Group Disability Insurance If a disabling illness or injury were to prevent you from working for weeks, months, or even years, how would you support yourself and your family? If disability strikes, you may discover that your most valuable asset isn't your home or your savings--it's your ability to earn a living. Fortunately, group disability insurance can help protect you. Whether it's offered through your employer, school, trade group, or another association to which you belong,

Changing Jobs? Know Your 401(k) Options: If you've lost your job, or are changing jobs, you may be wondering what to do with your 401(k) plan account. It's important to understand your options. What will I be entitled to? If you leave your job (voluntarily or involuntarily), you'll be entitled to a distribution of your vested balance. Your vested balance always includes your own contributions (pre-tax, after-tax, and Roth) and typically any investment earnings on those amounts.

What is vesting? Vesting occurs when you acquire ownership. Does your employer offer a retirement savings plan such as a 401(k), traditional pension, or profit-sharing plan? Did you receive a stock option grant as a year-end bonus? These employee benefits and others like them are often tied to a timeline known as a vesting schedule. The vesting schedule determines when you acquire full ownership of the benefit. For example, your employer grants you 10,000 stock options as a thank-you for

Taking Advantage of Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans: Employer-sponsored qualified retirement plans such as 401(k)s are some of the most powerful retirement savings tools available. If your employer offers such a plan and you're not participating in it, you should be. Once you're participating in a plan, try to take full advantage of it. Understand your employer-sponsored plan Before you can take advantage of your employer's plan, you need to understand how these plans

Understanding Defined Benefit Plans: You may be counting on funds from a defined benefit plan to help you achieve a comfortable retirement. Often referred to as traditional pension plans, defined benefit plans promise to pay you a specified amount at retirement. To help you understand the role a defined benefit plan might play in your retirement savings strategy, here's a look at some basic plan attributes. But since every employer's plan is a little different, you'll need to

Evaluating a Job Offer If you're considering changing jobs, you're not alone. Today, few people stay with one employer until retirement. It's likely that at some point during your career, you'll be looking for a new job. You may be looking to make more money or seeking greater career opportunities. Or, you may be forced to look for new employment if your company restructures. Whatever the reason, you'll eventually be faced with an important decision: When you receive an

Health Savings Accounts: Are health insurance premiums taking too big of a bite out of your budget? Do you wish you had better control over how you spend your health-care dollars? If so, you may be interested in an alternative to traditional health insurance called a health savings account (HSA). How does this health-care option work? An HSA is a tax-advantaged account that's paired with a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). You cannot contribute to

Comparing Health Insurance Plans: Perhaps you're starting a new job or trying to integrate employee benefits with your new spouse. Or maybe you're shopping for individual health insurance coverage. One of the challenges when comparing health plans is that many different types of plans are available, including indemnity plans, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs), and point of service (POS) plans. If you are offered the chance to choose a

Understanding Managed Care If it's been a while since you've shopped around for health insurance, you may find that things have changed since the last time you tackled this chore. Not long ago, you could go to any doctor or hospital, and you and your insurance company would each pay part of the bill. Now, most health insurance policies are some form of managed care, with controls to contain costs. Today, more than half of insured Americans are covered by a managed care plan-

Health Insurance Made Simple Let's face it--in today's world, health insurance is a necessity. In fact, most U.S. citizens and legal residents must have qualifying health insurance or face a penalty tax. Yet the cost of medical care is soaring higher every year, and it's becoming increasingly difficult (and in some cases, impossible) to pay medical costs out of pocket. Whether you already have health insurance or want to get it, here's some basic information to help you

Considering a New Employment Opportunity What is it? In the past, workers stayed with the same company for years and years, working their way up in the company. However, times have changed. Businesses facing hard economic times restructure, forcing employees to look for new jobs. It's also become common for workers to change jobs several times throughout their careers as they seek higher salaries and new professional opportunities. Whether you're forced to seek a new employment

Starting a New Career July 22, 2022 Introduction Downsizing is one reason you may be seeking a new career. Reaching a professional plateau is another. The fact is, many people change careers, sometimes more than once. With proper planning, you can start a fulfilling new career without sacrificing your financial security. Assessing your career path Consider working with a professional career counselor Working with a career counselor can ensure that you receive career-planning advice tailored to

How much do you really know about your employer-sponsored retirement savings plan? If you're like many people, you have many ideas about how your plan works that may or may not be entirely accurate. To gauge your knowledge, take this brief quiz: Are the following statements true or false? Even though I'm young, I should still make saving for retirement a priority. True. Because of the power of compounding, your youth is actually one of the best reasons to start contributing now. Compounding is

It's a fact: People today are living longer. Although that's good news, the odds of requiring some sort of long-term care increase as you get older. And as the costs of home care, nursing homes, and assisted living escalate, you probably wonder how you're ever going to be able to afford long-term care. One solution that is gaining in popularity is long-term care insurance (LTCI). What is long-term care? Most people associate long-term care with the elderly. But it applies to the ongoing care of

Married couples often decide together that one spouse should be the primary breadwinner while the other stays home to take care of family members. Although this often works out well for childrearing or eldercare responsibilities in the short term, it can present long-term retirement-planning risks for the stay-at-home spouse. For this reason, couples should familiarize themselves with a few spousal rules related to retirement plans. Pension decisions for married couples Typically, in a

Although most of us recognize the importance of sound retirement planning, few of us embrace the nitty-gritty work involved. With thousands of investment possibilities, complex rules governing retirement plans, and so on, most people don't even know where to begin. Here are some suggestions to help you get started. First, set lifestyle goals for your retirement. At what age do you see yourself retiring, and what would you like to do during retirement? If you hope to retire at age 50 and travel

You know how important it is to plan for your retirement, but where do you begin? One of your first steps should be to estimate how much income you'll need to fund your retirement. That's not as easy as it sounds, because retirement planning is not an exact science. Your specific needs depend on your goals and many other factors. Use your current income as a starting point It's common to discuss desired annual retirement income as a percentage of your current income. Depending on whom you're

Test Your Knowledge of Financial Basics How well do you understand personal finance? The following brief quiz can help you gauge your knowledge of a few basics. In the answer section, you'll find details to help you learn more. Questions 1. How much should you set aside in liquid, low-risk savings in case of emergencies? a. One to three months worth of expenses b. Three to six months worth of expenses c. Six to 12 months worth of expenses d. It depends 2. Diversification can eliminate

Financial Basics for Millennials With age comes responsibility, so if you're a young adult in your 20's or 30's, chances are you've been introduced to the realities of adulthood. While you're excited by all the opportunities life has to offer, you're also aware of your emerging financial responsibility. In the financial realm, the millennial generation (young adults born between 1981 and 1997) faces a unique set of challenges, including a competitive job market and significant

Maintaining Your Financial Records: The Importance of Being Organized An important part of managing your personal finances is keeping your financial records organized. Whether it's a utility bill to show proof of residency or a Social Security card for wage reporting purposes, there may be times when you need to locate a financial record or document--and you'll need to locate it relatively quickly. By taking the time to clear out and organize your financial records, you'll be able

All About Credit Scores It's difficult to imagine functioning in today's world without credit. Whether buying a car or purchasing a home, credit has become an integral part of our everyday lives. Having easy access to credit goes hand in hand with having a good credit score, so it's important to know how to maintain a positive credit score and credit history. The importance of having a good credit score Your credit score is based on your past and present credit transactions.

Understanding Your Paycheck Congratulations! You've just landed a new job. Here are some important things to be aware of before you receive your first paycheck. When will I receive my paycheck? How often will you be paid? Typically, your payday will depend on the company you work for and which state you work in. You might be paid on a weekly, bi-weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly basis. Regardless of your employer's pay period, expect to receive your paycheck on your

Financial Planning: Helping You See the Big Picture Do you picture yourself owning a new home, starting a business, or retiring comfortably? These are a few of the financial goals that may be important to you, and each comes with a price tag attached. That's where financial planning comes in. Financial planning is a process that can help you target your goals by evaluating your whole financial picture, then outlining strategies that are tailored to your individual needs and available resources.

Living with Your Parents: Should You Stay or Should You Go? You're an adult, and that distinction comes with some privileges, benefits, responsibilities, and choices to make, including the potential decision of whether to live with your parents or move out. Not surprisingly, there are pluses and minuses to either option. Do you have a choice? If you're right out of school or between jobs, you may not have the income to afford a place of your own. On the other hand, moving back home might not be

Repaying Your Student Loans You vaguely remember signing a form every year at college registration time. Now that you've graduated, it's all become painfully clear — those forms were promissory notes detailing your student loan obligations. Your loans aren't going away, and you'll want to repay them as quickly as possible. So whether you have a small sum or a small fortune to pay off, it's helpful to brush up on some student loan basics. First, remember the grace period After you graduate,

How Student Loans Impact Your Credit If you've finished college within the last few years, chances are you're paying off your student loans. What happens with your student loans now that they've entered repayment status will have a significant impact — positive or negative — on your credit history and credit score. It's payback time When you left school, you enjoyed a grace period of six to nine months before you had to begin repaying your student loans. But they were there all along, sleeping

Evaluating a Job Offer If you're considering changing jobs, you're not alone. Today, few people stay with one employer until retirement. It's likely that at some point during your career, you'll be looking for a new job. You may be looking to make more money or seeking greater career opportunities. Or, you may be forced to look for new employment if your company restructures. Whatever the reason, you'll eventually be faced with an important decision: When you receive

Establishing a Budget Do you ever wonder where your money goes each month? Does it seem like you're never able to get ahead? If so, you may want to establish a budget to help you keep track of how you spend your money and help you reach your financial goals. Examine your financial goals Before you establish a budget, you should examine your financial goals. Start by making a list of your short-term goals (e.g., new car, vacation) and your long-term goals (e.g., your child's

What is a cash reserve? A cash reserve is a pool of funds (and sometimes credit) that you hold in a readily available form to meet emergency and other highly urgent, short-term needs. Sometimes, it is referred to as an emergency or contingency fund. Caution: Terminology is important here because contingencies often are not emergencies. Purchasing an expensive item that suddenly goes on sale or buying stock when its price suddenly drops might lead one to tap a so-called contingency fund...

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 reserve, a pool of readily available funds that can help you meet emergency or highly urgent short-term needs. How much is enough? Most financial professionals suggest that you have three to six months' worth of living expenses in your cash reserve.

Balancing Your ROL with Your Parent's ROL Many baby boomers who are preparing to retire also play a role in another retirement: their parent's. Perhaps you've anticipated caring for an aging parent and already incorporated this transition into your plans for the future. Or maybe a parent's sudden deterioration has thrust you into a caregiving role unexpectedly. These four steps will help you cover your parent’s needs without throwing your own retirement planning off co

Converting or Rolling Over Traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs. What is it? In general, you can transfer all or a portion of your traditional IRA funds to a Roth IRA. This can be accomplished in one of two ways: You can convert your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, or you can roll over funds from your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. In the case of a conversion, you notify the trustee or custodian of your traditional IRA that you wish to convert your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. The account is then

Should I Buy Long-Term Care Insurance? The longer you live, the greater the chances you'll need some form of long-term care. If you're concerned about protecting your assets and maintaining your financial independence in your later years, long-term care insurance (LTCI) may be for you. Who needs it? As we age, the odds increase that we'll need some form of long-term care at some point during our lives. And with life expectancies increasing at a steady rate, the likelihood

Five Questions about Long-Term Care 1. What is long-term care? Long-term care refers to the ongoing services and support needed by people who have chronic health conditions or disabilities. There are three levels of long-term care: Skilled care: Generally round-the-clock care that's given by professional health care providers such as nurses, therapists, or aides under a doctor's supervision.Intermediate care: Also provided by professional health care providers but on a less...

529 plans can be a great way to save for college, but they're not the only way. When you're investing for a major goal like education, it makes sense to be familiar with all of your options. Mutual funds Mutual funds are an option to save for college costs. They offer unlimited investment control and flexibility as you can choose from a wide variety of funds that meet your risk tolerance, time horizon, and overall investment preferences. And there are no restrictions or penalties if

How do 529 plans and Coverdell education savings accounts compare when saving for education costs? Definitions A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings vehicle that let you save money for the education expenses of a named beneficiary, such as a child or grandchild. There are two types of 529 plans: savings plans and prepaid tuition plans. A savings plan lets you save money for college or K-12 in an individual investment account. A prepaid tuition plan pools your contributions with those of

When you contribute to a 529 plan, you'll not only help your child, grandchild, or other loved one pay for school, but you'll also remove money from your taxable estate. This will help you minimize your tax liability and preserve more of your estate for your loved ones after you die. So, if you're thinking about contributing money to a 529 plan, it pays to understand the gift and estate tax rules. Overview of gift and estate tax rules If you give away money or property during your

The income tax benefits offered by 529 plans make these plans attractive to parents (and others) who are saving for college or K-12 tuition. Qualified withdrawals from a 529 plan are tax free at the federal level, and some states also offer tax breaks to their residents. It's important to evaluate the federal and state tax consequences of plan withdrawals and contributions before you invest in a 529 plan. Federal income tax treatment of qualified withdrawals There are two types of 529

If you're thinking about opening a 529 account, or if you've already opened one, you might be wondering how 529 funds will affect your child's financial aid eligibility. A general word about financial aid The financial aid process is all about assessing what a family can afford to pay for college and trying to fill the gap. To do this, the federal government and colleges examine a family's income and assets to determine how much a family should be expected to contribute before

529 plans are designed to accommodate the account changes that you may need to make over the years. Whether you need to change the account owner or beneficiary, your investment options, or your monthly contributions, here's what you'll need to know. Changing the beneficiary If the existing beneficiary no longer needs the funds in your 529 account (e.g., he or she gets a full scholarship or decides not to go to college), you may want to designate a new beneficiary. All 529 plans allow

529 plans can be powerful college savings tools, but you need to understand how your plan works before you can take full advantage of it. Among other things, this means becoming familiar with the finer points of contributions and withdrawals. How much can you contribute? To qualify as a 529 plan under federal rules, a state program must not accept contributions in excess of the anticipated cost of a beneficiary's qualified education expenses. At one time, this meant five years of

Section 529 plans are popular education savings vehicles. To choose the type of 529 plan that's right for you, it's important to understand how 529 savings plans and 529 prepaid tuition plans work and the differences between them. Who can offer each type of plan? At one time, only states could offer 529 savings plans and 529 prepaid tuition plans. (In practice, states designate an experienced financial institution, to manage and administer their plans). However, colleges can now offer

With so many 529 savings plans to choose from, it's important to ask a lot of questions in order to select the best plan for you. Compare the plans offered by different states If you're interested in opening a 529 savings plan account, consider all your options. You can typically join any state's 529 savings plan, so consider comparing a few different plans in terms of account ownership and beneficiary designation rules, tax benefits, investment options, contribution rules, and

529 plans are tax-advantaged education savings vehicles and one of the most popular ways to save for education today. Much like the way 401(k) plans revolutionized the world of retirement savings a few decades ago, 529 plans have changed the world of education savings. An overview of 529 plans Congress created 529 plans in 1996 in a piece of legislation that had little to do with college -- the Small Business Job Protection Act. Known officially as qualified tuition programs, or QTPs, un

It's hard to talk about college without mentioning financial aid. Yet this pairing isn't a marriage of love, but one of necessity. In many cases, financial aid may be the deciding factor in whether your child attends the college of his or her choice. That's why it's important to develop a basic understanding of financial aid before your child applies to college. Without such knowledge, you may have trouble understanding the process of aid determination, filling out the proper aid

Despite taking some important steps to advance, the legislation still has a ways to go and will have to overcome more hurdles. One important concern which remains unaddressed is the ballooning national debt. It remains to be seen if these bills can do enough good in the long run to relieve the already crushing burden of debt America faces...Two large infrastructure bills have taken important steps to advance in Congress. Here's where they stand...

Even with all of your savvy college shopping and research about financial aid, college costs may still be prohibitive. At these prices, you expect you'll need to make substantial financial sacrifices to send your child to college. Or maybe your child won't be able to attend the college of his or her choice at all. Before you throw in the towel, though, you and your child should consider steps that can actually lower college costs. Although some of these ideas deviate from the typical...

Know what your financial needs are The first step is to determine your financial needs for each goal. Answering the following questions can help you get started: For retirement: How many years until you retire? Does your company offer an employer-sponsored retirement plan or a pension plan? Do you participate? If so, what's your balance? Can you estimate what your balance will be when you retire? How much do you expect to receive in Social Security...

What is it? These days it's not uncommon for parents to postpone starting a family until both spouses are settled in their marriage and careers, often well into their 30s and 40s. Though this financial security can be an advantage, it can also present a dilemma--the need to save for college and retirement at the same time. The prevailing wisdom has parents saving for both goals at the same time. The reason is that older parents can't afford to put off saving for retirement until the col

In the college savings game, all strategies aren't created equal. The best savings vehicles offer special tax advantages if the funds are used to pay for college. Tax-advantaged strategies are important because over time, you can potentially accumulate more money with a tax-advantaged investment compared to a taxable investment. Ideally, though, you'll want to choose a savings vehicle that offers you the best combination of tax advantages, financial aid benefits, and flexibility, while m

What is the forecast for college cost increases? A college education is expensive. All those benefits of personal growth, expanded horizons, and increased lifetime earning power come at a price, a price that increases every year. According to the College Board's annual Trends in College Pricing Report, for the 2020-2021 academic year, the average cost of attendance at a four-year public college for in-state students is $26,820, the average cost of attendance at a four-year public college fo

Throughout your career, retirement planning will likely be one of the most important components of your overall financial plan. Whether you have just graduated and taken your first job, are starting a family, are enjoying your peak earning years, or are preparing to retire, your employer-sponsored retirement plan can play a key role in your financial strategies. How should you view and manage your retirement savings plan through various life stages? Following are some points to consider...

When your child first started school, you doled out the change for milk and a snack on a daily basis. But now that your kindergartner has grown up, it's time for you to make sure that your child has enough financial knowledge to manage money at college. Lesson 1: Budgeting 101 Perhaps your child already understands the basics of budgeting from having to handle an allowance or wages from a part-time job during high school. But now that your child is in college, he or she may need to draft a

Many parents pay for college with a combination of current income, savings, and financial aid. By learning the basics of financial aid, you'll be able to understand how the aid process works and compare the aid awards your child receives.

This week we go a little more in-depth to look at the Financial Aid process. What is financial aid?

October 1st is the first day you and your student can file their FASFA for the 2020-21 school year. The day if fast approaching...

Part 2: Growth Through Adversity: In Part 1 of this series, Dr. Beth Kurland and retired Commander David Sears of the U.S. Navy SEALS shared three habits they believe will help folks build momentum as we - hopefully - continue moving towards the end of quarantine. By focusing on the present, embracing the positive, and leveraging our relationships and routines, folks will be better equipped to manage short-term stress and start progressing towards big picture goals.Utilizing those...

Since the Covid-19 outbreak we have all had to make adjustments so that we could cover our basic needs, care for our loved ones, and remain productive during quarantine. No matter how well you have adapted to these extraordinary circumstances, there is probably a part of you that feels like you’ve been just trying to get through the next day...

“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.” — Lou Holtz, Hall of Fame football coach As the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic continues, how we respond to it will determine how we beat it. Continued sacrifices range from everyone in the medical community working on the front lines to the thousands of truck drivers across our country keeping goods flowing, parents who currently homeschooling, and folks missing their family events to help stop the spread...

The coronavirus pandemic has put all our short-term needs front and center. Just getting through one week of virtual work meetings, grade school math lessons, and grocery shopping can be a challenge. If you're one of the millions of Americans struggling with income loss or unemployment, those daily to-dos can feel even more pressing. However, as the conversation starts shifting towards when and how to reopen the country, it's worth taking a few moments to broaden our perspective...

The tough times that global markets were experiencing due to the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) worsened this past weekend as a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia resulted in sharply declining oil prices. This combination of events is testing investors’ patience.We need to remember that it is fairly common for stocks to enter bear market territory, defined as a cumulative drop of 20% or more, without being in a recession. In fact, market drops are often more fueled by the fears of

Happy New Year! What a difference a year makes. One year ago the stock market was plunging and came perilously close to ending what has become the longest bull market ever recorded. In December 2018, dropping stocks were suggesting an increased risk that a recession, or market crisis, might be on the horizon. Confidence in investing fundamentals coupled with attractive stock valuations helped keep a focus on long-term investing objectives in the face of short-term volatility.

“The only money that’s really yours is the money you spend. Everything else goes to somebody else.” Teddy Chafolious That piggy bank we remember from childhood wasn’t just a place to store our birthday money and...

In a recent study, half of Americans said their expenses are equal to or greater than their income. 1 Revolving credit, particularly credit cards, is an increasingly significant part of the equation. According to the Federal Reserve...

April brings showers, baseball, and historically, the best month of the year for the S&P 500 Index (for the last 20 years). On top of that, the S&P 500 had its best first quarter since 1998, and in March we celebrated the 10-year...

If you are anything like me, you covered at least one or two topics over the Christmas and New Year’s break that you would have never guessed would come up. For me it was legacy/estate planning. This is often the last piece folks...

It’s a new year and resolutions are in place, but investors in the financial markets may be struggling to find their optimism. The past several weeks have been very difficult, as the stock market sell-off resulted in the worst...