Blog
The Changing College Landscape
July 29, 2020
The 2020-2021 academic year is right around the corner, and the coronavirus pandemic has upended the college world, like everything else. Not only has COVID-19 impacted short-term college operations and student summer plans, but the virus could end up being the catalyst that changes the model of higher education in the long term. Here are…
Four Things to Consider Before Refinancing Your Home
July 29, 2020
Mortgage refinancing applications surged in the second week of March 2020, jumping by 79% — the largest weekly increase since November 2008. As a result, the Mortgage Bankers Association nearly doubled its 2020 refinance originations forecast to $1.2 trillion, the strongest refinance volume since 2012.1 Low mortgage interest rates have prompted many homeowners to think…
Could You Be Responsible for Your Parents’ Nursing Home Bills?
July 29, 2020
In 26 states (and Puerto Rico), laws generally hold children financially responsible for certain debts of their parents. These laws are referred to as filial responsibility laws (or filial support or filial piety laws). The details of filial responsibility laws vary by state. Most require that a parent must be deemed unable to pay for…
Turbulent Times: Bear Markets Come and Go
June 24, 2020
The longest bull market in history lasted almost 11 years before coronavirus fears and the realities of a seriously disrupted U.S. economy brought it to an end.1 Bear markets are typically defined as declines of 20% or more from the most recent high, and bull markets are sustained increases of 20% or more from the…
Tapping Retirement Savings During a Financial Crisis
June 24, 2020
As the number of COVID-19 cases began to skyrocket in March 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The legislation may make it easier for Americans to access money in their retirement plans, temporarily waiving the 10% early-withdrawal penalty and increasing the amount they could borrow. Understanding these new guidelines…
Portfolio Performance: Choose Your Benchmarks Wisely
June 24, 2020
Dramatic market turbulence has been common in 2020, and you can’t help but hear about the frequent ups and downs of the Dow Jones Industrial Average or the S&P 500 index. The performance of these major indexes is widely reported and analyzed in detail by financial news outlets around the nation. Both the Dow and…
Mid-Year Is a Good Time to Fine-Tune Your Finances
May 27, 2020
The first part of 2020 was rocky, but there should be better days ahead. Taking a close look at your finances may give you the foundation you need to begin moving forward. Mid-year is an ideal time to do so, because the planning opportunities are potentially greater than if you waited until the end of…
Four Questions on the Roth Five-Year Rule
May 27, 2020
The Roth “five-year rule” typically refers to when you can take tax-free distributions of earnings from your Roth IRA, Roth 401(k), or other work-based Roth account. The rule states that you must wait five years after making your first contribution, and the distribution must take place after age 59½, when you become disabled, or when…
Investor Psychology: Behavioral Biases That Can Lead to Costly Mistakes
May 27, 2020
The field of behavioral finance focuses on the emotional and cognitive aspects of investing. In recent decades, well-known economists have advanced the theory that investors’ decisions can be driven by human emotions such as greed and fear, which helps explain why asset prices sometimes fluctuate erratically.1 It can be difficult to act rationally when your…
Five Key Benefits of the CARES Act for Individuals and Businesses
April 24, 2020
By now you know that Congress has passed a $2 trillion relief bill to help keep individuals and businesses afloat during these difficult times. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act contains many provisions. Here are five that may benefit you or your business. 1. Recovery Rebates Many Americans will receive a one-time…