Blog
Countdown to College
Preparing for college means setting goals, staying focused, and tackling a few key milestones along the way—starting in the first year of high school.
Social Security Fairness Act’s New Chapter
Social Security Fairness Act's New Chapter The Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law in December 2024, adjusts two longstanding provisions that previously reduced Social Security benefits for certain recipients: the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the...
4 Steps to Protecting a Child with Disabilities
4 Steps to Protecting a Child with Disabilities Planning for a child with special needs can be complicated, confusing, and even overwhelming. Raising a child is expensive and can cost over a quarter of a million dollars, excluding college. For a child with special...
Red Flags for Tax Auditors
9 Facts About Social Security Here are six flags that may make your tax return prime for an IRS audit.1 No one wants to see an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) auditor show up at their door. The IRS can’t audit every American’s tax return, so it relies on...
What If Your Kids Decide Against College?
As a parent or grandparent, you may have diligently saved money in a 529 account to help fund your child’s or grandchild’s college education. But what happens if they decide college isn’t the right path for them? It’s a valid question that many families are facing as more and more people choose alternatives to traditional four-year colleges.
Can I Create a Roth if I’m Over the Income Limit
Can I Create a Roth if I’m Over the Income Limit Yes, you might be able to create a Roth individual retirement account (IRA) if you’re over the income limit. This strategy involves converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. The idea, often referred to as a “backdoor...
Retirement Strategy After a Job Loss
Retirement Strategy After a Job Loss Few events are more stressful and disruptive than an unexpected job loss or layoff. For many, it’s a hit not just to finances but also to confidence and sense of self. You're not alone if you’ve been laid off—or if the idea is an...
Global vs. International: What’s the Difference?
Global vs. International: What’s the Difference? With international stock markets comprising about 40 percent of the world's capitalization as of 2023, a broad range of investment opportunities exist outside the borders of the U.S.1 For investors who are looking to...
Eight Mistakes That Can Upend Your Retirement
Eight Mistakes That Can Upend Your Retirement Pursuing your retirement dreams is challenging enough without making some common, and very avoidable, mistakes. Here are eight big mistakes to steer clear of, if possible. There are common mistakes you can avoid when...
Split Annuity Strategy
Split Annuity Strategy Here's one strategy that combines two different annuities to generate income and rebuild principal. When financial markets turn volatile, some investors show their frustration by fleeing the markets in search of alternatives that are designed to...