Blog
The Sandwich Generation: Caring for Parents and Children Simultaneously
As the U.S. population continues to age, the “sandwich generation” is caught in the middle, supporting both their parents and their children, whether financially, physically, or emotionally. This generation is the middle-aged...
Read MoreRetirement Annuities Explained: What They Are and How They Work
Having enough retirement income is a top concern for many Americans nearing or in retirement. Even though they may have saved consistently throughout the working years, they may be concerned that their retirement plans will succeed. A...
Read MoreExercise, Diet, and Financial Wellness - 3 Tips to Ensure You're in Good Financial Health for Retire
To maintain good physical health, most people must exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and keep stress to a minimum. Achieving financial wellness is no different. It requires careful planning, smart decision-making, and consistent...
Read More529 Plans Demystified: What Affluent Families Need to Know
As an affluent family, planning for your children's education is likely a top priority. You want to ensure that they have access to the best education possible without worrying about the high cost of tuition.
Read MoreSmart Strategies for Staying Ahead in Uncertain Markets
Over the past few years, the market has appeared to be on a rollercoaster, providing investors with moments of excitement followed by heart-palpitating anxiety.
Read MoreShow All
Digital Payments and Taxes: What You Need to Know Before You File
In an unexpected turn of events, the IRS announced another delay in the implementation of the new reporting rule that would require third-party payment apps, for example, Zelle, PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo, to report earned income over...
Read MoreGen Xers: “Can I Afford to Retire on My Terms?”
Financial education, planning, lifestyle adjustments and advice are crucial As Generation X, often referred to as the "forgotten generation," inches closer to retirement, a unique set of challenges and concerns emerges. Born between...
Read MoreEverything You Need to Know About Adjusting to Retirement
Economists and pundits predicted that the baby boomer generation's retirement would be dramatic, and the COVID pandemic sped things along. According to the St. Louis Fed, the number of retirees in the U.S. increased by 7% between...
Read MoreHow Emotional and Behavioral Barriers May Impact Your Investing Decisions
Ah, Money. The word leaves you with a positive or a negative feeling when you hear it. The feeling we get from money, and investing, has deep roots inside our emotions, although we may not understand why. Behavioral science explains...
Read MoreTips to Avoid Common Estate Planning Mistakes
With a few simple actions, you can ensure your estate planning is effective Whether your estate plan is simple or complex, there are many details, which are often overlooked, that can undermine your plan’s effectiveness. Are you...
Read More2024 Outlook
Dear Valued Investor, LPL Research recently unveiled Outlook 2024: A Turning Point, which recaps where markets have been over the last half of 2023 to help position your portfolio through midyear of 2024. It’s with pleasure that...
Read MoreWays to Minimize Tax on an Investment Portfolio
Improving return by minimizing taxes. Although we are all obligated to pay our fair share of taxes, few of us would be pleased to pay taxes unnecessarily. Because taxes lower the actual return on your investments.
Read MoreEnd of Year (EOY) Deadlines Checklist
For many of us, a new year is an opportunity for fresh starts and discovering the best versions of ourselves, but some things—like tax contributions and retirement deadlines—don't change much, if at all.
Read More6 Tips for Reducing Social Security Taxes
Determining how your income impacts Social Security (SS) taxes is important for tax planning. Factors that determine how much pay SS tax you pay, depending on your circumstances.
Read MoreRetirement Revolution: 3 Reasons to Rethink Your Retirement Plan
Retirement is a time that many of us look forward to our entire careers. It is the reward for a lifetime of work and the time to indulge in hobbies and enjoy much-needed vacations.
Read MoreKey Estate Planning Documents You Need
There are five estate planning documents you may need, regardless of your age, health, or wealth: 1. Durable power of attorney; 2. Advance medical directives; 3. Will; 4. Letter of instruction; 5. Living trust
Read MoreSenior Cyber Safety – How to Avoid a Cyber Identity Crisis
You may have thought your digital identity was safe and not a likely target of a cybercriminal until one day, the bank calls wondering if purchases made at a store that you have never been to, 2,000 miles away, were made by you.
Read MoreA Financial Checklist for Life-Changing Events
When it comes to financial planning, people often think of financial professionals as people who assist with strategies for retirement planning.
Read More4 Tax-Efficient Ways to Help Your Kids Pay for College
From 2008 to 2022, the cost of in-state tuition at public universities rose nearly 80%.(1) The high price tag now associated with a college education makes it critical for families to carefully plan how to pay for higher education expenses.
Read MoreFinancial Planning at Every Age
In 2013, a Gallup poll found that only about one in every three U.S. households maintained a budget.(1) A 2021 survey of 1,000 Americans found that 80% now say they have a budget.(2) Americans are budgeting more due to the pandemic.
Read MoreHigh Net-Worth Individuals: Are You Missing Opportunities in Your Financial Planning?
High Net-Worth executives and those that have been self-employed, can experience common problems in their financial planning journey. Often, they have missed opportunities in their financial planning because they haven’t planned adequately.
Read MoreFinding Focus with Financial Planning: A Step-By-Step Guide
A financial plan is a collection of steps that help you to evaluate your financial condition and determine how to prepare for your financial future. Here are some steps to help you get a foothold to begin that climb toward possible financi
Read MoreLPL Financial Research Midyear Outlook 2023: The Path Toward Stability
Our 2023 investing outlook started with a theme of returning to normalcy. Considering 2022’s market volatility and the aftereffects of the pandemic, the idea of finding balance was certainly a welcomed change.
Read MoreThe Tax Benefits of a Backdoor Roth IRA for High Earners
A Backdoor Roth IRA is a strategy that allows individuals who earn too much to directly contribute to a Roth IRA to still contribute to one indirectly. Read on for more information.
Read MoreStocks and Bonds Before and After Taxes
Investing in U.S. stocks and bonds is a popular way for individuals and institutions to grow their wealth and generate income. However, it is important to consider the impact of taxes on these investments.
Read MoreA Mid-Year Financial Plan Review Makes Sense
“Old-fashioned” practices, such as periodic financial reviews, can lead to greater confidence in the long run. As the year passes its midpoint, why not spend a few hours reviewing your finances?
Read MoreDo You Have FOMO When it Comes to Investing?
Every day we’re bombarded with reports of what’s hot and what’s not – fueling a fear of missing out (FOMO) on some great investment opportunity. Here are some tips to avoid derailing your investment strategies.
Read MoreHealthy at 75 Should Be Your Retirement Mantra
Planning for retirement should start in your early twenties, if not before, so you can develop good health habits early and health can govern the quality of life long before retirement, and perhaps after.
Read MoreSocial Security Retirement Income- A Primer
As you near retirement, it's likely you'll have many questions about Social Security. Be aware of these three advantages that Social Security offers.
Read More5 Last Minute Considerations Before Tax Day
With April’s federal tax filing and payment deadline on the horizon, are you confident you have everything in order to make your tax filing go as smoothly as possible? Here are five last-minute details to double-check before Tax Day.
Read MoreUnderstanding the Estate Planning
While the estate planning process can raise some difficult emotional and personal issues, your heirs will be glad you did it, and you will know that your wishes are assured.
Read MoreSectors to Consider if Inflation Continues to Rise
Are there certain S&P 500 sectors that might perform better if inflation rises? Here are some sectors to consider if inflation continues to rise.
Read MoreThe Importance of Financial Wellness
Financial wellness isn’t something you should ignore. It's a critical concept for anyone who wants to be knowledgeable and confident about their finances. So, what is financial wellness and why is it so important?
Read MoreFive Helpful Tools for Tax Prep
Which tax prep tools are worth the hype, and which may be passed over? We discuss five high-tech tools to help make tax time as simple and streamlined as possible.
Read MoreThe Differences Between Growth, Core and Value
Are you a Growth investor or a Value investor? Or do you prefer a mix of the two? Understanding your style of investing is an important step in deciding where to allocate your portfolio- keep reading for insights.
Read MoreHow Behavioral Economics Can Help You Keep New Year's Financial Resolutions
If you make New Year's resolutions and don't keep them, behavioral economics can help. It's the study of psychology as it relates to economic decision-making. Read on for more insight.
Read MoreLPL Financial Research Outlook 2023: Finding Balance
Through all the challenges, newfound opportunities, and every high and low we’ve experienced during the last couple of years, it’s no surprise why we might be striving for more balance. Whether it’s about the markets...
Read MoreYear-End Tax Planning Basics
The window of opportunity for many tax-saving moves closes on December 31, so it's important to evaluate your tax situation now, while there's still time to affect your bottom line for the 2022 tax year. Here we discuss some basics.
Read MoreWhat Veterans Should Know About Retirement Planning
Veterans' retirement benefits are among some of the most generous out there, in large part due to the risks and sacrifices that come from military service. But navigating this array of benefits may seem complicated. What should...
Read MoreA Year-End Wealth Planning Guide
As we approach the end of the year, you may want to review areas that may impact your wealth and estate planning next year. In this year-end planning guide, we examine four critical areas to consider that may affect your finances:...
Read MoreTrick or Treat, Wall Street! 4 Helpful Halloween Lessons for Investors
With the spooky season already approaching, you may wonder if there is anything that can be done to enter 2023 as financially secure as possible. This is a great time of year to look back —and forward — to set goals...
Read MoreChoosing the Right 401(k) for Your Employees & Your Business
Implementing a 401(k) plan for your employees is good business. It means you're thinking strategically, that you care for your employees, and are focused on the long-term health of your company. Implementing a retirement plan:Can help...
Read MoreThe Financial Planning Process: Why and How
Planning personal finances used to be the worry of the wealthy and their worry—usually preservation of wealth—was attended to by teams of trust officers and lawyers. Many of today’s middle class families have...
Read More