This year consisted of surges when I finished books quickly and prolonged dry spells when I did not pick up a book. I am happy to share five great titles that I think are worth sharing and would be great gifts or holiday reads!
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With 2021 coming to a close, we wanted to gather a list of the most popular articles from our website. This year's list focused almost exclusively on financial planning topics. We have enjoyed coming up with great ideas and are thrilled so many people read our articles each year.
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Employee stock purchase plans, or ESPPs, allow companies to give their employees a stake in the company. The plan lets employees buy shares of stock at a discount. The problem is that it may not be clear what an ESPP is or when to use it.
ESPPs are one of the best ways for employees to build wealth over time through stock investment. But it isn’t right for everyone. Should you use it? Let's dive in to find out.
Traditional 401(k)s offer pre-tax contributions — it lowers your tax bill now, but you’ll pay taxes when you withdraw in retirement. Roth 401(k)s are becoming more common and can give you tax-free withdrawals in retirement (but you won’t get any tax benefits now).
When considering a traditional vs Roth 401(k), which is right for you? Keep reading to discover when you should contribute to a Roth vs traditional 401(k).
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The stock market experienced its first pullback in what has felt like a straight march higher since the spring of 2020. Markets initially rallied early but gave up most of its gains this quarter because of a September sell off. Worries that economic growth would miss its growth targets and shift to a mid-cycle economic recovery weighed on stocks.
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A Health Savings Account, also known as an HSA, can be a very beneficial tool to pay for medical expenses.
In this guide, we’ll discuss all of the Health Savings Account benefits, including saving money on your taxes, getting more out of each paycheck, and supplementing your retirement savings.
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Choosing a health insurance plan can be difficult. Many employers offer PPOs (Preferred Provider Organizations) and HDHPs (high deductible health plans). When considering an HDHP vs. PPO, each option has pros and cons.
How do you determine which is better, a PPO or HDHP? To help you decide, let’s review the essential factors in health insurance costs and break down the differences in PPO vs. HDHP.
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We're currently experiencing one of the strongest economic recoveries in generations. Despite some reasons to feel concerned about the future -- be they political, humanitarian, other otherwise -- you probably have even more reasons to feel optimistic about your finances right now.
Which makes right now an excellent time to make some smart money moves that either help you take advantage of the healthy economy or prepare you for the point in the future when the tides inevitably change.
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You’ve likely been doing your own money management all your life, so taking a DIY approach seems like it makes sense. So, should you use a financial advisor or do it yourself?
Working with a financial advisor is a big decision. But reacting to things after they happen won’t be enough to achieve big financial goals or grow significant wealth.
Instead, take a proactive approach to actively seek ways to accomplish what you want. It’s what successful people do — even people at the top of their game need backup to help them reach their goals.
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Many Americans significantly increased their savings — the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City found that savings rates nearly quadrupled in the past year
This has lots of people asking themselves, “What should I do with extra cash?”
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You’ve heard it said that higher risk could yield a higher reward, and margin loans are no exception. A margin loan can increase profit, but it also comes with many drawbacks. Even the pros can get it wrong!
But it isn’t right for everyone. Our focus is going to be using margin loans in opportunistic uses as part of your financial plan. Here’s what you need to know before taking the plunge into a margin loan.
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A 401(k) loan can be a quick way to get some cash. When you’re in a financial pinch, it is a low-interest alternative to using a credit card or personal loan. You might use the funds to pay bills, cover a big purchase, or put a down payment on a house.
However, 44% of people who’ve borrowed against their retirement savings regret the decision, according to TIAA-CREF.[1] If you’re considering a 401(k) loan, here’s what you need to know about how it works and how the temporary 401(k) loan covid rules from the CARES Act could impact you.
Yet 44 percent of those who have borrowed against their retirement plan savings regret the decision.
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The good times continue to roll for investors. Stocks, bonds, and commodities saw widespread gains this quarter. The S&P 500 has seen 34 new all time highs since the start of the year and the market is up 92% from its March 2020 lows. The explanation for these stats is simple. The US economy is seeing an economic recovery unlike anything that we have seen before.
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The child tax credit for tax year 2021 could give you an extra $3,000 to $3,600 per qualifying child. Here’s what you need to know.
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When planning for your future, there is always some confusion about balancing savings for multiple goals simultaneously. The major dilemma falls on parents when contemplating whether they should allocate their savings dollars towards future retirement dreams or start socking away funds to pay for their child’s college tuition bills. While sorting out these two competing priorities can feel overwhelming at first, we’ve laid out 5 rules to follow when faced with this tough decision.
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The rising costs of college is a topic that most parents grind their teeth thinking about when it comes up. CNBC reported that the value of student loans parents are taking on for their kids has skyrocketed in recent years. In financial planning discussions with parents, I find we spend most of their time discussing their children's education over just about any other topic. The reasons are clear parents want to give their kids every opportunity at success.
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Learn how to tell your money where to go instead of wondering where it went – the difference between budgeting and cash flow mapping.
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The "Everything Rally" continued into 2021 with most asset classes moving higher. Broader stock market indexes like the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the quarter at or very near all time highs.
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Offering restricted stock units (RSUs) is a common way for employers to extend stock-based compensation to their employees. More employees are starting to see RSUs as part of their overall compensation arrangement. Receiving RSUs or stock-linked compensation is a sign that things are going well in your career!
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Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP) give plan participants the ability to purchase shares in their company stock at discounted rates. ESPPs, sometimes called Associate Stock Purchase Plans or other branded names, are overlooked but are a smart way to invest. You could be leaving thousands of dollars in free money on the table by not taking advantage of your company’s plan.
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