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5 Ways a Financial Professional Could Be a Small-Business Owner's Best Friend
As a business owner, you may assume you do not need professional financial advice until you hit certain milestones such as $1 million in sales, having ten employees, or some other tangible measure. However, financial professionals may...
Read MoreWhy Save for Higher Education?
In 2021, 44.7 million Americans are facing the burden of student loan debt. They owe more than $1.53 trillion in student loans. These alarming statistics prove the importance of saving for higher education. In the past, many...
Read More3 Ways Planning For Retirement is Like Planning For Summer Break
For kids, teens, and college students, summer break often represents freedom from schedules, responsibilities, and all those other drains on your time. Retirement actually can provide a similar level of freedom, but only if you've...
Read More5 Homeowner Estate Planning Tips to Consider
Estate planning helps disperse your assets according to your wishes. The effort may seem daunting at first, but estate planning does not have to be overly complicated. With the proper planning, you may find yourself resting a little...
Read More529 Plans and Alternatives: Making an Educated Decision about Education Savings Options
Those that choose to invest in the education of a family member, friend or acquaintance are investing not only in that individual’s future, but also the future of society. It is an act of generosity, forward-thinking, and love....
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A Tough Times Survival Guide for Small Businesses
Small businesses may often find themselves struggling, and there are many situations in which business owners may find themselves weathering a storm and hoping to make it through. While the strength and fortitude of those who run small...
Read MoreHow to Stay Committed to Your Financial Goals
Setting healthy financial goals is critical. Even more important is staying committed to those financial goals.Keeping yourself committed to your goals may be difficult, especially when times may be financially tough. But by staying on...
Read MoreMoney Milestones: 4 Financial Goals for Older Individuals
If you saved for retirement for a while, you might look forward to a break from financial responsibility for the remaining portion of your life. But striving for economic betterment should not end when you hit retirement. You may...
Read MoreWhat We Take for Granted
Daily family life means the mortgage gets paid . . . clothes and groceries are bought . . . and summer vacations are taken with family and friends. All this is part of what many of us take for granted every day of the week. However,...
Read MoreMoney Matters: Financial Literacy For The Whole Family
Financial literacy is crucial, not only for adults but for everyone in the family. When you have a good foundation of financial literacy, you will have a greater understanding of money and prepare yourself for a brighter financial...
Read MoreVolunteering Tips for Families
So, you’re interested in volunteering as a family this season. That’s wonderful—and we commend you for your service! It’s always rewarding to donate your time to a charity that’s important to you.But...
Read More5 Ways to Improve Your Financial Awareness
Regardless of what you do or how much you earn, you deal with money on a daily basis. The more you understand about finances, the more effectively you will be able to manage yours.Yet, many people lack financial literacy skills. One...
Read More3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Claim Social Security
Planning for retirement is exciting, but it may come with a bit of stress. If you worked hard all your life, now might be the time to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor. One of the things that you may need to consider is when it...
Read MoreThe History of Mom-and-Pop Shops and How To Support Them Today
Mom-and-pop businesses have held a special place in the hearts of American consumers since the beginning of retail commerce in the USA. These family-owned, small businesses were America’s backbone before larger corporations began...
Read MoreCommon Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Credit
Having a good credit score doesn't just get you the best interest rates. It can also reduce your auto insurance premiums, allow you to avoid security deposits, and in some cases, even help you get hired.1But what goes into your credit...
Read MoreWomen’s History Month: Business Owners
Advice on starting and managing qualified and nonqualified retirement plans Women’s History Month has its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed and authorized a resolution and requested the President to...
Read MoreBuying Insurance: What Savvy Consumers Should Know
You're ready to buy an insurance policy, but you feel a bit uneasy embarking into the insurance world. After all, the language can be technical, and you're wary of insurance agents throwing sales pitches at you. Whether you're buying...
Read MoreTen Ways to Stretch Your Money
We all want more money, and many of us would like to work less, as well. This may seem like a dilemma, yet there is a solution. One way to increase money without working is to avoid spending it in the first place. Some people call this...
Read MoreLowering the Cost of Health Care
America's spending on health care is growing faster than the rest of the economy. What are the reasons for this, and what can you do to lower your health-care costs?Why is the cost of health insurance rising?The main reason for premium...
Read MoreEntrepreneurship and Financial Risk: What You Need to Know
Entrepreneurs tend to be natural risk-takers but this doesn't mean committing to uncompensated risk. A wise entrepreneur considers their potential exposure before leaping into a new business venture, moving forward only on those...
Read MoreWays to Support Black Business
As the call continues to come for following through on support of minority-owned businesses,[1] many are wondering how they may lend their support to black businesses. Whether through direct investment or community support, there are...
Read MoreSuggestions for Staying Safe Online from the IRS
Common sense tips to help children, teens and other vulnerable groups The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is helping families, teens and senior citizens learn about the continued importance of protecting personal information in helping...
Read MoreTax Prep Checklist: Everything You Need to Be Ready for Tax Season
Regardless of whether you prepare your taxes yourself or use a professional's services, it's a good idea to gather the information and documentation you need well in advance of your actual tax filing date. Below, we've listed some key...
Read MoreBe Your Most Organized Self This Year
A planner can be a game-changing tool—one that really causes you to not only plan for change, but to stick to it. It’s something you can go back to when you need a reminder of your daily tasks, long-term goals, or any...
Read MoreThe Importance of Financial Wellness
Financial wellness, like physical wellness, isn’t something you should ignore. Instead, it's a critical concept for anyone who wants to be knowledgeable and confident about their finances, and in fact, financial wellness is so...
Read More6 Hacks to Make New Year’s Resolutions Stick
Someone once told me that quitting smoking is easy. He had already done it a half-dozen times. The same can be said for many of the resolutions people make, whether it’s getting more exercise, eating right, or setting a...
Read MoreDeveloping a Dynamic Business Plan
A well-crafted business plan can be a blueprint for entrepreneurial confidence. This multifaceted tool is as important to established business owners looking to grow their companies as it is to budding entrepreneurs. A business...
Read MoreTips to Control Frenzied Holiday Spending
Take an organized approach to holiday shopping and actually enjoy it If advertisements and commercials are beginning to feature scenes of happy families, clad in brightly colored sweaters, gathered by a fire, surrounded by an...
Read MoreHelpful Tax Tips before Year End
Tax planning can be more advantageous when done during the year and well in advance of year’s end. Opportunities may exist for you to minimize tax liability, which could leave more income for you and/or your family...
Read MoreMost couples still make decisions together when they give money to charity
– but it’s becoming less commonThe big ideaWhile most U.S. couples make charitable giving decisions together, the share of joint decision-makers is declining, according to a study we published March 16. About 62% of...
Read MoreYear-End Donations and #GivingTuesday
A list of things to consider as you think about year-end charitable donations With its family traditions and festive celebrations, the holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year. And according to GivingTuesday.org, the...
Read MoreTips for Growing (and Preserving) Your Family Business
When you're first starting out with your own business, you're likely to be focused more on staying afloat than on contingency planning. But as your family business expands and grows, it's important to ensure that this is done in a...
Read MoreRetirement Planning—Options for Women Business Owners
You’re an entrepreneur and you’re not looking back. You’ve opened your own business, whether alone or with other partners, and you’ve found some success. You’ve hired employees, or not, depending on your...
Read MoreToo Good To Be True? 4 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Scams and How To Spot Them
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the greatest days to score deals for holiday shopping. Unfortunately, with amazing deals plentiful, some scammers use these days to take advantage of shoppers looking for the greatest bargains...
Read MoreAppropriate Checklists for Year-End Tax Planning
What are appropriate checklists for year-end tax planning?Tax planners often develop checklists to guide taxpayers toward year-end strategies that might help reduce taxes. Typically, suggestions are grouped into several different...
Read MoreFinancial Planning Tips for High-Earning Women
When it comes to saving for retirement, women may have extra challenges, even those with a higher-than-average income. For retirement planning, CNBC reports that women save less than men. The pandemic worsened matters, with more than 2...
Read MoreWomen and Estate Planning Basics
When it comes to estate planning, women have unique concerns. The fact is that women live an average of 5.0 years longer than men.* That's important because it means that there's a greater chance that you'll need your assets to last...
Read MoreFactors to Consider When Setting a Retirement Savings Goal
Many Americans realize the importance of saving for retirement, but knowing exactly how much they need to save is another issue altogether. With all the information available about retirement, it is sometimes difficult to decipher what...
Read More5 Key Steps To Help Women Strengthen Their Business and Their Retirement
As a female entrepreneur, you may face different challenges than your male counterparts. For example, women were disproportionately affected by the COVID pandemic. 1 They also tend to earn less than their male peers—largely in...
Read MoreCoping With Market Volatility in Uncertain Times
As the United States desperately tries to flatten the contagion curve for the coronavirus, many state governors have mandated the closure of an unprecedented number of businesses and issued stay-at-home orders to their citizens. The...
Read More3 Ways To Improve Your Finances for Self-Improvement Month
September is self-improvement month and a great time to work on your financial health. When you think of self-improvement, you likely think of your health or career but may pay little attention to your finances. Getting your financial...
Read MoreBusiness Women and Leadership: What Female Bosses May Teach Us
As more and more women assume leadership roles in businesses, it is changing the attitude and sometimes even the future of the workplace. Female bosses may teach business leaders a lot about engaging with employees, promoting their...
Read MoreNational Life Insurance Awareness Month
It’s also a good time to talk about the insurance crisis facing baby boomersBaby boomers’ huge numbers and surprisingly shaky health threaten government old-age benefits. That’s why you need to bolster your own...
Read MoreFiguring Out a 401(k) Strategy That Works for You
Matching your tolerance for risk with your investment objectivesEveryone wants a comfortable retirement, but the road you take there will depend on your specific situation. When you invest, you assume a certain level of risk (but like...
Read More5 Advantages Women Financial Professionals May Have Over Their Male Counterparts
Although some estimates show that 15 to 20% of all financial professionals are women, there is a growing demand for females in the financial services industry.1 In America, women control about $14 trillion in assets. A female financial...
Read MoreNonprofit Boards -New Challenges and Responsibilities
The days are long gone when nonprofit boards were made up of large donors who expected that little more would be asked of them beyond socializing at the occasional fundraiser. Being a board member can be as demanding and rewarding as...
Read More3 Investing Lessons For Beginners You Won't Learn In School
Twenty-one U.S. states, including Kentucky, Texas, and Virginia, require public schools to provide high school students with financial literacy courses.1 But even among the school systems that provide general financial...
Read MoreHelping Your Child Make the Transition from High School to College
Though you won't be able to ride along in your child's suitcase, there are ways you can help him or her make the adjustment to college. You can start by talking with your child about certain subjects before he or she leaves for college...
Read MoreA Place for Everything: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your Finances Organized
Have you ever found yourself scrambling for spare cash to send with your child for school lunch? Have you paid a late fee because you simply forgot when a bill was due? Have you woken up in a cold sweat trying to remember if you paid...
Read MoreTax Planning Tips: Disability Insurance
The income you receive from disability income insurance may or may not be taxable. The taxability of disability income insurance benefits depends on what type of benefits you receive, whether the premiums were paid with pretax or...
Read MoreFinancial Steps to Take If Your Spouse Dies First
Including this: don’t make big decisions within the first 6 months if possibleWhen a spouse dies, the emotional magnitude of the loss can send your life reeling. It can also affect your finances. You are pressured to do many...
Read MoreFinancial Planning Challenges and Strategies for the Sandwich Generation
Almost half of all adults are part of the "sandwich generation." These are adults in their 40s and 50s who are helping support or care for a parent while also supporting or caring for a child.1 Being caught between two generations of...
Read MoreTips for Women to Help Build Financial Independence
Every woman needs to balance her financial past with her financial futureTraditionally, women have been the caretakers of both the older and younger generations of their families. But providing care for family members is becoming...
Read MoreBuilding a Company without Adequate Insurance
It’s Risky Business Since you never know when a disaster may strike causing severe damage and disruption to your business operations, it is important to expect the unexpected and manage your risks accordingly. For that...
Read MoreFive Lessons To Remember During Bear Markets
The Stock Market has been trying to teach these lessons forever….The real value of a bear market may be that it gives investors, who are temporarily frozen within its grip, the opportunity to learn or relearn important lessons...
Read MoreWomen and Asset Protection - How Insurance Can Help
Women are successful professionals, business owners, and knowledgeable investors. At some point in their lives, women may have to manage their own finances due to divorce, widowhood, or remaining single.Every day, women face a variety...
Read More4 Economic Benefits of Homeownership
Even though housing prices throughout much of the U.S. are at or near all-time highs, there are still many distinct financial advantages to owning a home.1 From tax benefits to capital gains exclusions and guaranteed rates of return,...
Read More529 College Savings Plans: A Cheat Sheet for Common Questions
Whether your child was just born or is heading toward high school graduation, a 529 savings plan may help you put aside funds to pay for college expenses without paying taxes (federal and some states) on any dividends and gains.1...
Read MoreA Look at Your Portfolio Mix
With the onset of higher taxes, taxpayers in the upper brackets may want to reposition their portfolios. Even those in lower tax brackets may benefit from portfolio review and reallocation of funds. Consider the following: For a...
Read MoreSix Uses for Life Insurance You May Not Know About
When people think of life insurance, what usually comes to mind is settling the deceased's final expenses and providing financial support for their beneficiaries. Although these are the most common uses of life insurance, cash value,...
Read MoreWomen - What You Should Know When Starting a Business
Many businesses start small, begun by people seeking the exciting and potentially rewarding experience of "being their own boss" while doing something they enjoy. If you're thinking about starting your own business, you'll need a sound...
Read MoreHow to Beat the Retirement Blues
Retirement is an exciting change in your life, but not one that doesn't come with some ups and downs. When you no longer have as much responsibility for family and the daily challenges of work, it’s likely you may feel blue from...
Read MoreBridging the Gap: How Close are We to Achieving Pay Equality?
Although women make up nearly half the labor force, on average, women still tend to earn less than their male counterparts even in like positions and with like skills. In the past five years, women have earned on average 80 cents for...
Read MoreQuestions to Ask A Prospective Financial Professional
What to look for and what’s not important If you are shopping for a financial professional, you need a good checklist of questions to ask. What you are looking for is someone who handles clients like you – and who is...
Read MoreFour Things Women Need to Know about Social Security
Ever since a legal secretary named Ida May Fuller received the first retirement benefit check in 1940, women have been counting on Social Security to provide much-needed retirement income. Social Security provides other important...
Read MoreInvest in Your Financial Education During Financial Literacy Month
April brings more than possible rain showers. It also marks Financial Literacy Month in the U.S. Whether you’re interested in a quick refresher or seeking to learn something new, it may be worth the effort to brush up on some...
Read MoreWill Infrastructure Investment Pave the Way to a Stronger Economy?
In November 2021, Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a roughly $1 trillion package that reauthorized existing programs and provided more than $550 billion in new funding over the next five years to help upgrade...
Read MoreHere’s How to Get a Faster Refund This Tax Season
With delays in tax returns over the past couple of years, as the IRS tries to catch up from the backlog and recover from shutdowns, many people are anxious to get their tax returns as fast as possible. Whether you need your return to...
Read MoreCredit Education Month: 4 Ways to Boost Your Credit IQ
March is National Credit Education Month in the U.S., which makes it the perfect opportunity to brush up on your credit basics.1 Whether you're a credit novice or well-versed in the art of the FICO score, below are four ways to...
Read MoreBuyer Beware: 4 Educational Tips for National Consumer Protection Week
This year's National Consumer Protection Week is March 6th through March 12th. It's a time to educate people about their rights as consumers and how to make informed decisions about their money. Whether it's taking a hard look at your...
Read MoreAmerica’s Changing Vision of Retirement
Retirement planning is a primary reason for long-term saving, and when people think about retirement, finances are often the focus. However, it is important to also look at the nonfinancial aspects of transitioning from the world of...
Read MoreBuilding a Strong Financial Foundation
Today, many people are concerned about saving for retirement or paying for a large ticket item, such as a child’s college education. If you belong to this group, now may be the time to organize your finances. It is never too...
Read MoreSupport These Black-Owned Home-Based Businesses
February is Black History Month, which is a time to celebrate achievements by those of Black or African American heritage and recognize their central role in United States history. While it is important to celebrate Black History in...
Read MoreRMD Roundup: A Few Key Updates About Required Minimum Distributions
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Beware Scams at Tax Time
Identity theft runs rampant during tax season Here’s what to know and how to protect yourself. Identity thieves often swipe your bank or credit card account numbers, birth date information or Social Security Number (SSN) to steal...
Read MoreFive Healthy Habits for Financial Wellness
Financial stress can have a direct negative impact on a person's health and happiness. Unfortunately, this may lead to a downward spiral. The more stress you're feeling, the larger your financial hurdles may seem, and the more you...
Read MoreTax Prep Checklist: Everything You Need to Be Ready for Tax Season
Regardless of whether you prepare your taxes yourself or use a professional's services, it's a good idea to gather the information and documentation you need well in advance of your actual tax filing date. Below, we've listed some key...
Read MoreFive Wealth-Building New Year's Resolutions
At the beginning of each year, and regularly after that, it may be a wise idea to take stock of finances and make some changes to help improve your financial life. Here are five resolutions you may make to increase financial...
Read MoreManaging Risk with Diversification
When you first considered investing, it probably seemed like a good idea to focus heavily on what worked best for you from the beginning. If stocks from a particular company brought you high yields, why not double up on your original...
Read MoreHelpful Tax Tips before Year End
Tax planning can be more advantageous when done during the year and well in advance of year’s end. Opportunities may exist for you to minimize tax liability, which could leave more income for you and/or your family. Generally,...
Read MoreLPL Research Outlook 2022: Passing the Baton
LPL Research Outlook 2022: Passing the Baton is designed to help you navigate the risks and opportunities over the rest of 2021 and beyond. While the economy continues to move forward, we’re still feeling some aftershocks of...
Read More3 Estate Planning Strategies You Should Consider Now
Today's low interest rates are a far cry from the double-digit rates seen in the 1970s and 1980s when even a certificate of deposit (CD) could yield up to 20 percent per year.1 But there are some distinct advantages to a...
Read MoreA Season of Giving: 5 Different Ways To Give During the Holidays
With the holidays here, now is the time to get into the giving spirit and help to change others' lives for the better. Whether you are looking to make a difference in a specific person's life or the life of many, there are many ways to...
Read MoreA Financial Review Can Pay Off at Year End
Today, many people find themselves bombarded by a constant stream of financial news from television, radio, and the Internet. Yet, does all this “information age” data really help you manage your finances any better now...
Read MoreAdvancing Tax Proposals Put Corporations and High-Income Individuals in Spotlight
On Saturday, September 25, 2021, the House Budget Committee voted to advance a $3.5 trillion spending package to the House floor for debate. The House Ways and Means Committee and the Joint Committee on Taxation had previously released...
Read MoreEntrepreneurship and Financial Risk: What You Need to Know
Entrepreneurs tend to be natural risk-takers but this doesn't mean committing to uncompensated risk. A wise entrepreneur considers their potential exposure before leaping into a new business venture, moving forward only on those...
Read MoreCan You Spot the Scam? Common Financial Fraud Warning Signs
Many people are familiar with the scammers who promise to pay millions of dollars in exchange for briefly holding funds in your bank account or those who offer to enhance certain body parts risk-free. Today's scammers are clever at...
Read MoreFive Things You Need To Know About Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-term care insurance is a type of insurance that covers the costs related to long-term, chronic health concerns. It may cover things that traditional health insurance does not cover, such as personal care services. If you have a...
Read MoreCybersecurity Awareness: What You Need to Know
October 2021 marks the 18th Cybersecurity Awareness Month—and cybercrime continues to evolve.1 Though you may not get as many emails promising bodily enhancements or asking you to keep some overseas funds in your checking account...
Read MoreResources for Women-Owned Small Businesses
Small businesses face many problems related to their size, capital, and capability, and for women-owned small businesses, the challenge is sometimes even greater. The good news is there are many professional organizations out there...
Read MoreAlternative Savings Options: When You Already Have A Knack for Budgeting and Saving
If you've moved beyond basic financial advice—live below your means and set aside funds for a rainy day—you may be wondering what to actually do with these rainy-day funds. With inflation on the rise, keeping excess cash in...
Read More3 Financial Planning Steps
Organization, efficiency and discipline can be considered as three primary steps of financial planning. Organization is knowing where your money comes and goes. An efficient portfolio means working towards a better chance of profits,...
Read MoreA Growing Trend: Women Entrepreneurs
The business landscape is continually changing—technological advances, corporate downsizing, restructuring, and telecommuting have reshaped the marketplace. Although these improvements and modifications have a great impact...
Read MoreJust Married: Newlywed Estate Planning Cheat Sheet
You’re already sharing a life, now it’s time to share some important info to get your matrimonial journey off to a great start. Congrats on your recent nuptials! Now that you’ve said the vows and enjoyed a relaxing...
Read MoreWealth Preservation in America: Portfolios Including Alternative Types of Investments
After the financial crisis, and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans examined how and why they invest. Many investors that had their entire wealth tied to the stock market proved to be more destructive than having alternative...
Read MoreWhy Invest?
To accumulate wealth, people may choose to invest their money into various types of investments. Investing creates opportunities that otherwise would be difficult to manage due to the consistency of contributing to the investment....
Read MoreChoosing a Retirement Plan for Your Business
You’re an entrepreneur and you’re not looking back. You’ve opened your own business, whether alone or with partners, and you’ve achieved success. Now you’re thinking about retirement, not just for you, but...
Read MoreHow to Get Your House Back-to-School Ready
Back-to-school time is notably hectic. From scrambling to buy supplies to adjusting your internal clock, it can feel like you’re being pulled in a hundred different directions. However, if you get your house in order beforehand,...
Read MoreIs It Time For A 5% Pullback?
Monday’s big down day was a harsh reminder of how markets actually can produce volatility. It was the worst day of the year for the Dow and only the second drop of 1% or more for the S&P 500 Index in just over two months. As we...
Read MoreMid-Year Outlook 2021: Picking Up Speed
LPL Research Midyear Outlook 2021: Picking Up Speed is designed to help you navigate the risks and opportunities over the rest of 2021 and beyond. While the speed can be exhilarating as economic growth accelerates, it can also be...
Read MoreSocial Wellness: What is It and Why is it Important?
Social wellness refers to the relationships you have and how you interact with others. It involves building and maintaining positive, supportive relationships and fostering meaningful connections. If you prioritize becoming socially...
Read MoreThe Sandwich Generation: A growing U.S. Concern
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...
Read MoreFive Factors that Impact Your Retirement
Retirement can be a risky business if you don’t consider all the factors that can impact your retirement during your planning process. Although it’s hard to know what will happen in the future to you or your investments,...
Read MoreStocks Are Going Streaking
To quote the great Frank the Tank from Old School, “We’re going streaking!” Although Frank had another idea, stocks have been streaking in some historic ways, both near-term and longer-term. Let’s start with the...
Read MoreThe Best Money-Saving Travel Tips for 2021
If 2020 made you fantasize about a trip as soon as travel restrictions were lifted—and you’re still waiting—you aren’t alone. Although 2021 was poised to be a comeback year, it is shaping up to be another summer...
Read MoreWhat It's Like To Send a Child to College
Sending a child to college for the first time can be a stressful transition for any parent. Even though your child is legally an adult (or almost an adult) by the time they head out on their own, a parent's worries about health, safety...
Read MoreThe Fed Calms Rate Hike Worries
The Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) has been doing all they can the past few days to calm the fears over last week’s hawkish Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. Fed Chair Jerome Powell testified to Congress that inflation is...
Read MoreWhy Inflation Worries Likely Just Peaked
As nearly everyone knows by now, inflation has soared the past few months, with the May Consumer Price Index (CPI) coming in at 5.0% year-over-year, the highest since 2008, while the core CPI (excluding energy and food) was 3.8%, the...
Read MoreJune Swoon?
Although there was some notable weakness in the middle of May, the S&P 500 Index was able to rally late in the month to finish with a modest gain. Incredibly, this was the eighth year out of the past nine that stocks gained during in...
Read MoreThree Things Investors Can Learn From Phil Mickelson’s Win
Congrats to Phil Mickelson on his amazing victory on Sunday at the PGA Championship at the age of 50, officially the oldest person to ever win a golf major championship. This was Lefty’s 6th major victory, leaving him just a win...
Read MoreHelping Young Adults Understand Insurance
Young adults starting out in life, especially newlyweds, need insurance. But what kind? As a start, a good term life policy likely is a smart move. Other types of insurance may not be. And as they age, what other varieties of coverage...
Read MoreBuying a Home
There's no doubt about it--owning a home is an exciting prospect. After all, you've always dreamed of having a place that you could truly call your own. But buying a home can be stressful, especially when you're buying one for the...
Read MoreWhere to Invest with Higher Inflation
Inflation is all the rage after last week’s much hotter than expected inflation numbers. Our base case remains that this period of higher inflation will be transitory, as many of the forces that have kept a lid on inflation over...
Read MoreWhat Should Grandparents Know About 529 Savings Accounts?
Grandparents can often find themselves in a better financial position to save for their grandchildren's education than their own children are. The parents of prospective students may still be contending with competing priorities like...
Read More5 Investment Considerations for Small Business Owners
If you're a small business owner, many of the best practices employed by individual investors are also available to you (of course!), but you also have some additional options and factors to weigh while creating your investment plans....
Read MoreHot Inflation Data Jolts Investors
For nearly a year, investors have had the late spring/early summer months circled on their calendars for a potential jump in inflation. Base effects from rolling off weak data a year ago held the promise of eye-popping year-over-year...
Read MoreHow to Stay Committed to Your Financial Goals
Setting healthy financial goals is critical. Even more important is staying committed to those financial goals. Keeping yourself committed to your goals may be difficult, especially when times may be financially tough. But by staying...
Read MoreLet’s Talk About Stocks And Higher Taxes
“Our new Constitution is now established, everything seems to promise it will be durable; but, in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes,” Benjamin Franklin First off, we hope everyone has a happy and safe...
Read MoreEnd of Recession Call May Come Soon
Incredibly, the COVID recession may have ended a year ago, but we still don’t have call from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). That may when the first estimate of Q1 2021 gross domestic product (GDP) growth is...
Read MoreWhat Happens After The First Rate Hike?
“Don’t fight the Fed.” Old investment saying One of the popular questions we’ve received lately is what do stocks do after the first rate hike? Let’s be clear, we think the Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) will...
Read MoreFour Reasons The Future Looks Bright For The Bulls
“I look to the future because that’s where I’m going to spend the rest of my life.” George Burns The bull market continues, with the S&P 500 Index now up more than 10% in 2021. With stocks up more than 80% from...
Read MoreBest Business Conditions of the 21st Century
The United States, and the rest of the world, are looking to emerge from the shadow of COVID-19, and business conditions may already have put the pandemic in the rear-view mirror—at least according to the monthly business surveys...
Read MoreThere's Still Time to Contribute to an IRA for 2020
Even though tax filing season is well under way, there's still time to make a regular IRA contribution for 2020. You have until your tax return due date (not including extensions) to contribute up to $6,000 for 2020 ($7,000 if you were...
Read MoreEight Key Facts to Know About Social Security
A whopping 70 percent of adults in their 20s through 50s fear that the Social Security program might be reduced or eliminated by the time they retire, and don’t know what to expect.1 It's important for all adults to be informed...
Read MoreApril is Financial Literacy Month
April is National Financial Literacy Month – an entire month dedicated to underscoring the importance of learning, establishing and maintaining healthy financial habits. But ask yourself this: what have you learned about anything...
Read MoreStocks and Inflation
As we continue LPL Research’s Inflation Week, today we will examine how stocks have historically done at different inflation levels. For more color on our views on inflation, please read here and here, and look out for...
Read MoreLPL Market Signals: 4 Things That Really Matter For Stocks in 2021
March is here and with it comes some Madness! In our recent Market Signals video, LPL Financial Chief Market Strategist Ryan Detrick and Equity Strategist Jeff Buchbinder discuss four things that matter the most for stocks in the LPL...
Read MoreHistoric Surge for the Energy Sector
The energy sector has certainly been on a wild ride over the course of the past year, perhaps the wildest of all of the S&P 500 sectors. The outbreak of the pandemic in 2020 caused such a demand shock that oil futures traded for a...
Read MoreCommon Retirement Investment Mistakes
Only one-in-four Americans (27%) feel very confident that they will have enough money to live comfortably when they retire, according to the 2020 Retirement Confidence Survey Summary Report.11 While the number is up slightly from the...
Read MoreTips for Tax Preparation
In 2020, the government gave taxpayers an automatic six-month extension due to the coronavirus. Individuals who were affected by the damaging wildfires were also given additional time to meet most tax deadlines. However, in 2021, the...
Read MoreStimulus Matters: Retail Sales Rebound Big in January
The US economy had a tumultuous year in 2020, to say the least, and after rebounding strongly in the third quarter, the holiday surge in COVID-19 cases increased the risk that the economy may stumble heading into the new year. The...
Read MoreKey Tax Deadlines for 2021
While the 2020 tax year saw some significant changes to filing deadlines due to the effects of the global pandemic, the 2021 tax season seems to be set to be on track with normal filing deadlines. With the pandemic still in sight, it...
Read MoreWhy Bulls Will Like The Year Of The Ox
“Bulls make money, bears make money, and pigs get slaughtered.” Old Wall Street saying. The Chinese New Year (often called the Lunar New Year) will kick off Friday, February 12, and with it will begin the Year of the Ox....
Read MoreShould Investors Root For Tom Brady Or Patrick Mahomes?
The Super Bowl Indicator suggests stocks rise for the full year when the Super Bowl winner has come from the original National Football League (now the NFC), but when an original American Football League (now the AFC) team has won,...
Read MoreHow Stocks Perform in a President’s First Year
2021 kicks off the first year of a new four-year presidential cycle. One of the most popular questions we’ve received lately is how have stocks performed historically during this political year. For starters, the S&P 500 Index...
Read MoreStocks Open Higher
Market Signals Covers It All This week’s Market Signals podcast covers all the latest events impacting markets and the economy: Q4 earnings, a new stimulus proposal, the Democratic blue wave, and President-elect Joe Biden’s...
Read MoreSmall Business Optimism Falls to Recovery Low
Rising COVID-19 cases and concern about the policy environment put a dent in small business optimism in the month of December, the index’s second straight monthly decline. As shown in the LPL Chart of the Day, the National...
Read MoreBuying Your First Home for Millennials and Gen Z
If you are a Millennial or Gen-Zer, buying your first home is likely one of the top priorities on your list. While you may know that you are ready for a house, you may be wondering what considerations you need to make before getting...
Read MoreTax Identity Theft Awareness - Protecting Yourself from Tax Identity Theft
Tax identity theft is when someone steals your Social Security Number, files a tax return with your number, and directs a refund to their own bank account. In other cases, this type of identity theft may involve a scam artist calling...
Read MoreTips for Organizing Your Financial Documents
In an increasingly paper-free society, organizing your financial documents can still be a challenge. No matter how simple or complex your financial picture might be, it takes some thought-out organization to keep your tax documents,...
Read More2020 in 20 Charts
Well, we can officially say goodbye to 2020. Although there still will be many challenges in 2021, we do see much better times ahead. Just how amazing was it? “2020 will go down in history as the first year to ever be down 30% at...
Read MoreNew Year's Resolutions to Get Your Finances in Order
New Year's is traditionally the time to review your life and make resolutions for change. In addition to thinking about working out, eating healthy, and meeting personal and professional goals, you should also think about your finances...
Read MoreHousing Data Continues to Surge
For many economic data series, 2020 has been a roller coaster. Not for housing, however. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures jump-started the “nesting” behavioral shift away from urban...
Read MoreChart of the Year
Stocks continue to surprise to the upside, with the Russell 2000 Index (small caps) and the Nasdaq making new all-time highs on Tuesday. The S&P 500 Index, a chip shot from new highs, already has made 30 new highs so far this year....
Read MoreOutlook 2021: The Bull Market in Stocks Continues
Tuesday, we released our 2021 market views in Outlook 2021: Powering Forward. We are extremely proud of this report and we can’t wait to hear your feedback! As we explain in Outlook 2021, we anticipate a strong earnings rebound...
Read MoreOutlook 2021: Powering Forward
More than most years, it’s hard to look ahead to the next year, to 2021, without looking back at 2020. A global pandemic, a massive economic collapse, a bear market, a surprisingly sharp reversal, a hotly contested election where...
Read MoreWhat Tax Harvesting Is and Why You Should Care About It?
One way to help boost returns without incurring any extra risk is called tax harvesting, which sounds a lot more difficult than it truly is. Simply put, it is the sale of securities at a loss in an effort to offset the capital gains...
Read More3 Tips to Manage Year-End Tax Liability
With the end of the tax year fast approaching, you may want to find ways to minimize your tax liability. Implementing one or more of the simple strategies discussed below may allow you to hold on to more of your earnings, potentially...
Read MoreBig Gains In November Steal From Santa
What a month November was! Here are some of the highlights: Best month for Dow since January 1987 (11.9%) and best November since 1928 Best month ever for the STOXX 600 (16.7%) Best month ever for the Russell 2000 (18.3%) Best month...
Read More30,000 Reasons To Be Thankful
As 2020 winds down, it has been an extremely tough year on all of us. Still, there are many reasons to be thankful and today we will share some reasons investors should be thankful. Stocks have had one of the largest reversals ever in...
Read MoreTop Year-End Investment Tips
Just what you need, right? One more time-consuming task to be taken care of between now and the end of the year. But taking a little time out from the holiday chores to make some strategic saving and investing decisions before...
Read MoreYear-End 2020 Tax Tips
Here are some things to consider as you weigh potential tax moves before the end of the year. Defer income to next year Consider opportunities to defer income to 2021, particularly if you think you may be in a lower tax bracket then....
Read MoreEarnings Rebound Picking up Speed
Third quarter earnings season has been outstanding relative to expectations by many measures. Some of the highlights: S&P 500 Index earnings are tracking to a 7.5% year-over-year decline, as shown in the LPL Chart of the Day, more than...
Read MoreEnd of Year Planning: Set Goals and Reduce Taxes
By the last third of the calendar year, you're likely to have a pretty good idea of what your annual income will be and whether any major expenses or big life changes await you. This can allow you to engage in more robust tax planning,...
Read More2 Post-Election Charts You Need to See
The election is over, but the questions are mounting. We don’t know who will be the next president as of Wednesday morning, but we do know that stocks tend to do well the final two months of an election year. “Once the...
Read MoreThe Best Day Of The Year Is This Week
With the election only six days away and earnings season in full swing, stocks have bucked the usual October weakness during election years so far in 2020 (Monday’s losses notwithstanding). The good news is this could continue,...
Read MoreWhat Should Women Entrepreneurs Know About Small Business Grants?
One of the biggest challenges for any new business involves maintaining liquidity and consistent cash flow. Many entrepreneurs take only a minimal salary—if any at all—during the first few years their business operates,...
Read MoreStocks After a Reelection
Now that we have your attention with that eye-grabbing title, there’s definitely something to the idea that stocks perform better the year after a sitting president wins reelection. “Think about it—usually when a...
Read MoreMedicare Open Enrollment for 2021 Begins October 15
The annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period is the time during which Medicare beneficiaries can make new choices and pick plans that work best for them. Each year, Medicare plan costs and coverage typically change. In addition, your...
Read MoreThe Market’s Mixed Election Signals
With Election Day just under a month away and voting already taking place in many states, it is still anyone’s guess who will win on November 3. With all of the noise surrounding the election, we prefer to focus on the signals...
Read MoreWhat Worked In Q3
Stocks fared well during the third quarter despite September’s weakness, with the S&P 500 Index returning about 9%. The quarterly gain brought the return through the first nine months of the year to 5.6%. Here we peel back the...
Read MoreWhat to Know About Working With a Financial Professional
If you've been wondering how to optimize your finances and ensure your money continues to work for you, a financial professional may be able to help. But the thought of turning over your most sensitive financial information to a...
Read MoreHow Corporate Bond Spreads Respond to Equity Market Volatility
An old Wall Street adage says bond markets are smarter than equity markets, so when stocks encounter volatility, investors often look to the bond market for clues about the potential severity of equity market weakness. The...
Read More6 Months From the Low
On March 23, 2020, the S&P 500 Index closed down 2.9% for the day, bringing its total loss from its all-time high to 33.9%. The index was in the midst of its fastest bear market ever. A day earlier, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo had...
Read MoreNational Life Insurance Awareness Month
Should you really consider getting life insurance when you are close to 60? September is National Life Insurance Awareness month. And while most of us likely recognize that life insurance provides us peace of mind and security, there...
Read MoreHow to Protect Your Wealth as You Get Older
As you get older and closer to retirement, your financial practices need to shift slightly as you transition from working and saving to relying on your nest egg. As you approach this stage of your life, you need to take steps to...
Read MoreHow Financial Planning Helps You Work Towards Your Self-Improvement Goals
Many self-improvement goals focus on stability and personal growth — and financial goals are often no different. From buying your first home to saving for retirement, planning your finances can also help you work toward your...
Read MoreRetails Sales Shifting to Slower Growth
Retail sales rose 0.6% month over month in August following July’s downwardly revised 0.9% advance, but sales fell short of Bloomberg’s consensus expectation for a 1% increase. The retail sales control group, which excludes...
Read MoreTeaching Money Mindfulness to Your Children
At some point in a child's development, all parents wonder: how can I best teach my child the value of money? Parents who grew up in more modest circumstances than their own children can struggle to balance the desire to provide their...
Read More401k Planning: 5 Questions to Ask
When was the last time you took steps to optimize your 401k? If it's been a while, you're not alone. Research indicates that only one in three Americans utilize employer-sponsored 401k retirement accounts; even those who are...
Read More5 Lessons Learned About Rising Rates
While the direction of the 10-year Treasury yield over the last cycle was decidedly lower, as shown in LPL’s Chart of the Day, there were still six extended periods where it rose at least 0.75%, and in two of those it rose almost...
Read More3 Charts To Watch If You Are Bullish
The S&P 500 Index just closed the door on its best August since 1986, making new all-time highs along the way, while also closing up five months in a row. First things first, make no mistake about it; this is a new bull market. That of...
Read MoreThree Tips for Planning Your Income in Retirement
If you've been diligently saving for your retirement, you may often find yourself wondering when you can afford to set an official retirement date. The answer to this question can often depend on how much monthly or annual income your...
Read MoreCountdown to Retirement: Strategies for Saving in Your 50's
Strategies for saving in your 50s Many retirees today are redefining the “golden years.” Forget about endless days of leisure. Retirees seek adventure, travel, and new business pursuits. While these changes may redefine...
Read More5 Charts To See With Stocks At New Highs
“Better late than never.” It took a while, but the S&P 500 Index finally made a new all-time high, coming all the way back from the vicious 34% bear market in less than six months. View enlarged chart. It might bring back...
Read MorePlanning Your Distributions After Retirement
When it comes to retirement planning, much ado is made of how much to save. But often, the real difference lies in shrewd distribution planning. By withdrawing funds from certain account types in a certain order, you might...
Read MoreHow to Make Savings Last Longer in Retirement
Whether you dream of a travel-filled retirement or would prefer to relax and enjoy spending more time at home, you're probably wondering what you can do to make your golden years as stress-free as possible. For many who have spent the...
Read More4 Charts That Will Amaze You
The S&P 500 Index is a few points away from a new all-time high, completing one of the fastest recoveries from a bear market ever. But this will also seal the deal on the shortest bear market ever. Remember, the S&P 500 Index lost 20%...
Read More529 College Savings Plans
529 savings plans are tax-advantaged education savings vehicles and one of the most popular ways to save for college today. They can also be used to save for K-12 tuition. Much like the way 401(k) plans changed the world of retirement...
Read MoreMarket Update
Stocks opened higher. US stock markets opened in the green, with the Nasdaq reaching its 30th new record high of 2020. Investors are focusing on positive earnings reports, developments on the COVID-19 relief bill, vaccine progress, and...
Read MoreSaving for College
There's no denying the benefits of a college education: the ability to compete in today's job market, increased earning power, and expanded horizons. But these advantages come at a price. And yet, year after year, thousands of...
Read MoreWhat You Should Know About Contributing to an IRA at Every Age
A traditional IRA offers a great way to shield income from taxation while boosting your retirement accounts. Meanwhile, a Roth IRA can let you pay tomorrow's taxes today. But how can workers who are eligible to contribute to either...
Read MoreStreet View: Midyear Outlook 2020
LPL Research released our Midyear Outlook 2020 last week, discussing the path of the eventual economic and market recovery. What makes this year so incredible is, as of July 21, the S&P 500 Index moved positive for the year....
Read MoreFive workplace trends will shape life after lockdown
We are experiencing the biggest remote work experiment in history – but many are beginning to imagine life after lockdown. Amid unprecedented global job losses, concerns about transport infrastructure and the continuing need for...
Read MoreWhat to Consider Before Making Major Purchases
Many people who diligently seek out money-saving discounts on smaller purchases may still find themselves inadvertently overspending by thousands on major purchases. Over time, this type of large-scale overspending may cut into your...
Read MoreOutlook 2020: The Trail to Recovery
AT THE MIDPOINT of 2020, we’re mindful that it’s been an extremely challenging year so far in the United States and around the globe. We’re in the midst of a pandemic that continues to impact all of us, our...
Read MoreTaking Stock at the Halfway Mark
It’s certainly been a wild ride for stocks in 2020. Barely past the halfway point, the year has already brought the worst pandemic to hit the US in over 100 years, an unprecedented government-induced recession as much of the...
Read MoreRetail Sales Beat Shows Consumers Coming Back Strong
COVID-19 has decimated global demand as lockdowns materially re-shaped consumer and business behavior. Even as states have begun to re-open, significant questions remain about how demand could recover. The May retail sales print...
Read MoreHelping to Care for Aging Parents
Many adults are finding that their aging parents are in need of health care assistance. Luckily, there are many options available today to help your parents grow old gracefully, either in their own home or in a facility, and several...
Read More10 Year Yield Breaks Out
US equities continued to gain ground in May, with the S&P 500 Index advancing an additional 4.5%. However, Treasury yields have been remarkably stable since the equity markets bottomed on March 23, with the 10-year Treasury yield...
Read MoreWomen, Money, and Today's Retirement
Despite all of the other advances made in our society in recent generations, women continue to face unique challenges when it comes to preparing for their financial futures. Recognizing the Shortfalls For starters, women on average...
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