National Financial Advisor Day is a celebration on April 18 of each year. This date is a time to explore the world of financial professionals and understand how they may help you navigate the complexities of managing your money. Whether you’re new to working with a financial professional or considering seeking more financial assistance, this is a helpful guide to …
The ABCs of Financial Literacy
Learning financial literacy, such as money management, budgeting, and investing, can seem daunting, but is no different than learning how to speak another language. Being financially literate allows you to have a better, more intelligent relationship with your money, allowing you to make financial decisions more quickly and efficiently. Why is Financial Literacy so Important? Financial literacy is vital in …
Social 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 understand and navigate, many questions remain. Whether you are getting close to retirement or even if retirement is still a little way off, here …
An Excellent First Quarter for Stocks
The first quarter is in the books, and it was an excellent one for stocks. The S&P 500 index rode a resilient U.S. economy, easing inflation, rising corporate profits, and anticipation of summertime rate cuts from the Federal Reserve (Fed) to solid gains in March, the fifth straight winning month, and the best first quarter since 2019. With stocks having …
Improving Your Financial Literacy Can Improve Your Business
Financial literacy is essential for your personal financial health and even more crucial for the financial health of your small business. Being a small business owner comes with many responsibilities, one of which is maintaining the company’s finances and helping keep it on track toward a solid financial future. Whether you are just starting to explore financial literacy as a …
Credit Education Month: 4 Ways to Boost Your Credit IQ
March is National Credit Education Month in the U.S., which makes it the perfect opportunity to brush up on your credit basics.1 Whether you’re a credit novice or well-versed in the art of the FICO score, below are four ways to potentially boost your credit IQ. Dissect Your Credit Score Do you know what goes into your credit score? Although the …
Why Your Credit Score Matters in Retirement
Regardless of the stage of life, your credit score is an essential component of your financial health when you’re in retirement. A consistently strong credit score can pave the way for greater confidence, easy loan access, and lower interest rates. Many retirees overlook the importance of maintaining a suitable credit score after they stop working or that credit scores lose …
Markets Warming Up
As spring approaches, the weather is starting to warm up. For the stock market, the temperature has been rising for a while now. In fact, since December 2023, the S&P 500 has not experienced a pullback of even 2%. Strong starts to years tend to signal more gains ahead, so this calm market may not precede a storm. In fact, …
Managing Your Money: Top Financial Habits for Women Entrepreneurs
Today, there are an estimated 12.3 million women-owned businesses. To give that some context, approximately 43% of entrepreneurs worldwide are women. A study conducted by Fidelity Investments showed that women are often less prepared for retirement than their male counterparts. Here are several financial habits women entrepreneurs can consider in pursuit of their money management goals: Become an investor …
Pearls 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 inheritance, accomplishment in the corporate world, or entrepreneurial fulfillment, more women today find themselves in the ranks of HNW individuals. What makes a woman’s situation unique On average, …