Warmer days have many of us wanting to refresh our spaces and clear out the clutter. But while you’re cleaning up your home and minimizing unnecessary stuff, don’t forget to spring clean your finances, too.  Taking some intentional time to organize your financial life can have major benefits all year long. Here are some tips to take advantage of the season and get your money under control: 1. Check your credit report Spring is also tax season, which is when we tend to see a spike in identity theft. So while you’re gathering your documents and preparing to file, you might want to look for ..read more

  International Women’s Day is Friday, March 8th, and it’s a day where we recognize the achievements of women, and the importance of gender equality. But it’s also a time to pay attention to the financial challenges women are still facing, and how to overcome them. Here are some of the top financial hurdles that women face, and what steps you can take to confidently achieve your money goals: Getting Involved with Finances: Financial Planning for Women Women are much more in control of their money than ever before. A GoBankingRates survey found that 90 percent of women either controlled h ..read more

So many people try to jump right into making changes in their financial life without spending time working on their mindset. Don’t underestimate the power of your thoughts and beliefs; they can have a very real effect on your success. Here are some ways you can tackle your goals this year with less stress, more confidence and the habits you need to see real progress: Avoiding Money Stress: Celebrate your wins Before you head into the new year, take a look at what you’ve accomplished over the past year (or several years.) Taking stock of your achievements gives you the proof you need to tackle ..read more

The final months of the year can be busy, chaotic and overwhelming – but they don’t have to be. With some advance preparation, you can enjoy the fall and holiday seasons and feel like you’re on top of your fall finances.  Look back at the year so far Take some time to look at your spending, saving and investments from the year so far. If you feel like you’re off track anywhere, keep that in mind as you approach the end of the year. Maybe you need to move some money to your emergency fund, or pull back on holiday spending. It’s better to know where you stand now, so that you can make chan ..read more

If you’re feeling stressed about money right now, you’re not alone. A 2022 study from the American Psychological Association found that 65 percent of respondents felt that finances were a significant source of stress.  After dealing with high inflation, increasing interest rates, market instability and a global pandemic, it’s no surprise that many of us have felt overwhelmed the past few years. The good news is that there are ways to combat that stress, regardless of what your current situation might be.  Here are five strategies for cutting down on that money stress, so you can sto ..read more

After making landfall as a major hurricane, Hurricane Ian caused exceptional damage and serious impacts for residents in its path. This storm, like many before it, caused destruction that will require weeks, months and even years of recovery and rebuilding efforts. These storms, like tornadoes, earthquakes and blizzards, are an unfortunate fact of life. You might not be able to prevent a storm from damaging your home or your community, but you can prepare your family so that when the time comes, you feel ready to take the necessary actions. Natural Disaster Preparedness: Financial Prep I’ve t ..read more

April is financial literacy month, which is intended to empower people to understand and steward their money well. This is a topic that I’m passionate about, because I believe that everyone should have access to the knowledge that will help them create wealth and stability in their lives. In honor of financial literacy month, here are some ways you can improve your own financial knowledge: 1. Money books for financial literacy If the idea of reading a money book sounds boring to you, don’t worry; there’s an option for you. You’re not limited to dry explanations about portfolio allocations and ..read more

Every year, 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail by February. For most people, their goals for the new year barely last a month, let alone all year. So, how can you set resolutions that are among the achievable 20 percent? If you’re struggling to set goals, here are five ready-to-go resolutions that have staying power: Boost retirement savings If you haven’t changed how much you’re putting away for retirement in a while, it might be time to revisit that. There are many ways to automate this, like requesting to have more of your paycheck put aside for your 401k.  Check in with your r ..read more

Leaving 2020 behind doesn’t mean we’re leaving all the drama behind, too. 2021 is still a pandemic year, bringing heaps of uncertainty with it.  There are reasons to be optimistic about 2021, however. And reasons to be careful. So how do you strike a balance between cautious and hopeful in your New Year’s goals?  The short answer is this: prepare for the worst, but hope for the best.  Here’s how you can apply that philosophy to your resolutions: Review your year A year-end review is important every year, but this year especially, take some time to reflect. A lot happened. A lot ..read more

  Like any good relationship, the one you have with your financial planner should be built on trust, understanding and effective communication. When you have a good working relationship with your financial planner, you’re more likely to be successful. So what should you look for in a planner, and what makes up a strong client-advisor relationship? Here are some of the key qualities and factors you should look for: Your Financial Planner is qualified Lots of people can dole out financial advice without the necessary education and experience to back it up. So make sure you’re working with ..read more