Financial planning provides a plethora of benefits; however, it also comes with many challenges considering it’s impossible to completely prepare for an unpredictable future. Despite the impossibility of being able to fully prepare for what the future holds, a smart financial plan can still provide you with the flexibility and strong financial foundation you need to respond to whatever the future brings.

Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about the tax plan put forth by Democrats and the corresponding changes it may bring. While there is still a lot that is unknown, some of the upcoming tax changes are certain and can begin being planned for. Below is a summary of some of the items that will change in the 2021 tax season.

Most of us don’t plan for divorce. Yet it’s still heavily prevalent and, when it happens, nearly every aspect of life changes – seemingly overnight. Divorce can be mentally, emotionally, and financially draining. It is also fraught with decisions that must be addressed so that, when the dust settles, you find yourself standing on solid financial ground.

Divorce nearly always impacts your money, as it completely undermines most of the financial planning and wealth-building that a couple accomplished during the marriage. Untangling two people’s money is a messy and emotionally challenging process. That’s why you’ll want to prepare your finances long before spousal or child support is awarded, or your post-divorce budget is in place.

Since each relationship is unique, so is each divorce, and this means specific planning advice can only come from experts who are familiar with your situation. Despite that, there are some overarching tips that can guide you on the right path, no matter what you’re dealing with.

Now more than ever, we’re living in a world where it is important to have a firm grasp on money management and personal finance. When it comes to investing, there is truly no substitute for education and experience. And, when it comes to meeting savings and retirement goals, there is no substitute for smart investing. This is why it is so important to educate your children and grandchildren about personal finance while they’re young.

The daily hustle and bustle of life can make it hard to find the time to sit down and begin having conversations with your children about finance. However, by teaching basic principles like saving, interest, and risk and reward in your daily activities with kids, you can instill in them the financial literacy they’ll need to succeed financially as adults.

It’s not an overstatement to say that all retirees want to enjoy a comfortable and financially secure retirement. In order to save enough money to be able to make this a reality, most people begin saving at a young age and do so consistently throughout their working lives. However, practicing consistent healthy money habits is a challenge for many people.

If you’ve struggled with saving for retirement and fear you might be behind, there are things you can do to get yourself back on track. It will require you to get proactive and intentional with your savings and your financial habits moving forward. Though it may seem daunting, it’s not impossible. These five financial habits can help you catch up to your retirement savings goals and get you on the right track for a comfortable and financially secure retirement.

Our natural inclination is to view retirement as a happy and stress-free phase of life – and it absolutely can be. However, when you’re transitioning into retirement it can feel disorienting and nerve-wracking. Making the shift from the working and saving phase of your life to the life of a retiree tends to be a rollercoaster of emotions, and this life pivot can be taxing for even those who are the most prepared.

No matter your phase in life, the financial decisions that you make now are likely to impact your future. Navigating complex matters such as tax planning, establishing an estate plan, figuring out the right investment strategy, purchasing life insurance, planning for long-term care, or preparing for retirement can be incredibly overwhelming.

For certain financial matters, having a financial advisor at your side can help ensure that you’re making the right choice for your personal situation. The following scenarios are ones in which the help of an expert could significantly improve your financial and personal future.

Retirement is momentous, isn’t it? Most people spend their whole lives saving, preparing, and dreaming of this time in their lives. You’re finally “off the clock” and have time to do the things you want to do. Maybe you’ve dreamed of traveling somewhere special, or reading that stack of books you’ve been neglecting, or spending more time with your family. Your retirement is supposed to be a time in your life that you can enjoy with minimal stressors and worry.

Unfortunately, for many retirees, retirement isn’t the worry-free dreamland that they imagined. Almost half of Americans report feeling worried about whether they’ve saved enough money to last throughout their retirements, with only 36% of people saying that they feel confident they’ve saved enough money to be comfortable in this phase of life. So, if you’re feeling more uncertain about your financial situation and retirement preparations than you’d like, know that you’re not alone.

Luckily, there are tangible steps that you can take to whip your finances into shape and improve your financial confidence in retirement. Here are four small steps you can take to help feel more confident about your retirement plan. 

There is no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the financial security of many Americans, as well as becoming a stress test for retirement planning and saving. If this health and financial crisis changed your retirement plans or has left you feeling less secure in your retirement savings, you’re not alone. Though the economy is recovering, and things are beginning to normalize as vaccines roll out, it may take a bit more time to get your retirement plan back on track. Below we will discuss five mistakes to avoid so you can strengthen and protect your savings now and into the future.

By nature, relationships can be fraught with challenges. As two people come together and begin to intertwine their lives and finances, there are many issues to navigate. Plus, busy schedules often leave couples feeling like they’re not spending enough time together, small things like dishes left in the sink can lead to resentment, and jealousy or control issues might permeate the relationship too. In short, relationships aren’t easy, finance issues aren’t easy, and combining the two can be challenging for any couple.  

Of the potential setbacks you and your partner may face, the biggest relationship roadblocks tend to be related to money. Financial issues can sink even the healthiest of relationships, so learning how to work with your partner – rather than against them – to navigate these challenges can ensure your relationship finds long-lasting success, and on firm financial footing, too.

Protecting as much of your earnings as possible is key to wealth building, making it imperative for high-earners to develop a savvy tax strategy. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are often a viable option, though they tend to be overlooked or misunderstood. When they’re used correctly, however, they can be a fantastic tool to have in your financial planning toolbox. An HSA cannot only provide an easy annual income tax deduction, but it can also create a dedicated, tax-free vessel of funds on hand to cover any healthcare costs you may encounter during retirement.

As a parent, you’ll likely do anything for the health, safety, and security of your children. For many parents, this translates into financial support – oftentimes long into adulthood. For several years now, there has been an emerging trend among young adults needing to rely on their parents for financial help to varying degrees after college. Now, COVID-19 has made the job market even more volatile for younger, less experienced members of the workforce.

While it’s important to support your loved ones, you need to find a balance between softening their landing and protecting your own financial security – especially your retirement nest egg. Below you’ll find six strategies to protect yourself and encourage your loved ones to create financial independence.

If you’re like most people, you’ve already put some thought into your retirement plans and the lifestyle you’ll lead. Hopefully, you’ve begun contributing to retirement funds or building other assets for your eventual retirement, too. You may have even thought a little about your age at retirement or brainstormed some specifics of where you’d like to be or what you’d like to be doing. These are useful and necessary parts of retirement planning. However, there is one extra step you can take that will make your decisions for the future even easier, and it’s an Ancient Greek concept called “self-continuity.”

Self-continuity involves imagining your future-self and relating to that person. It allows you to connect with who you will be in the future in a less abstract way, and it can increase your ability to prepare for that time in your life. Researchers have found that being able to relate and project yourself to that future-self in more vivid and realistic terms can make you more willing and capable to make the decisions that will benefit you the most in the future. This can be invaluable, of course, when planning your retirement.

Below are six techniques that will enable you to use self-continuity to bridge that gap between who you are now and who you will be in retirement.

Three weeks ago, GameStop (ticker: GME) was known as a store that millennials may have visited in their childhood to shop for video gaming consoles and accessories. That quickly changed when the price of GameStop stock surged more than 1,600% from January 11th to January 27th (source: Bloomberg) dominating the headlines and causing many market participants to ask the question “what in the world is going on?”. The thundering rise in GameStop’s stock can primarily be attributed to an underlying battle between small investors and hedge funds. Since we have fielded many questions on this story, we thought it may be best to provide some context around what has happened so far and how we think it relates to some of the bigger themes taking place in the market and economy today.