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For clients approaching retirement, the recent world trade headlines have been pretty unnerving. Every time the U.S. and China exchange threats or the “T” word—tariffs—is in the news, the resulting gyrations on Wall Street produce churning stomachs.

Previously on our blog, we’ve discussed the pros and cons of refinancing, and everything we said then still applies: 1) make sure the interest rate is enough lower that you can save real money; 2) evaluate how long you plan to stay in your home to be sure that refinancing mak

Adding to the long and growing list of data breaches committed against major financial and retail organizations, a hacker allegedly gained access to the personal financial data of about 100 million Capital One customers in July.

If you are part of the 68 percent of U.S. households that own a pet*, you probably think of it as a true member of the family—one you love and cherish. But what would happen to that cherished family member if you were to die suddenly?

For qualified persons (65 and older), it’s important to stay informed about Medicare, the program provided by the federal government to help with healthcare expenses.

Many of us place our most treasured or valuable items in a safe deposit box. After all, what more secure location could there be for our treasures than inside a locked box, stored inside the vault of a bank?

As we talk with clients about estate planning matters, we often hear that the clients’ first priority is to build a secure financial foundation that will support their children for years to come. That is certainly a key goal for most people. But what we hear much less often is a carefully considered plan for making that long-term security a reality.

“Married, with children” isn’t an automatic combination anymore. In fact, even well-to-do persons in long-term, stable marriages—including celebrities like Christopher Walken, Jay Leno, Dolly Parton, and everyone’s favorite Golden Girl, Betty White—have stated publicly that they have never felt the compulsion to bring children into the world.

Do well by doing good

A growing number of individuals and families want to use some of their wealth to support the causes and organizations they care about most.

When Hall of Fame rocker Tom Petty died in October 2017, one week after finishing a highly successful tour, he left an estate worth multiple millions. Not only that, but he actually did what we routinely urge clients to do: he had a will that indicated his wishes for the disposition of his assets and—especially important in his case—his musical and creative legacy.