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With April’s federal tax filing and payment deadline on the horizon, Americans are dotting their i’s and crossing their t’s as they prepare for the countdown to Tax Day.

Determining how your income impacts Social Security (SS) taxes is important for tax planning

As you age, the question of when to collect Social Security (SS) retirement benefits will likely come to mind. Your unique circumstances and goals will dictate the appropriate time for you to take Social Security retirement benefits.

Whether you’re one to set ambitious New Year’s resolutions or simply use the beginning of the year to reset on a few habits, there’s almost always some value in reflecting on the past year before looking ahead. The...

This year's theme for Black History Month is “Black Health and Wellness,” as outlined by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History

Each dollar you're putting toward debt is a dollar you cannot use to build wealth. The higher your interest rate, the longer it typically takes to repay your debt

Embrace a millionaire's mindset. Starting a business is a huge risk, but you have to believe in yourself.

When you’re busy juggling career, family, social life, and multiple other obligations, you may end up feeling as if you don’t have enough time to do it all.

Create a monthly spending plan for your fixed and discretionary expenses. When you plan your spending, you may find you spend more wisely  

Whether you're hoping to retire soon or are just beginning to explore the idea of stepping back from your job, you're probably wondering how to make it happen. Will you have enough money? How will you spend your time? What will you do...

After years of saving and planning for their golden years, many people nearing retirement fail to consider the tax burden they may face on income they receive after they stop working. While you will likely see a reduction in the amount...

Financial wellness studies over the past few years indicate that investors desire financial wellness. The recent pandemic, economic and inflationary conditions, changes in work-life balance, and more responsibility for financial...

What if you focused on your system instead of just your goals?Setting goals for a new year can feel overwhelming.  We all know that resolutions don’t last, but we also feel the energy that comes with a new year of...

Identity theft runs rampant during tax seasonHere’s what to know and how you can help protect yourself.Identity thieves often swipe your bank or credit card account numbers, birth date information or Social Security Number (SSN)...

At the end of the year, it is necessary to reflect on your financial picture, review the last 12 months, and plan for the future. With all that is involved, it can seem overwhelming. Consider breaking up the responsibilities over...

Finding the perfect gift for those on your list can be difficult, but you can make your holiday shopping easier by gifting subscription boxes. These packages of hand-selected goodies can be arranged and mailed for you, and if you...

When you own a business, you get to deduct business expenses from your business income. This general rule applies, subject to certain limitations, whether you are a sole proprietor with employees or a self-employed freelancer...

Through all the challenges, newfound opportunities, and every high and low we’ve experienced during the last couple of years, it’s no surprise why we might be striving for more balance. Whether it’s about the markets...

Here are some things to consider as you weigh potential tax moves between now and the end of the year. 1. Defer income to next year. Consider opportunities to defer income to 2023, particularly if you think you may be in a lower tax...

Don’t settle for an ordinary cake roll this holiday season. This pecan roll is made with a delicious spice cake and is full of sweet caramel cream, for a festive dessert you can bring to any celebration! Ingredients: For the...

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the greatest days to score deals for holiday shopping. Unfortunately, with amazing deals plentiful, some scammers use these days to take advantage of shoppers looking for the greatest bargains...

Are you an animal lover looking for ways to help dogs, cats, and other rescued animals at your local shelter? From spending time with pets in need to helping with administrative tasks, there are a variety of ways you can help improve...

Members of the military have a lot of special financial challenges that most people don't encounter. However, they have access to many benefits, tax breaks and legal protections that can make a huge difference in their families'...

The holidays are prime time for eating delicious food, celebrating with loved ones, and creating long-lasting memories. However, all this cheer can be both physically and mentally draining.That’s why it is essential to focus on...

With its family traditions and festive celebrations, the holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year. And according to GivingTuesday.org, the giving in the U.S. alone totaled $2.7 billion to nonprofits and community...

It does not matter how much money you have today; you still must know the details of what you are worth. Understanding your financial situation can help you develop a retirement plan, pay down debt, draft a comprehensive estate plan...

Are you a good pet owner? Owning an animal means more than feeding it and loving it. Pets aren’t cheap, so doing right by Fido or Tabby involves financial planning. No question, we Americans love our pets. Many of us view our...

October is now behind us and it has delivered on its track record as a historically favorable month for stocks, offering some respite for investors as major equity indices rose for the month. The downside pressure on...

The cost of long-term care can vary widely based on location (both city and state) and level of care needed. However, one thing is for certain: with 7 in every 10 people requiring long-term care at some point, preparing for this...

As cloud storage becomes more common, data security is an increasing concern. Companies and schools have been increasing their use of services like Google Drive for some time, and lots of individual users also store files on Dropbox...

This has clearly been a challenging year for households. Stocks and bonds are both down significantly. Elevated food and gas prices continue to stretch budgets, and higher interest rates have increased borrowing costs. But we continue...

The annual approach of winter makes autumn an ideal time to bring in fun décor elements like fluffy throws and pillows, candles, and warm autumnal colors. Follow these tips to make your home the coziest it can be.

Being an educator requires expertise and that you stay current on developments in your field. However, that level of ongoing attention can make it difficult to find the time to stay on top of issues that affect your finances, or to put...

For many, autumn is the best time of year. The return of cool breezes, comforting foods, and pumpkins can be invigorating. It’s also a bookmark of sorts, especially for your finances—a perfect time to take stock of your...

Small businesses face many problems related to their size, capital, and capability, and for women-owned small businesses, the challenge is sometimes even greater. The good news is there are many professional organizations out there...

The terms Medicare and Medicaid are similar sounding names; however, these programs serve very different needs. Medicare is a health insurance benefit program for those aged 65 and older and others with certain disabilities. Medicare...

You are not alone if you do not have access to a 401(k) retirement plan. Pew Research data reveals that 35% of private-sector employees do not work for an employer that offers a plan.1 Fortunately, other retirement savings options are...

Market volatility is an inevitable part of investing. If we never had market sell-offs, we wouldn’t have as much opportunity to see returns.

Each year, the U.S. Department of Education distributes more than $150 billion in grants, loans, and work-study awards to millions of college students. With these financial aid programs, tuition, room and board, books, and other...

College costs continue to rise: in 2021, the average student attending an in-state school could expect to pay more than $27,000 in college costs per year, while those attending private schools paid a whopping $54,800. Parents of...

In the last several weeks, we have continued to face elevated uncertainty in financial markets due to high inflation and rising interest rates, and we thought it was an important time to take stock with the final quarter...

What dessert could be more perfect for fall than baked apples? This treat is spiced with cinnamon and delicious served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Understanding long-term capital gains taxes when you sell investmentsMarket downturns could be a good time to adjust your fund portfolio to minimize the tax bite. Here’s how to calculate the best ways to do that – now and...

September is National Preparedness Month, part of an effort by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to raise public awareness and inspire disaster readiness. Most communities could be impacted by some type of natural disaster...

Look beyond the emotional headlines and study the hard facts about bearsThe real value of a bear market may be that it gives investors, who are temporarily frozen within its grip, the opportunity to learn or relearn important lessons...

The uncertainty of today's economy, rising interest rates, and market volatility may have you concerned about your 529 plan's performance over the past months. If your child or grandchild has an upcoming tuition bill soon, now may be...

It’s also a good time to talk about the insurance crisis facing baby boomersBaby boomers’ huge numbers and surprisingly shaky health threaten government old-age benefits. That’s why you need to bolster your own...

A recent survey by Caring.com found that a whopping two in three American adults do not have an estate plan1—an alarming statistic, considering that an estate plan can protect your assets and ensure that they go to the right...

You may already be aware of the importance of having enough life insurance coverage to handle financial matters that could affect your family in the event of your death. However, determining the appropriate amount of coverage for your...

College costs continue to rise: in 2021, the average student attending an in-state school could expect to pay more than $27,000 in college costs per year, while those attending private schools paid a whopping $54,800. Parents of...

The primary purpose of life insurance is to provide financial resources for those that depend on you when you die. However, you can lessen the complexity of charitable giving through wealth transfer by using life insurance as a gifting...

Last week was epic for market-watchers. A Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike, a much-anticipated gross domestic product (GDP) report, and the busiest week of earnings season got most of the headlines. There was even a surprise out of...

Every consumer likes a good bargain, particularly value investors, who seek out stocks trading for less than their intrinsic value. By choosing companies the market has undervalued, or investing in mutual funds with similar objectives...

How long do you think you will live? How long does your money need to last? If you’re like most people, you get this age wrong. The consequence? Faulty retirement planning, overspending now and running out of money before you...

Twenty-one U.S. states, including Kentucky, Texas, and Virginia, require public schools to provide high school students with financial literacy courses.1 But even among the school systems that provide general financial...

Markets rarely give us clear skies, and there are always threats to watch for on the horizon, but the right preparation, context, and support can help us navigate anything that may lie ahead. So far, this year hasn’t seen a...

As the calendar has turned to July, investors would certainly like to forget the first six months of 2022. However, the Fourth of July Independence Day holiday does bring with it reason for celebration. Not only is it the...

A bear market is a prolonged period of price declines in securities, an index such as the S&P 500, or the overall stock market of usually 20% or more from a recent high. Bear markets can also signal economic downturns such as a...