As spring arrives and the weather warms up, many people turn their attention to cleaning out closets and organizing their homes. According to a recent survey, about 80% of Americans have spring cleaning on their radar this year. 1 While most focus on the physical space, spring is also a great time to get your financial house in order. Refreshing your financial habits can reduce stress, provide structure, and uncover new opportunities to save money...
What makes one investor stick with their strategy through market swings while another panics and pulls out? Often, it comes down to mindset. Your investing mindset can shape how you make decisions, respond to volatility, and pursue financial goals.1 Without a strategy that aligns with that mindset, it’s easy to make impulsive choices or lose sight of your long-term plan. The good news? You don’t have to be a market expert to invest. By understanding...
Tax season doesn’t have to feel like an uphill battle. With the right strategies, you can minimize your tax bill and keep more of your hard-earned money where it belongs, in your pocket. Whether you’re a DIY tax filer or rely on a pro, understanding these key moves can help you make smarter financial decisions and sidestep costly mistakes. Let’s dive in. 1. Adjust Your Withholding to Avoid Surprises Getting a big refund might feel...
What will happen to your business when it’s time for you to take a step back? That can be a tough question that many business owners eventually have to face. Yet, far too many admit they don't have a formal succession plan in place. In fact, looking at family businesses alone, about 61% say they do not have a documented succession plan. 1 Why? Many business owners say they haven’t put together a succession plan...
What does it take to minimize your tax bill, not just this year but in the years to come? The answer varies for each individual. Tax optimization strategies depend heavily on personal assets and financial goals, which are unique to everyone. However, nearly all high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) share one common objective: reducing their tax obligations to the absolute minimum allowed by law. Achieving this often involves leveraging specific strategies and tools that can work together...
If you’re like many investors, the thought of paying capital gains taxes on your successful investments might feel overwhelming. But what if there was a strategy to potentially reduce some of those taxes? It’s called tax loss harvesting, and while the term might sound complicated, it's actually a fairly simple concept that could save you money. Let’s break it down. What Is Tax Loss Harvesting? Think of your investments like a fruit-bearing tree. Some branches...
When are you going to retire? How did you make that decision? Many of us look at finances and health when we’re deciding when to retire. Whether or not we realize it, we’re also considering our emotions and what we imagine for the future — we compare how we feel in our current circumstances to how we expect to feel in our anticipated retirement. 1 With that, we tend to overestimate our future emotions, thinking...
What money topics are the most taboo to talk about? Earnings, debt, inheritance, or net worth? For most of us, many financial topics are simply off-limits. 1 That means that many of us are not discussing money as much as we probably should be. 1 Without those talks, myths about money and financial conversations can get a much stronger grip on our perspective and our financial decisions. That silence may end up stunting our financial...
What’s the first thing you think of when it comes to money? Are your thoughts more positive or negative? Whatever’s natural to you can speak to your money mindset. 1 And that money mindset can shape your financial views and habits. It can also reveal more about your values and beliefs, not just about finance but about life in general. 1 With that, understanding your money mindset can start to highlight where it may be...
4 Pervasive Myths About Inflation Inflation can feel inescapable these days. For most of us, it also feels like inflation is higher and more persistent than it actually is. 1 That could be because we’re seeing higher prices practically everywhere. 1 Despite our experience, though, that misperception can actually harm us. It can also be bad for inflation in general. 1 That’s because thinking inflation is worse than it is can stoke our fears of...
Are you making one of these common financial mistakes? Here are some steps to consider.
First, let’s start by uncovering the most common mistake in estate planning… Surprisingly, this frequently made mistake might already be on your doorstep. A staggering number of people haven’t yet started an estate plan. It’s a critical oversight that can have far-reaching implications, but this isn’t the only pitfall that can disrupt your planning efforts. Here’s a breakdown of 4 estate planning missteps and how to fix them: Mistake #1: Neglecting to Update Your Estate...
