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Is The US Creating A Central Bank Digital Currency?
FOREWORD The US government has been exploring the creation of a Central Bank Digital Currency (henceforth, CBDC), something that other central banks across the globe have also been considering. However, there is no timeline and/or...
Read MoreCraig Ivy CFP ® & Ashley Trlica, CFP®, AEP® Join Our Team as Wealth Advisors
Craig is a Certified Financial Planner and brings over 15 years of experience in the finance sector, including a deep understanding of investments, retirement planning, and wealth management strategies. His impressive background also...
Read MoreTop 7 Most Common Estate Strategy Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Getting your affairs in order and outlining what you want done with your estate after you’re gone is one of the greatest gifts you can leave your loved ones. However, not preparing for the transfer of your assets can lead to...
Read MoreNavigating the Costs of Senior Care: Tips for Preparing for Long-Term Care
Senior care costs can be overwhelming, particularly when long-term care is required due to illness or medical conditions. With the number of seniors in the U.S. expected to rise exponentially by 2030, it's crucial to be prepared for...
Read MoreLiving Trusts: Understanding the Basics and Key Considerations
Estate management can be a complex and daunting task for many people, but it’s a critical step in helping your assets get managed and distributed according to your wishes.One popular tool that can be used in estate strategies is...
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Trying to Time a Recession?
Some economic indicators suggest that a recession is possible in 2023, while others give mixed signals.As we have discussed, economic fluctuations are normal, and if we enter a recession, it is not a reason to panic. As detailed below,...
Read MoreWhat Factors Have the Greatest Impact on Your Credit Score?
Fun fact: You probably have dozens of credit scores out there, and each one might be a different number.You’re probably familiar with a credit score, why it’s essential, and what it’s used for, but do you know how...
Read MoreImportant Financial Considerations to Make When Remarrying Later in Life
Discussing personal finances is important for any couple preparing for marriage. However, this topic can be more complicated for those who remarry later in life.If you’re remarrying later in life, one of your goals should be to...
Read MoreTop Considerations to Help Adult Children Be Better Prepared As You Age
As we get older, it’s important that our adult children are prepared to manage any aging-related situations that may arise. This includes everything from having to make medical and financial decisions to determining assisted...
Read MoreTips for Raising Financially Literate Children
Every parent wants the best for their children and strives to prepare them to lead a happy, healthy, and successful life. But, despite understanding the importance of financial responsibility, only 28 percent of parents speak to their...
Read MoreThe Soundness of the Banking System
It is often said that the Federal Reserve (Fed) tightens until something breaks. In fact, history is peppered with examples of financial accidents caused by past Fed tightening cycles— Orange County’s default (1994), the...
Read MoreTransitioning to Medicare from Private Health Insurance Plans
Transitioning from Private Health Insurance Plans to MedicareAs you approach retirement age, you may be anticipating transitioning from your private insurance to Medicare, which is a federal health insurance program that provides...
Read MoreWhere to Put Excess Cash
According to the Investment Company Institute, near the end of 2022, there was more than $4.7 trillion in cash sitting in U.S. money market funds.1,2While cash can play a role in a diversified portfolio, historically, cash has not kept...
Read MoreTechnology Guide for Seniors
By 2040, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 80 million people in the U.S. will be age 65 or older.1 Most of these senior adults will either want to—or need to—"age in place," living in their homes securely, independently...
Read MoreWhat Is the Sequence-of-Return Risk and How Can Retirees Mitigate Its Effects?
With the possibility of a recession looming, it's natural for those nearing or in retirement to have concerns over their long-term strategies. After decades of accumulating a portfolio, the last thing retirees want is for a market...
Read MoreLifetime Estate & Gift Tax Exemption Updates for 2023
In October 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced tax changes for 2023 — changes primarily driven, in part, by the current inflationary environment. For affluent couples or individuals interested in transferring...
Read MoreWhat to Do If Your Identity is Stolen
Annually, 15 million people in the US experience identity theft.As we all know, identity theft is a serious financial issue. Many of the steps you take with identity theft are similar to having your wallet stolen, but generally,...
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Check in the Mirror for these Behavioral Investment Biases
There has been considerable concern over what many economists predict is an imminent recession. It may occur as early as Q1 2023 or as late as Q4 2023 and debate continues on whether the stock and bond markets are accurately pricing in...
Read MoreContribution Limit Increases for 2023: Just What We Wanted to Hear
In late October, the IRS announced that it is increasing contribution limits to retirement savings accounts in 2023. The changes, like many you are seeing, are a direct result of months of high inflation and financial uncertainty, some...
Read MoreYear-End Financial Strategies
The year is almost over, and it has certainly been a bumpy one for the financial markets and our economy. As financial professionals, we work with families to design investment strategies that help them pursue their goals for education...
Read MoreCharitable Giving Strategies for 2022
Key points:Over the past five years, affluent Americans increased their donations to charity by 48%.1Understand various strategies to help you maximize the impact of your charitable donations and your income tax savings.To qualify for...
Read MoreHow Does the Inflation Reduction Act Impact Healthcare? A Guide During Open Enrollment Season
Key points:One of the biggest components of the Inflation Reduction Act is the changes to healthcare costs and coverage. The Inflation Reduction Act requires all pharmaceutical companies to rebate Medicare participants for the...
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Equity Markets Take Off in October – Will Market Timers Catch Up?
What an October for equity returns. It’s a great example of how difficult it is to time the market. With the Fed raising rates likely until early next year, there was little consensus that there would be equity returns like the...
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What’s Got the Fed in a Pickle? Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
Last week I posted an article about how markets are almost completely dependent on the rhetoric coming from the Federal Reserve Bank. Inflation is still arguably high but there are morsels of data showing that the rate hikes are...
Read MoreWill Your Social Security Check Be Taxed?
Most people are used to having a percentage of their paycheck withheld for Social Security. The withholding rate in 2022 stands at 6.2% for individuals and another 6.2% for their employers, for a total of 12.4% per person.1 But...
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Consumers Have a Crystal Ball After All But They are Lousy at Predicting the Stock Market
There are two well-known indexes that track consumer sentiment and confidence. For the most part, these indexes tend to move in tandem even though they may sometimes deviate slightly in the short-term. But as of late, the Conference...
Read MoreTruths About Life Insurance That Will Inspire You to Get Coverage
Several factors will affect the cost and availability of life insurance, including age, health, and the type and amount of insurance purchased. Life insurance policies have expenses, including mortality and other charges. If a policy...
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Rolling Treasuries: Squeezing Extra Cash Out of Cash
In a volatile market, many investors prefer to hold a little more cash than they otherwise would or make investments a bit slower – spreading out the allocation to minimize any adverse impact from sudden market drops. With cash...
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