The managers of well-run businesses usually name "backups" to keep things going smoothly -- just in case. That's also a smart plan for your personal finances, where you risk experiencing financial losses or other difficulties if you can't make your own decisions because of a long illness or other unexpected problem. You might prepare for [...]
Saving for retirement can challenge the best of us. For one group of employees, the challenge seems particularly daunting. Your mid-career colleagues, those between 36 and 56 years of age, may sometimes feel the odds are stacked against them. They are squeezed by their own debt, financial obligations to children who are not yet grown, and often, financial demands [...]
Yes, You Can Get Out of Debt In America today, carrying some debt is unavoidable, and even desirable, for most households. But between mortgages, car payments, and credit cards, many Americans find themselves over their heads — unable to dig out from under a growing debt burden that consumes an ever-growing portion of their resources. [...]
We are pleased to announce the release of the LPL Research Outlook 2019 FUNDAMENTAL: How to Focus on What Really Matters in the Markets, filled with investment insights and market guidance for the year ahead. After nearly 10 years of witnessing the U.S. economy and stock market recover—and thrive—investors are starting to wonder if we’ve [...]
Many Americans rely on Social Security as a significant source of income in retirement. However, not everyone understands the rules surrounding these benefits. As a result, they may claim their benefits at a time that’s less than ideal for their circumstances, ultimately losing money in the process. There’s no magic age for when you should [...]
Life insurance blah blah blah. Is that what you hear when someone mentions it as part of your new job’s employee benefits round-up or when you see something about it on TV or social media? Not to worry: we’ve got the low-down on what you need to know. And it’s really not as overwhelming (or [...]
When it comes to our children, for many of us, there is almost nothing we wouldn’t do for them when we’re needed. But when it comes to our adult children, sometimes the best way to help is to pull back and teach them to help themselves. This is especially true when it comes [...]
A couple of years ago, our family made the collective decision to get a family dog. I wasn’t particularly sold on the idea, but my wife and all of our children clamored to have a dog at home, so I agreed. During the process of finding a dog and the subsequent process of [...]
You have more choices than you think. Is creating a college fund on your to-do list? Consider these options. 529 plans. Anyone can contribute to these savings vehicles. Some let you prepay college tuition; others allow you to accumulate and invest education funds. Earnings on investments in a 529 plan grow tax-deferred, and [...]
What questions do you need to answer before you're sure you're financially ready? The day is finally approaching. You've been saving and investing most of your adult life for this moment, but now you're not so sure you're really ready to retire. It's a predicament faced by many employees that we work with. [...]
