Blog

What’s on our mind? You can read about it in our blog. Whether it’s ideas from the industry or emerging trends, you can read about it here. And once in a while, we may throw in a movie review or some other surprise. So keep checking in. We’re glad to have you reading along.

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

In celebration of the achievements of Black Americans and their integral role in our nation’s history, here are eight Black wealth builders we believe should be remembered. These individuals deserve recognition for their...

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Summer travel is picking up this year. If you’re headed to Europe, you may notice that you get more bang for your buck.Why is that?For the first time in almost 20 years, the U.S. dollar and the euro have reached parity. Souvenirs...

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

What would you do with a windfall? It’s a question I’ve read or heard a lot lately. Considering the Mega Millions jackpot has now grown to $1.02 billion, it’s safe to say most of us have thought about what it would be...

Friday, July 29, 2022

In just a matter of time, you will be throwing your sweaters into storage, saying “goodbye” to winter, and giving summer a huge, warm welcome. Unfortunately, the last little bit of winter is typically...

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

At the risk of slowing economic growth, the Fed has driven short-term rates higher to rein in inflation. But it’s a tricky proposition.Raise rates too much, and you may trigger a recession. Don’t raise rates enough, and you...

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Tuesday, July 26, 2022

There are so many ways to be a small business owner without making jewelry or specialty jam. If you’re a photographer, nail artist, or social media guru, you’re operating a “service-based business...

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

In any business, it is critical that you know who your ideal client is. Failing to know who your ideal client is often where entrepreneurs go wrong.It is often a very transitional moment when business owners first discover who their...

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

With half the year behind us, now is a great time to consider what the remainder of 2022 may hold. However, with inflation and economic uncertainty causing many of us to delay or cancel vacations, large purchases, and more, it can be...

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

There are a lot of perks to being single, such as making all your own decisions without the need to consult anyone else, and having full control over your financial choiceSpend Less Than You MakeWhether you are single or married,...

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Thursday, March 24, 2022

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Thursday, March 10, 2022

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Friday, March 4, 2022

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Saturday, February 26, 2022

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Friday, February 18, 2022

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Tuesday, January 4, 2022

The process of rebuilding your credit can take months or even years following a divorce, but it can also be an important step in rebuilding your life. For many, the ways divorce can impact your finances can be crippling, and...

Sunday, January 2, 2022

January is "International Wealth Mentality Month," a time to remind people to make arrangements for their financial strategy. For me, it’s time for me to connect with new clients and discuss their financial situation and...

Friday, December 24, 2021

Wishing you and your loved ones a warm and joyful Christmas. May your holiday celebrations be filled with good cheer, wonderful surprises, and memories to last a lifetime.

Thursday, December 23, 2021

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Your parents need your help right now, and so do your adult kids. But what about saving for your own retirement? If you’re stressed and stretched, it’s time to prioritize. Here’s where to start: Squashed, spread too...

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

For many of us, Christmas is our favorite time of year, but it can also be rough on your budget. With lots of gifts to buy, parties to attend, and seasonal events, the expenses seem to pile up in a hurry. According to the National...

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Thanksgiving is almost here: a time to enjoy friends, family, great food, and maybe a whole lot of football. As we give thanks for what we have received and celebrate the triumphs in our lives, we are continuing a tradition that has...

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Over the last year, many have seen their lives impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ways in which we work, live, and communicate have drastically changed, to say the least. It’s difficult to predict what other aspects of life...

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

In the next three to four decades, baby boomers will transfer $30 trillion in assets to their heirs. So chances are good that you may inherit money at some point in your lifetime. But if you are fortunate enough to receive an...

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

I want to take a moment to wish you a Happy Diwali. As you celebrate the triumph of light over darkness this fall, I hope you and your loved ones delight in abundant joy and good fortune. May the divine light of Diwali spread into...

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Many may think financial planning is only needed for wealthy investors with complex needs, but the reality is a financial plan is something that can help everyone — not just the wealthy. And your workplace may be able to help...

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

While the world has begun to recover from the economic disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, the delayed reaction has been felt in the supply chain. Industrial shutdowns around the world slowed production to a relative crawl, leaving...

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

WHAT IS FINANCIAL MINDFULNESS AND HOW CAN IT BENEFIT YOU? At its core, financial mindfulness helps you make strategic rather than emotional choices about your money so that you feel less anxious about your finances. But rather than...

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Plan for tomorrow, today.That seems like sensible advice, doesn't it? Yet a surprising number of people leave no estate plan in place for their survivors. It makes a certain amount of sense. Nobody likes talking about death. But this...

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

car insuranceIf you’re in the market for a new (or new-to-you) vehicle, you may be in for a bit of sticker-shock. According to Kelley Blue Book, the average price of a new car purchased in June of 2021 was around $42k, 6.4...

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Will your retirement dreams match your reality? That's perhaps the most critical question to ask people who are currently retired. Was your retirement what you expected, or was it something else? For more than 30 years, the Employee...

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Any time you change jobs, you’ll have paperwork to fill out, new routines to learn—and financial choices to make. What should you do with previous 401(k) balances, health savings accounts, and more? Use our step-by-step...

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

If you’ve got debt, you’re not alone. The average American has about $80,000 in debt, excluding home mortgages. But unexpected or unplanned debt such as medical bills or credit card balances can be a tipping point into...

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

It’s a harsh reality of modern retirement planning: Women live on average five years longer than men, yet they accumulate less for retirement. According to the 2019 Bank of America Merrill Lynch Workplace Benefits Report, women...

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Many White Americans are retiring earlier than planned because they can afford to. But for Black Americans, health problems or disabilities are more likely to force them to stop working prematurely. That’s one of the findings of...

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Did you know that one in four parents in the United States is single?1 In fact, 19.6 million children are being raised by single parents.2 Most single-parent households (81 percent) are led by moms, but quite a few (19 percent) are led...

Tuesday, August 10, 2021

If your finances are not where you would like them to be, what can you do about it? April is Financial Literacy Month. This is a great time to start picking up the pieces and learn how to rebuild with confidence. After all, a little...

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

If there is one financial lesson Americans have taken away from the pandemic, it's that they need to plan for their financial future. And according to research by Lincoln Financial Group, that message could not have been clearer for...

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

If you never worry about money, please go ahead and delete this email. If you’re still reading, perhaps you (like me) are among the majority of people who aren’t independently wealthy and don’t have the luxury of...

Sunday, July 25, 2021

OPENING A CREDIT CARD may be enticing, whether you need an easy way to pay for purchases or want cardholder perks and rewards. But a new credit card isn't always a good idea. You may want to avoid opening a credit card in these...

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Women and Financial Planning Today, women are less optimistic about their financial futures. They are more concerned and less prepared in their financial lives than they’ve been in years, primarily due to the pandemic. But many...

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

MANY PEOPLE FEAR running out of money in retirement. Creating a retirement budget can help you make sure this doesn't happen. A retirement budget outlines the funds you will have coming in during retirement and how you can use them to...

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

The personal savings rate in the United States, which is the amount of income left after taxes and household spending, has reached some significant milestones. In April, when much of the country stayed home to avoid the COVID-19...

Sunday, July 4, 2021

Happy 4th of July! What a difference a year makes! Whether you’re celebrating with a cookout, a family gathering, or watching the fireworks with friends, Independence Day reminds us how lucky we all are to belong to this great...

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

The No. 1 financial regret among women is that they haven’t invested more, according to a new report from Bank of America Merrill Lynch That’s just one of the findings in the report, called “Women & Financial...

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

For many Americans, there is no scarier word than “unemployment.” Whether due to layoffs, business closures, health problems or otherwise, losing your job is always stressful. According to the American Journal of Public...

Sunday, June 20, 2021

Father’s Day is a day when we celebrate perhaps the greatest work men do; Teaching your children, instilling the lessons that will shape their character and their lives. Is there any work more important? Interestingly,...

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Being a single woman has both its benefits and its challenges. You can make the best decisions on behalf of yourself and any family you may be raising. However, you are also solely responsible for all financial aspects of your...

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

What Is Revenge Spending? Revenge spending is the phenomenon of consumers making purchases now to ‘make up for lost time’ during the pandemic, when so many opportunities for spending were curbed because of health...

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Talking to your aging parents about their finances, is one conversation that calls for tact and sensitivity. When you notice that your parents are slowing down because of age or illness, it’s time to reach out to them and offer...

Monday, May 31, 2021

Memorial Day is a time for Americans to honor and remember those who lost their lives while serving in the armed forces. Veterans will think back on the men and women who served alongside them who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their...

Thursday, May 27, 2021

Did you know that May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month? This year, we invite you to join us in celebrating the often-overlooked contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans to this great nation.Whether we...

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

We at Money talk a lot about the power of compound interest. It’s the magical way your savings builds up exponentially — or compounds — as you stash away cash and earn interest on your interest, year after year. But...

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

A majority of working Americans believe their financial situation will be better in the future—a surprising level of optimism that signals a disconnect from the state of their present financial insecurity, according to our recent...

Sunday, May 9, 2021

A mom can be a great friend, a guiding light, a teacher. One thing’s for sure: no one can take her place. This Mother’s Day, we want to take the time to honor and thank the ones who have helped make us who we are. The last...

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

If your credit score is not so great, you’ll quickly see how it affects your financial situation, from interest rates on credit cards to your eligibility for a mortgage. Higher interest rates will cost you more in the long term,...

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Are your financial goals well-defined? While "I want to have lots of money" may sound like a great goal, it's just too vague. How much is "lots?" If you don’t know … how will you know when you have it? And will the "lots"...

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

No one wants to talk about life insurance. It means you have to face the reality that we will all die someday. Life insurance is not about you; it's about your loved ones that depend upon you. You want to make sure you have enough...

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

How Much Do You Need? One of the first questions to ask yourself when it comes to thinking about achieving financial independence is wrapping your mind around how much money it would take to retire early. Instead of trying to answer...

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

We all think that money is about our bank balance. Yes, of course, it is that too, but money is also strongly connected to emotions. And before you think that you are exempt from an emotional attachment to money, think again. How do...

Monday, April 5, 2021

Nearly 4 in 10 women are considering either scaling back their work hours or leaving the workforce due to increased caregiving responsibilities during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to data from a recent survey of 1,902 adults...

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Today, March 24, 2021, is Equal Pay Day, which signifies how far into the new year the average woman must work to be paid what the average white man was paid the previous year. This year’s Equal Pay Day is especially important,...

Thursday, March 18, 2021

Less than one month ahead of the traditional date, the I.R.S. has delayed the deadline for filing and paying taxes. The new deadline is May 17, 2021.1,2,3The delay follows continued disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic and a late...

Friday, March 12, 2021

With COVID-19 vaccines here, we're moving in the right direction. I'm starting to see credit loosen up a bit, but it still takes a very good FICO score – think 760 or more – to qualify for the best credit cards and balance...

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

When it comes to finances, men and women have their differences. Women, on average, are paid less than men, and they also reach their peak earning age earlier in life. These differences spill into the investing world, too. Men and...

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Have you ever wanted expert help with your finances but felt you didn’t have enough money to hire an advisor? Financial advisors aren’t just for the wealthy—they also help everyday people achieve their financial goals...

Thursday, February 4, 2021

You may have heard the news about stocks such as: Game Stop and AMC suddenly ballooning, quickly going from lunch money prices to several hundred dollars a share. In one case, the shares rose over 1700% since December 2020.1 So, what...

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Commercial lenders and car dealers have a lot more in common than you might think. Both will give you a much better deal if they have a lot of inventory and an even better deal if they are forced to compete. In banking and finance,...

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

If you're struggling financially right now, you are certainly not alone. In fact, new data from Pew Social Trends shows that one in four adults have had trouble keeping up with their bills since the pandemic started, and about one in...

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Homeowners enjoyed the largest year-over-year home equity gain in six years during the third quarter. Americans with mortgages (roughly 63% of all properties) saw their home equity increase by an average of $17,000 between July and...