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 all-consuming concern. According to a November 2024 MarketWatch survey, 70% of [...]
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 Roth conversion,” is sometimes used by individuals whose incomes exceed the current limits for direct Roth IRA [...]
Creating a Budget for Dog Parenthood Are you thinking about bringing a loyal, frisbee-chasing, treat-seeking, sock-stealing, face-licking, tail-wagging, bed-cuddling Canis familiaris into your life? If so, you’re in good company. According to Forbes Advisor, 65.1 million U.S. households own a dog, making it the most popular pet by far (cats are second, at 46.5 million [...]
Understanding What Drives Higher Prices Can Help Improve Retirement Planning According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute’s 2024 Retirement Confidence Survey, 83% of workers are concerned that the higher cost of living will make it harder to save as much as they want toward retirement. If you’re like most retirement savers, you’ve likely had concerns [...]
Taking Advantage of a Roth Contribution Option Can Give You Some Flexibility in Retirement According to Vanguard’s “How America Saves 2024,” 82% of employers offer a Roth 401(k) option in addition to a traditional, or regular, 401(k) option. However, just 17% of employees contribute to a Roth. If you have access to a Roth 401(k) [...]
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is scheduled to sunset. Get your planning done soon so you don't miss out. "Due to personally owned life insurance and estate growth over time, more clients than you might think could be impacted by the estate tax sunset." The current estate tax exemption amount is historically high, but it’s [...]
The State of Play In a July 21 open letter posted on social media, President Biden wrote that he has concluded “it is in the best interest” of the Democratic Party and the country for him to “stand down from reelection” and subsequently posted on X that Vice President Kamala Harris has his “full [...]
In the FBI’s 2023 Internet Crime Report, email spoofing has cost the world over $18 million and leads all other categories with the most complaints filed. An average of 3 billion spoofing emails are sent per day. Understanding how to identify and avoid them can prevent you from becoming a victim and keep your accounts [...]
The S&P 500 strung together 37 record highs this year aboard an 18.1% rally, as of July 10. The advance has largely been powered by a handful of mega cap names tied to technology and/or artificial intelligence. In fact, six stocks — NVIDIA (NVDA), Microsoft (MSFT), Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN), Meta (META), and Alphabet [...]
With stock valuations elevated after such a strong first half, earnings growth will be key to holding, or potentially building on these gains. LPL Research believes stocks have gotten a bit over their skis, but earnings season may not be the catalyst for a pullback in the near term given all signs point to another [...]
