coasters provide people with thrills. But as an investor, how can you stay calm on the “roller coaster” of the financial markets? Here are some su...