Blog

The Progression of Financial Planning Through Every Decade of Your Life

By Jamie Hopkins

Your career and lifestyle look completely different when you’re in your 20s compared to when you’re in your 60s – your financial focus and planning in each decade should follow suit. I’ve highlighted three financial tactics to focus on in each decade of your life starting with your 20s.

Each decade is riddled with its own risks and problems so it’s important to know what to expect. Which decade can you afford to take more risk? Which decade should you really start to plan for retirement? Which decade should you focus on managing debt? Read more

How to Buy a Car Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Wallet)

By Erin Wood

Having to buy a car is like having a sliver stuck under my fingernail. It’s painful and annoying, I know I have to deal with it, but it’s going to take forever. Might as well pack a lunch too, because the second you decide you want to test drive something they have you trapped. Read more

Why You Need a Will (and You Need One Today)

by Sarah Duey, JD, CFTA, CAP®, Vice President, Trust Services

Who wants to spend an afternoon thinking about their mortality? No one, which is why more than half of Americans don’t even have a will.

The foundation of your estate plan is a Last Will and Testament. Read more

5 Reasons to Think About Long-Term Care Planning Today

By Jamie Hopkins, Director of Retirement Research at Carson Group

I once received an email from a family friend about long-term care insurance. He was frustrated over a premium increase – which wasn’t the first rate hike – yet, he was still thankful for the policy. Read more

5 Ways to Pump Up Your Financial Resilience

Even with the best financial planning, most of us will experience unexpected financial challenges. The stock market takes an unexpected downturn, you’re laid-off, a family member becomes ill, you live through a natural disaster – life happens and it can impact your finances. When it does, your financial resilience can make a real difference. Read more

Retirement Planning: What Are You Waiting For?

By Jake Bleicher, Equity Analyst, CFA®

Almost half of households near retirement have nothing saved, and that’s a big problem. I believe the biggest headwind is merely getting started: saving money is hard to do. Read more

Future Funding of Social Security Is A Pivotal Piece To Retirement Security

By Jamie Hopkins

You’ve probably heard of the three-legged retirement savings “stool.” The idea is that a quality savings plan for retirement starts with having three aspects of saving: personal savings, employer retirement savings and government-provided benefits. Read more

Should My Financial Advisor Also Be a Life Coach?

There are so many factors that come into play when you are creating your financial plan. It’s more than just a spreadsheet, or at least it should be. Your financial plan should incorporate your values and encompass your vision and dreams for the future. Read more

Struggling with Financial Decisions? Meditation Might be the Answer

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
― Viktor E. Frankl

Most people wouldn’t think to connect meditation with financial decisions. Read more

How to Live a Fulfilling Life – Your Financial Plan Can Help

It’s no secret that I think your life vision should be the core of your financial plan. A powerful life vision in conjunction with a well-thought-out financial plan can give you both the why and the how to live a fulfilling life. Read more