Buying Auto Insurance For Teen Drivers
Driving may be a rite of passage for teenagers, but for parents, having a teenage driver can be stressful and expensive. Your child will need auto insurance coverage as soon as they receive their driver’s license. Here are some important considerations. Determine Whether to Add Your Child to Your Policy or Purchase a Separate Policy […]
Building a Solid Financial Foundation
You may have heard the phrase “getting your financial house in order.” But what does that actually mean? A strong financial life is built much like a home. It needs a solid foundation, reliable structure, and regular maintenance. Without those basics in place, long-term goals like retirement, investing, tax planning, estate planning, and wealth transfer […]
Breaking Down the Parts of Medicare
Generally, the different parts of Medicare help cover specific services. Most beneficiaries choose to receive their Parts A and B benefits through Original Medicare. This is the traditional fee-for-service program offered directly through the federal government. It is sometimes called Traditional Medicare or Fee-for-Service (FFS) Medicare. Under Original Medicare, the government pays directly for the […]
Best-Performing Asset Classes: Why Market Leadership Changes
Investors often want to know which asset class is going to perform best next. The challenge is that market leadership changes. The asset class that leads one year may lag the next, and the investment that feels safest today may not always support long-term goals. According to Yale’s U.S. Stock Market Confidence Indices, the Crash […]
Avoiding Cognitive Decline: Planning for Brain Health and Long-Term Independence
Cognitive health is an important part of aging well. While some memory changes can be a normal part of getting older, more serious cognitive decline can affect independence, decision-making, family relationships, and long-term financial planning. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, approximately 12% to 18% of people age 60 or older are living with mild cognitive […]
A Taxing Story: Understanding Capital Gains and Losses
Chris Rock once joked, “You don’t pay taxes—they take taxes.” That may feel especially true when investment gains create an unexpected tax bill. Capital gains and losses are an important part of investing, especially for individuals and families with taxable brokerage accounts, real estate, business interests, or concentrated stock positions. Understanding how gains and losses […]
Asset Allocation: Building a Portfolio for Different Market Conditions
If you have ever visited a big city, you may have noticed street vendors selling items that seem unrelated, such as hot coffee and ice cream. At first, that may seem unusual. But the strategy makes sense. On cold days, hot coffee is easier to sell. On warm days, ice cream is more appealing. By […]
Assessing Your Life Insurance Needs
If your family depends on your income, life insurance can be an important part of your financial foundation. Life insurance is designed to help provide financial support to the people who rely on you if you pass away unexpectedly. In particular, it can help replace income, cover final expenses, pay debts, support children, protect a […]
A Primer on Dividends
For investors looking for portfolio income, dividend-paying stocks may be worth understanding. A dividend is a payment a company makes to its shareholders, usually from company profits. When a business earns a profit, it can generally use that money in one of two ways: reinvest it back into the company or distribute a portion of […]
An Overview of Renter’s Insurance
Renters often assume they do not need renter’s insurance because they do not own the home or apartment they live in. Others believe their belongings are not valuable enough to insure. But while the property owner’s insurance may cover the building, it usually does not cover your personal belongings, your liability, or the cost of […]