Resource Center Archives - Page 4 of 9

Money Tips for Better Relationships

jmuch2025-03-25T12:33:26-05:00May 26, 2021|Categories: Resource Center, Weekly Update|Tags: financial planning, insurance, investing, retirement, women|

Money Tips for Better Relationships

Financial disagreements are a significant challenge in marriages, with research indicating that 70% of married millennial couples argue about money more than any other topic. These disputes can contribute to marital strain and even dissolution. However, couples who approach their finances collaboratively can often overcome these challenges and strengthen their relationship.

Effective communication is crucial for navigating financial discussions. Couples should openly talk about their financial goals, habits, and past experiences, as these factors often shape how each partner views money. Setting shared goals and creating a mutually agreed-upon budget can provide clarity and foster unity. Additionally, regularly meeting to review financial matters, establishing a clear threshold for big purchases, and working together on decisions can minimize conflict and ensure both partners feel involved.

Trust, honesty, and a willingness to update financial plans as life changes are also vital. Couples may benefit from seeking the advice of …

Analyzing the First 100 Days

jmuch2021-06-04T13:31:08-05:00April 30, 2021|Categories: Resource Center, Weekly Update|Tags: investing, taxes|

Analyzing the First 100 Days

April 30th marked Joe Biden’s 100th day as Commander in Chief. What policies are impacting investment markets, and how might these policies influence your financial plan in 2021? We shared some of our thoughts in a recent article. https://bit.ly/3gD9wIt

9 Crucial Steps to Ensure You’re Prepared for Retirement

jmuch2025-03-25T12:40:57-05:00March 26, 2021|Categories: Resource Center, Weekly Update|Tags: financial planning, retirement, wealth management, women|

9 Crucial Steps to Ensure You’re Prepared for Retirement

As retirement approaches, it’s crucial to have a plan in place to ensure a smooth transition. The pre-retirement checklist is an essential tool to help you assess how ready you are. By breaking down key elements, you can better understand your goals and progress. Start by determining your goals—consider when and how you want to retire, your desired lifestyle, and where you plan to live. Whether you plan to downsize your home, travel, or enjoy a more relaxed pace, defining these aspects will shape your retirement.

Health insurance, long-term care, and Medicare strategies are also important considerations. Since 52% of people turning 65 will require long-term care, planning ahead is essential. Similarly, understanding your health coverage options and preparing for potential medical costs is vital. When it comes to finances, reviewing your spending and budget is crucial. Assess your current savings and …

Insurance Golden Years

jmuch2025-03-25T12:37:03-05:00February 18, 2021|Categories: Resource Center|Tags: insurance, retirement|

Insurance Golden Years

Insurance Golden Years

As you approach later adulthood and retirement, your financial focus and priorities will inevitably shift. With children leaving the nest and the anticipation of retirement, this is a time to reassess and protect the assets you’ve accumulated. During this final stretch to retirement, wealth protection becomes essential, not just through investments but also by securing appropriate insurance coverage for potential financial risks, especially health-related ones.

Auto, home, health, life, and long-term care insurance all play vital roles in your retirement planning. You may be able to reduce auto insurance rates by taking advantage of discounts or reassessing who is on your policy. Likewise, while you might have paid off your mortgage, continuing home insurance is important for property and liability protection. As you age, health insurance choices become more crucial, particularly when transitioning to Medicare at age 65. Life insurance may also remain relevant, not only …

The Great Spending Balance

jmuch2025-03-25T12:53:51-05:00January 15, 2021|Categories: Resource Center|Tags: financial planning, retirement|

The Great Spending Balance

The Great Spending Balance
Your financial life is a balancing act, strung between living in the present and preparing for the future. Saving for retirement may be a focus, but it could feel like you’re missing out on enjoying today.

Balancing your present lifestyle with future savings is essential, and three key areas—your home, car, and travel—play a significant role in this. When it comes to your home, consider factors like location, size, and maintenance needs, especially as you age. Downsizing can be a smart financial move, freeing up home equity to invest for the future. Similarly, choosing the right car can make a big difference in your financial outlook; opting for a less expensive model can save money, which could be invested for long-term growth. Finally, travel doesn’t have to break the bank. By adjusting travel choices—such as opting for more affordable accommodations and meals—you can enjoy …

Insurance at Every Stage: Raising a Family

jmuch2025-03-25T12:56:43-05:00October 28, 2020|Categories: Resource Center|Tags: insurance|

Insurance at Every Stage: Raising a Family

Insurance at Every Stage: Raising a Family

A growing family, by definition, means an ever-increasing financial obligation – both now and in the future. Amid the increasing expenses and life demands that come with parenthood, thinking about your insurance needs can be tough. But now’s the time to consider what is at stake and make sure you’re protecting your family from whatever life may throw your way.

Raising a family brings increased financial responsibilities, and reviewing your insurance coverage is crucial to protect your growing family. As a parent, auto, home, health, and life insurance should be regularly reassessed. For auto insurance, young drivers can increase premiums, but strategies like comparing quotes and using discounts can help manage costs. At home, with more assets and liabilities, updating your homeowners policy and considering umbrella insurance for additional liability protection is important. Health insurance should shift to …

What’s Your Number?

jmuch2025-03-25T12:58:53-05:00October 8, 2020|Categories: Resource Center|Tags: financial planning, investing, retirement|

What’s Your Number?

What’s Your Number?

Most people will spend 30, 40, or even 50 years working toward retirement, putting a little away each month so that they can enjoy their golden years. But when it comes to retirement savings, how much is enough?

Determining how much you need saved for retirement is a crucial first step in the retirement planning process. The goal is to balance saving enough for your future without sacrificing too much of your present lifestyle. To figure out how much you’ll need, start by understanding your expected retirement expenses. Consider factors like whether you’ll stay in your current home, have additional or fewer expenses, and whether you’ll support family members or focus on philanthropy.

Next, evaluate your income sources during retirement. Social Security, rental income, pensions, and investment dividends may be key to your retirement budget. Comparing your expected income to your monthly expenses will give you an …

A Historical Look at Elections Campaign

jmuch2020-09-11T09:08:52-05:00September 11, 2020|Categories: Resource Center|Tags: investing|

A Historical Look at Elections Campaigns

As we approach the 2020 election, we’ve been getting questions about what we expect to happen on November 3rd, and how the election will impact investment markets. We offer a non-partisan, historical outlook concerning what might happen in November and how we are thinking about these items from the perspective of wealth management. Take a look here https://bit.ly/35q1U6A.

Insurance: Getting Married

jmuch2025-03-25T13:00:26-05:00June 19, 2020|Categories: Resource Center|Tags: insurance|

Insurance: Getting Married

Insurance: Getting Married

Marriage changes everything, including insurance needs. Even if you and your spouse lived together and shared expenses while dating, you may have new responsibilities – and opportunities – for your insurance policies.

Marriage can significantly alter your insurance needs, as you and your spouse may now share financial responsibilities and opportunities. Reviewing and adjusting your insurance policies together is crucial to ensure you’re both adequately covered in this new stage of life.

Start by looking at auto insurance, as many insurers offer discounts for married couples or multi-car policies. Next, if you buy a home, make sure to evaluate your homeowners or condo insurance to ensure adequate coverage for property, liabilities, and personal assets. Health insurance also requires attention, as marriage qualifies as a life event allowing for changes during open enrollment. Additionally, consider disability insurance to protect both incomes, especially if you both work, and review …

8 Financial Goals For Your 40th Birthday

jmuch2025-03-25T13:03:33-05:00June 3, 2020|Categories: Resource Center|Tags: financial planning, retirement|

8 Financial Goals For Your 40th Birthday

8 Financial Goals For Your 40th Birthday

For investors in their 30s, life can feel busy, hectic, and a bit disorganized at times. How do you focus your time and energy on the things that matter most?

In your 30s, life often feels hectic with a mix of responsibilities like paying down debt, starting a family, and saving for retirement. To make things easier, focus on these key financial goals before turning 40. First, ensure you’re investing with purpose. This means defining your retirement goals, understanding how much you need to save, and creating a strategy to reach those goals. It’s a great time to consider working with a financial advisor to help make your vision a reality.

Another key goal is to ensure your career and salary are advancing. Your 30s are when your hard work should start paying off in terms of salary growth. …