Blog

Deciding Between Wants And Needs

Eric Null

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

One of the hardest things to do, by far, is realizing when a want is not a need. Budgeting is a balancing act. The secret to sustaining yourself from day to day while also working towards financial goals is building a budget that...

Preparing for The Great Wealth Transfer: What Every Millennial Should Know

Eric Null

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Over the next few decades, one of the most significant wealth transfers in history is that baby boomers will pass down an estimated $30 trillion in assets to their heirs. Termed 'The Great Wealth Transfer,' this immense wealth transfer...

It's Never Too Late to Improve Your Financial Awareness

Eric Null

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Financial education is constantly evolving. As investments, financial priorities, and the economy change, so do financial strategies and plans. To stay on top of your retirement and ensure that you are on your way toward your financial...

8 Reasons Small Businesses Should Hire Veterans

Eric Null

Thursday, July 4, 2024

Hiring employees is sometimes a difficult task. You may need to find employees who fit the business culture and have the skills to get the job done. The good news for small businesses looking for employees with various skills and a...

Tips to Shape Up Your Fiscal Fitness this Summer

Eric Null

Thursday, July 4, 2024

A regular program of disciplined financial practices can help you in the long-run Many people realize that the best way to stay in shape is to develop an appropriate fitness regimen and then stick with it. If you start a fitness...

Get to Know the Rich Relationship Between Your Financial and Social Life

Eric Null

Thursday, July 4, 2024

When you think of your financial wellness, you are likely not considering how it may affect your social life or vice versa. While many factors may influence your financial situation, social influence is the component that is given the...

What You Need to Know About Purchasing Life Insurance

Eric Null

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Life insurance is a great addition to your portfolio that can help protect your loved ones and beneficiaries if you unexpectedly pass away. While no amount of money can ease the grief of losing someone, life insurance may help reduce...

Fatherly Advice: 6 Timeless Financial Tips Our Fathers Taught Us

Eric Null

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Although many things have changed in the financial world over the past 20 years, some nuggets of financial advice are timeless. Here are a few tips that have remained constant for several generations. Always Spend Less Than You Make...

Self-Care Summer: 6 Workplace Wellness Tips for a Healthy and Happy Summer

Eric Null

Thursday, June 13, 2024

Summer is here, and it is the perfect time to consider the health and wellness of your employees. Healthy and happy workers are more productive, use less sick time, and are more likely to influence the workplace positively. So help get...

What Homeowners Should Know About Estate Planning

Eric Null

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

If you have always thought estate planning was just for those nearing retirement or already retired, think again. If you own a home, it is important to have a plan in place. Without a will or other arrangements that allow your home to...

Utilizing a 529 Plan as a Wealth Transfer Tool

Eric Null

Wednesday, May 29, 2024

529 plans are designed for saving for education and are beneficial since contributions accumulate and grow tax-free as long as withdrawals are used for qualified education expenses. But 529 plans may also be part of a wealth transfer...

Investing Options for Veterans and Military Members

Alan Null

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Veterans and military members have access to various investment options, some of which are not offered to the general population. Managing investments depends on individual goals, risk tolerance, and financial situation. Here are some...

Legacy of Love: 10 Questions to Help Families Prepare for a Wealth Transfer

Eric Null

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Wealth transfer is more than just a financial transaction; it's an opportunity for families to pass on their values, wisdom, and a legacy of love. Navigating this process requires careful consideration, open communication.

Mental Health Resources Every Small Business Owner Should Know About

Eric Null

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Mental strain and burnout are very real for small business owners. The stress of trying to provide for yourself financially, your family, and your employees and keeping your business growing may sometimes put you into an unhealthy mindset.

Raising Savers: Teaching Your Kids How to Avoid Learning Financial Responsibility the Hard Way

Eric Null

Monday, April 1, 2024

Who doesn’t remember their first job, receiving your first paycheck, and even applying for and using a credit card for the first time? Access to money provides a sense of freedom and the ability to buy things you want with your own...

3 Moments in Life Where You Should Consider Consulting a Financial Professional

Eric Null

Monday, April 1, 2024

If you've ever wondered why so many lottery winners (an estimated 70 percent) seem to blow through all their winnings so quickly, the answer often lies in two key traits: overconfidence and trusting the wrong people.1 The same holds...

The Hidden Gems of IRAs: 5 Little-Known Facts You May Not Know

Eric Null

Monday, April 1, 2024

When it comes to financial accounts like the IRA, details are everything. Look past the surface, examine it closer, and you may be surprised that numerous accounts, including your IRAs, contain hidden gems and little-known facts you...

How Financial Professionals are Closing the Financial Literacy Gap

Eric Null

Monday, April 1, 2024

The financial literacy gap—or the gaps in financial knowledge among various sectors of the public—may have racial, gender, and socioeconomic components. Those whose parents or mentors are experienced investors who may provide sage...

The journey to prosperity involves more than just a high income. It requires strategic planning, wise investment decisions, and a keen understanding of your financial landscape. On Financial Professional Day, explore how working with a...

If you hear the term HENRYs mentioned during a financial conversation, you may or may not be familiar with the fairly new acronym. It stands for “High Earners, Not Yet Rich,” or another way to describe them is “high...

Credit is one of the most important factors of life that impacts all businesses. Having solid credit is necessary for securing a small business loan. Most lenders consider an acceptable business credit score of 75. The U.S. Small...

In the ever-evolving world of finance, staying abreast of economic indicators is crucial for investors looking to make informed decisions. One such key indicator is inflation, which recently made headlines with the release of data in...

Being an entrepreneur is a dream for many. The idea of being the boss and watching your ideas take shape into a company or endeavor can be appealing. While there are many steps on the road to becoming an entrepreneur, one of the most...

Business succession planning is a critical process that focuses on the smooth transition of a company's leadership and ownership from one generation to the next. This checklist serves as a valuable tool for business owners, providing...

Small businesses may often find themselves struggling, and there are many situations in which business owners may find themselves weathering a storm and hoping to make it through. While the strength and fortitude of those who run small...

When filing your income taxes, each taxpayer is different. Some prefer reducing the taxes they owe and getting the most significant possible refund, while others work to keep the taxes they pay as low as legally required. The IRS...

When you think of identity theft, you may think of unauthorized credit card payments or new lines of credit. However, tax identity theft is one of the most common types of identity theft — and it’s also the most common...

Asset management and financial wellness can help develop long-term confidence when wealth transfers from generation to generation. Understanding and implementing financial wellness techniques is essential for effectively sharing wealth...

When you own a business, you get to deduct business expenses from your business income. This general rule applies, subject to certain limitations, whether you are a sole proprietor with employees or a self-employed freelancer...

When it comes to financial bad habits, the most common are also well known — don’t spend too much, don’t take on unsustainable debt, and avoid living paycheck to paycheck. But what happens once you’ve...

When it comes to your estate plan, you don’t just have it drafted and put away until it is time for your loved ones to manage your lifetime of affairs. As your world changes year by year, it is critical that you review your...

Here are some things to consider as you weigh potential tax moves between now and the end of the year. 1. Defer income to next year Consider opportunities to defer income to 2024, particularly if you think you may be in a lower tax...

The average family spends an extra $1,000 or more during the holiday season. From gifts and travel to dinners, shows, and decorations, each purchase adds up.1 How might you take full advantage of holiday cheer while avoiding...

Charity and philanthropy are two terms related to giving that are often used interchangeably, even though they differ. While the difference is subtle, it is essential to understand the differences between charity and philanthropy in...

A trust is a legal vehicle that protects your assets that contains instructions for your assets when you die or become incapacitated. When you set up a trust, you transfer assets from your name into your trust's name while you still...

One of the more difficult conversations for family members to have is talking about estate planning. There are several reasons for this, including the reality of our own mortality and that of our loved ones. In some families, it is an...

Generational wealth involves financial planning, where parents or grandparents pass wealth to loved ones after they die. Entrusting family members with receiving an inheritance is more than just getting a hold of assets or a check in...

Veterans and military members have access to various investment options, some of which are not offered to the general population. Managing investments depends on individual goals, risk tolerance, and financial situation. Here are some...

Living trusts enable you to control the distribution of your estate, and certain trusts may enable you to reduce or avoid many of the taxes and fees that will be imposed upon your death. A trust is a legal arrangement...

Baby Boomers — those born between 1946 and 1964 — hold about $20 trillion in wealth.1 Over the next few decades, many Boomers may transfer this wealth to their Gen X, millennial, and Gen Z children, perhaps incurring a...

Mental health is essential to everyone’s wellbeing. Mental health disorders, diagnosed or not, may be playing a role in your daily life. Often, financial problems or worries may impact your mental wellbeing, especially if...

What is family wealth, and how do you preserve it? You have worked hard for years and accumulated wealth. You earned this money through your job, investing, and saving, and you want to preserve it for yourself and to take care of the...

Obtaining a life insurance policy is part of being an adult. But it’s also something that you can easily neglect, especially if you obtained it earlier in adulthood. While you may have been diligent in securing your life...

Heading into your retirement years brings a slew of new topics to grapple with, and one of the most maddening may be Medicare. Figuring out when to enroll, what to enroll in and what coverage will be best for you can be daunting. To...

You want to retire comfortably when the time comes. You also want to help your child go to college. So how do you juggle the two? The truth is, saving for your retirement and your child's education at the same time can be a challenge....

Introduction Disasters can strike anybody at anytime, resulting in catastrophic property damage and loss. Fires in dwellings and natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, severe storms, mudslides, and wildfires cause damage.

Student loan borrowers must stay vigilant should they find themselves with debt to be repaid. When calculating a repayment plan, the government uses discretionary income, the difference between your annual income and the money left...

Trends in debt, interest rates and consumer spending can impact sectorsAs Americans grapple with the challenges of dwindling purchasing power, credit cards have become a popular way to bridge the financial gap. However, this has led to...

A student's education expenses may be reduced when a parent uses their tax-advantaged retirement account to help cover tuition and other related costs. With many students graduating with college loan debt, using a 401(k) or IRA may...

As a business owner, putting all your profits back into the business may be tempting, especially during the lean years. However, when it comes to saving and investing as a business owner, there are other paths you could consider for...

Planning for your future requires the help of multiple professionals. Two professionals you may find yourself working with to figure out your future are a financial advisor and an insurance agent. Financial professionals may also...

Current warning signs might point to a future downturn for the stock marketAs an investor, it's important to keep a close eye on the stock market indicators. Currently, the indicators are showing a concerning trend that investors...

Those who receive an inheritance with the passing of a loved one are potentially given the gift of financial freedom if they choose to manage the wealth carefully. Did you know that only about one-third of adults have a prepared will,...

What does the term "financial freedom" mean to you? For some, it means freedom from a particular workplace or industry. For others, it means the opportunity for an early retirement or the ability to start a long-desired business....

In times of crisis, you don't want to be shaking pennies out of a piggy bank. Having a financial safety net in place can ensure that you're protected when a financial emergency arises. One way to accomplish this is by setting up a cash...

Money worries may be one of the biggest sources of stress—from wondering how to pay for an unexpected expense to making retirement calculations when considering leaving a job. In the midst of inflation, war, and stock market...

Many people know that life insurance is important to have, and yet not enough actually get it. Some decide they’ll get it later in life while others feel it’s a waste of money because they don’t have any health issues...

Whether you have been working in your current industry for only a short time or have been in the same field for decades, boosting your education is always an excellent idea. With constantly changing technology and new software coming...

A new study of the 76 largest cities in the United States has revealed that a $100,000-a-year salary, long considered a benchmark of financial success, may not be enough to support a comfortable lifestyle after taxes and the rising cost of

We all have dreams in life, and oftentimes those dreams cost money. If you have a financial goal or responsibility coming up soon or simply want to build up an emergency fund, follow these tips to help you spend less and save money fast.

If you own a business and want to diversify your assets by investing in stocks, today’s online brokerages make trading fairly easy. However, stock investing is risky, especially in a volatile market. Here are four key...

According to the College Board, the most recently published figures of the average annual cost of tuition and fees at a public university for the 2021-2022 school year was $10,740 for in-state students and $27,560 for out-of-state...

As you enter the workforce and start to earn a regular income, it's easy to get carried away with newfound financial freedom. However, this can often lead to costly money mistakes that can have long-lasting consequences.