Planned giving provides all-around benefits

There’s certainly something to be said for spontaneous and random acts of generosity. But when it comes to making charitable donations, it may be wise to give some thought to the matter to try and get the most out of every dollar. Planned giving, usually arranged with the benefit of financial and legal experts, refers [...]

Use life insurance to fill in your gaps

Traditionally, life insurance has been viewed as a safety net in the event the family breadwinner dies. To be sure, life insurance in the pre-retirement years can help cover the needs of your survivors, which may include replacing lost income and funding education costs or other financial goals. Yet for those near or in retirement, [...]

Insuring your home

Every homeowner needs to carry homeowners insurance. After all, your home not only provides a roof over your head, in most cases it’s the largest asset on your personal balance sheet. Come what may — whether it’s a tornado, fire, theft or other catastrophe — homeowners insurance offers peace of mind and the confidence in knowing [...]

If the recession is over, then what’s next?

Many economists and government representatives tell us the recession has ended. An official declaration based on economic statistics may be months away. And, while individuals vary in their predictions, there is a general expectation that the economic environment will gradually improve over time. As we encounter more signs of vitality — increased hustle and bustle [...]

Find out what kind of car matches your budget

It’s a good time to buy a car — if you do it right As automobile manufacturers work to recover what was lost in the Great Recession, many are offering up sweet deals to car buying customers. If you’re among those tempted to drive off the showroom with shiny new wheels, it’s important to do [...]

Selling your small business? Keep these things in mind

Thinking about stepping down from your small business to retire or pursue other passions? If you hope to sell it for a profit, there are many things to consider and do to ensure a successful transaction and transition. Assess and assign value. Arriving at a realistic valuation for your business can be tricky. Setting your [...]

Investors look to a new decade

If you feel your portfolio hasn’t made much progress over the last 10 years, you’re not alone. Historians may well look upon this period as a “lost decade” for investors. It’s difficult to remember that the environment was completely different at the outset of this decade. As the 1990s came to a close and the [...]

Five pitfalls you should avoid in retirement

You work hard and save aggressively so that one day you can retire from the workforce. When the fabled day arrives and you enter the blissful state of retirement, you may be tempted to think you’re done agonizing over your money and savings. The truth is the hard work is probably just beginning. Assuming you’re [...]

Sorting through the financial professionals alphabet soup

One of the biggest lessons coming out of the recent bear market is that you need to find financial professionals you can rely upon. A number of factors can go into the process, such as the professional background and history of the individuals you are considering, referrals from others who have used them and your [...]