Morning Market Commentary Q1 2024

The last quarter of 2023 was marked by a sudden turning point in the interest rate rhetoric of the Fed, a resilient economy led by a strong consumer, and a normalization of inflation. At the end of Q3, the Fed continued to raise interest rates as investors continued to wonder when the hikes would come…

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Why It Is Never Too Early to Save for Retirement

When it comes to a successful retirement, there are several secret ingredients that most retirees wish they had known sooner. For most young Americans, the pursuit of retirement is self-sacrificing, and often goes hand in hand with an austere feeling from the compromise in lifestyle and spending habits that must take place. Consequently, the next…

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How to Buy Series I Savings Bonds

Series I Savings Bonds help protect your assets from inflation. With an I Bond, you earn both a fixed rate of interest and a rate that changes with inflation. Two times per year, they set the inflation rate for the next six months. They can be purchased for yourself, your child, or as a gift…

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Retirement Strategy: How Much Should I Save?

“Will I outlive my retirement money?” This is one of the top fears for people who are starting to prepare for their retirement years. Determining how much money you need in retirement is a process. It shouldn’t be a number that you pull out of thin air. The process should include looking at your current…

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What’s In Your Estate Plan?

The older we get, the more critical it is to ensure our affairs are in order and have an estate plan. But what exactly is an estate plan, and what should be included? Estate Plan Basics An estate plan is the management and organization of your assets should you pass away. It also includes documentation…

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5 Empowering Investment Strategies for Women

On International Women’s Day this year, we had the honor of speaking to a group of professional women about financial planning strategies they can implement today. We wanted to share with everyone an overview of what we covered as so many could benefit from taking these simple strategies. Think about your life as it is…

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How Your Money Mentality Changes in Retirement

Reaching retirement can feel like crossing the finish line at the end of a 30-, 40- or even 50-year-long marathon. What does retirement look like for you? Everyone reading this right now, probably just had a different answer to that question. Because everyone’s vision for retirement is different. Some people look forward to the endless vacation…

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RMD Roundup: A Few Key Updates About Required Minimum Distributions

As we approach the end of 2021, now might be a good time to take a closer look at a few developments surrounding required minimum distributions (RMDs). What Are RMDs? Once you reach age 72, you are required to take minimum distributions from your traditional IRAs and most employer-sponsored retirement plans. (RMDs are not required…

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The Social Security Administration Announces 2022 Cost-of-Living Adjustment

On October 13, 2021, the Social Security Administration (SSA) officially announced that Social Security recipients will receive a 5.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2022, the largest increase in four decades. This adjustment will begin with benefits payable to more than 64 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2022. Additionally, increased payments to more than…

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Medicare Open Enrollment Begins Oct. 15th. What Does That Mean For Me?

Medicare’s open enrollment period happens once a year between October 15 and December 7. During this time, current Medicare beneficiaries have the option to adjust their coverage for the coming year. This can be a useful option for those who may have recently changed medication, underutilized their current coverage or found they could use additional…

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