Estate planning* is an essential part of the long-term financial planning process. Many people don’t like to talk about possible health issues, death, taxes or the possibility of running out of money. They consider

In every financial decision you make, taxes* are or may become a critical factor. Because of the extreme size and complexity of the tax law, and the frequent changes in the tax law, you may need to devote some time to search through various reference sources to find answers to questions

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is going into retirement without a plan in place. Failure to plan is one of the most common reasons why retirees run into problems. When you make a mistake in retirement-it’s a lot harder to recover.

Short-term thinking almost always leads to poor investment decisions. Too often, investors get out of the market during difficult times, only to get back in after the market has rebounded. This tendency to essentially buy high and sell low

If you have ever tried to improve certain area of your life, you know how hard change can be. Everyone makes resolutions, but just few people are able to keep them. When you want to make a real change, you can increase your chances of

In addition to helping people, charitable giving can be an important component of personal wealth management. Charitable giving strategies can help you to not only maximize your giving, but also take advantage of the tax benefits*.

Over the years, I have been introduced to many people who have decided to bring me on as a financial advisor - and for that, I am grateful. I have tremendous amount of gratitude for clients who have been working with me for many years.

If you are self-employed or have small business, then you probably know that managing your own business takes a lot more than hard work. If you’re like most small business owners, your personal life and business life are practically inseparable. That’s why it’s important

Roth contributions to 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans became available on January 1, 2006. Unlike traditional, before-tax contributions, Roth contributions come from income that has already been taxed. That means qualified withdrawals from Roth accounts, including earnings, will be free from federal

A straight brokerage account is an account at a financial institution that allows an investor to buy, sell, trade and hold stocks, bonds, mutual funds, options, etc. Investment income, such as dividends and interest payments, and capital gains, generated from securities such as

Bond funds and coupon bonds are different investments. If you hold an individual coupon bond to maturity, assuming a default has not occurred, you get back 100% of your principal and a predictable income for the period that you have held the bond, consisting of coupon interest.

A 403(b) plan is retirement savings plan available for employees of public educational institutions and specific tax-exempt organizations as determined by Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code.

Some of the most common mistakes related to 401k accounts are taking a loan against 401k, cashing your current or old 401k account or using inappropriate investment vehicle for your 401k assets.

The issue raised by recently released study** is whether employees are given the financial tools, including unbiased guidance, to make the best decisions concerning their retirement assets. According to the researcher*** of this study, these data strongly indicate that, for many

The question is: How are financial advisors being paid? There are many misperceptions about financial advisors’ compensations. I sincerely hope this post will provide more clarity about this very important question.

The life change of retirement may be positive experience only if it is seen not as an end but as redirection of activities and interests. By all means plan for changes and for new beginnings. Always think creativity and involvement and don’t fall into

Your clarity, good money habits and focus enable you to consistently make financial choices based on your core life values. Take a few moments and contemplate these questions: What is important to me? How can I use the money I have for

As we approach the busy holiday season, it’s easy to let attention slip from personal finance. Between holiday shopping, cooking and year end parties don't forget the most important type of planning you should do this holiday season-financial planning.