Broker Check

800-971-2989

Blog

Friday, January 8, 2021

Tax time is upon us and that means gathering all of your documents needed and getting them in one place to make filing your taxes as easy as possible. We thought it would be helpful to send along this handy checklist to help with that...

 

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

We wish you a happy new year! Despite a crazy year or perhaps because of it, many Americans will be making financial resolutions for 2021. If you’d like to put some of this year’s focus on financial goals but haven’t...

 

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Recently, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill that provides greater unemployment benefits and additional stimulus payments to individuals and families, as well as more...

 

Monday, January 4, 2021

For many of us, Social Security plays an important part in our financial plans for retirement or later stage of life. Even if you’re years away from applying for benefits, there are good reasons to set up your online Social...

 

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Entrepreneurs face challenges daily. The demands of managing day-to-day operations, overseeing administrative details and positioning your business to take advantage of industry trends often don’t leave time for you to consider...

 

Show All

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Insurance: we all hope to not need it, but wouldn’t want to be without it when we do. Car insurance, health insurance, life insurance, home insurance… you and your spouse probably  have most – if not all –...

 

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Each fall the Treasury Department announces inflation adjustments to tax-advantaged retirement accounts and income limits for the following tax year. They recently announced contribution limits and changes for the 2021 tax year.For...

 

Friday, November 27, 2020

Inherited retirement accounts offer great financial opportunities to beneficiaries, but can be stressful due to the complicated risks associated with certain options. Knowing the basic differences of each option is just the tip of the...

 

Thursday, November 26, 2020

As you enter each new phase of your life, milestones such as marriage, buying a home and having kids will impact you financially and inevitably affect how much money you can put toward retirement. While these new expenses can be...

 

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

There’s a great debate raging about what style of investment management is better, active or passive. And if you ask 10 different financial professionals, you could get 10 different answers. So first, let’s understand the...

 

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Each fall the Treasury Department announces inflation adjustments to tax-advantaged retirement accounts and income limits for the following tax year. They recently announced contribution limits and changes for the 2021 tax year.For...

 

Monday, November 16, 2020

One of the biggest decisions to make in retirement is ensuring you have the health care coverage you need, when you need it. Medicare can be a complicated program to navigate and as you approach the time in which you can begin...

 

Sunday, November 15, 2020

Medicare can be complicated to sort through, there are many options and choices available to suit different needs. To make it simpler, the program has been broken down into four basic parts. As you think about how Medicare will cover...

 

Saturday, November 14, 2020

As you plan to incorporate Medicare into your long-term healthcare plan, it’s essential to be aware of the different dates for enrollment. Missing these deadlines can cost you, sometimes permanently, and you could suffer a lapse...

 

Friday, November 13, 2020

As you determine what the right Medicare plan options are for you, it’s important to be sure you have the coverage essential for your health care and retirement needs. On average, Original Medicare only covers about 80% of...

 

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Turning 65 is the trigger point for the vast majority of Americans to enroll in Medicare. The milestone birthday sets the stage for your initial enrollment period (IEP) during which you can enroll, it’s important to be aware of...

 

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

While it may be hard to think of now, it’s likely that you’ll need some type of healthcare or daily living assistance as you age. People often think that Medicare covers long-term care, either at home or in a nursing...

 

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Retirement evokes different dreams for everyone, but for many, travel is part of the image. If travel is part of your retirement vision, before you leave town, it’s important to be aware of whether Medicare coverage will protect...

 

Monday, November 9, 2020

Preparing for retirement is complex for many reasons. With improved medical care, a person retiring today at typical retirement age may need their savings to last 30 years or more, making it necessary for retirement funds to sustain a...

 

Sunday, October 18, 2020

Have you started planning out your retirement dreams? Most of us develop a vision that includes spending time relaxing, traveling, taking up new hobbies, meeting new friends, and reconnecting with old ones.Dreaming about the future...

 

Saturday, October 17, 2020

The pandemic has showcased how much we rely on the internet, which makes it possible to virtually work from home, shop, attend religious service and stay connected with family and friends. Unfortunately, those conveniences come with...

 

Friday, October 16, 2020

As we roll into Fall, we wanted to send along a reminder that the Medicare annual open enrollment period begins October 15th and ends December 7th. During this time, Medicare beneficiaries can change their Advantage plan or Part D...

 

Friday, October 16, 2020

The general calculation for 2020 is you can get the maximum social security benefit of $3,011 per month after starting to receive benefits at full retirement age. The full retirement age means those who are born in 1960 or after 1960....

 

Saturday, October 10, 2020

Financial markets are volatile…it’s the nature of the beast when so many dollars, traders, brokers and investors are involved. And if you’ve been out of the market, you’ve missed some huge growth opportunities....

 

Friday, October 9, 2020

The countdown to Halloween is officially on! Bags of candy fill the store shelves and scary costumes are flooding aisles. Due to the ongoing pandemic, Halloween may need to look a little different this year to keep your family and...

 

Thursday, October 8, 2020

Election Day is right around the corner and as Americans, our right to vote is fundamental to our democracy. Election Day is truly a national day of celebration for our liberties and our country’s unwavering dedication to our...

 

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

As a reminder, the 2021 Open Enrollment Period for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace is November 1 through December 15, 2020. Anyone looking to enroll, re-enroll or opt of out of private health, vision and...

 

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

One of the biggest financial challenges women often face is preparing for and having enough saved for retirement years. There are numerous reasons why these challenges exist, but through continued awareness and planning those...

 

Saturday, October 3, 2020

We strive to keep you regularly updated with important market changes and news.Please listen to the most recent market update from Phil Blancato, President and CEO of Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, a well-known name in the...

 

Friday, October 2, 2020

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month, making it a good time to review things you may not know about life insurance, such as:Policies differ widely. Term life insurance pays out a death benefit if you die within the specified...

 

Thursday, October 1, 2020

As the struggle to control COVID-19 drags on, many of us experience periodic fatigue from distancing, negative headlines and future uncertainties. Staying disciplined when weary is difficult but crucial to short-term financial...

 

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

When you change jobs, it’s critical to remember to create a plan for past employee sponsored retirement accounts. While you have the choice to simply leave it, you also have the option to consolidate past plans which brings all...

 

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

We know, at times, that retirement decisions can be confusing and there is substantial information surrounding the investment vehicles that can be utilized to reach your retirement goals. We thought we’d send along some...

 

Monday, September 28, 2020

Navigating the death of a close family member can be difficult to endure. When a loved one is lost, the first thoughts likely won’t be about what to do with their IRA. But for beneficiaries, it is important to make wise...

 

Thursday, September 17, 2020

What the 1980 U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team can teach us about late-stage retirement planning. It was February of 1980, at Madison Square Gardens during the height of the Cold War. It was there that the U.S. men’s Olympic...

 

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

On Aug. 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law to help combat unemployment and guarantee income for retirees. Roosevelt acknowledged the limitations of the act, stating, "We can never insure...

 

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

How you will take your 401(k) distributions when you retire can be an important consideration in executing your post-retirement plan. We all look forward to the day when we can finally kick back, relax and collect our carefully-planned...

 

Monday, September 14, 2020

Football is back, which means Summer is coming to a close, days will get shorter, and sweaters will soon be in play.This year, there was no pre-season, so professional football started in September, which coincidentally, is a...

 

Sunday, September 13, 2020

Most recently, you may have read that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced a change in how the Fed views inflation. In the past, the Fed said it would consider adjusting short-term rates when inflation approached 2 percent....

 

Monday, September 7, 2020

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), one of the most widely followed stock market indices, has made some key changes to its starting lineup.Salesforce.com, Amgen Inc.and Honeywell International Inc. have replaced Exxon Mobil Corp....

 

Sunday, September 6, 2020

To some, this may hardly feel like an economy headed for a bright future. But don’t tell that to home builders.Builder confidence in August jumped to an eye-popping 78 in August, according to the Housing Market Index courtesy of...

 

Saturday, September 5, 2020

Some people in recent weeks may have been feeling that “the stock market seems to be doing so well but I’m not participating.”A look behind the headlines helps tell the story.A CNBC study found that between the stock...

 

Friday, September 4, 2020

Right now, many Americans are worried about their financial health due to the impact COVID-19 has had on the country. Adding to these concerns were July's consumer prices— excluding food and energy—which rose at the...

 

Thursday, September 3, 2020

Stocks advanced relentlessly last week on positive COVID-19 developments, encouraging economic data, and a supportive policy shift in the Fed’s approach to its target inflation rate.The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by...

 

Thursday, August 27, 2020

When you become a parent, your finances get a lot more complicated. You suddenly have to face a whole host of new financial responsibilities! Young parents must be prepared to cover additional household expenses, save for their...

 

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Two high-profile companies—Apple and Tesla—have announced stock splits in the past few weeks, which makes it a great time to discuss what’s involved when a company announces a stock split.Remember, any companies...

 

Monday, August 24, 2020

As many of you know, the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee has eight scheduled meetings each year when the seven board members review the nation's economic activity and set the federal funds rate's target rate.In this...

 

Sunday, August 23, 2020

This month, many universities and colleges are welcoming students back to campus, even if most campuses are largely online this year.But that's not all that's different. The current administration has issued an executive memorandum...

 

Saturday, August 22, 2020

"Will I outlive my retirement money?" That's one of the top fears for people who are starting to prepare for their retirement years.So I have to chuckle a bit when I see headlines that say, "Here's how much money Americans think they...

 

Friday, August 21, 2020

Are you one of the many retirement account holders who took a mandatory distribution this year? If so, you may be able to manage the taxes associated with Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from traditional IRAs and 401(k)s. There...

 

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Establishing a retirement plan for yourself and your employees can help you attract and retain workers and give you personal and business tax deductions. Yet you haven’t taken the final step to create a plan because every time...

 

Thursday, August 20, 2020

One of my favorite Wall Street quotes is from Mark Twain, who said:“October: This is one of the peculiarly dangerous months to speculate in stocks. The others are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, June,...

 

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Stock prices drifted higher in an otherwise quiet news week, as a slowdown in new COVID-19 cases outweighed a Congressional impasse on a new fiscal-spending measure.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.81%, while the Standard...

 

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

To some, the buying and selling of a company’s stock by corporate officers and directors can be an indicator of Wall Street sentiment.In July 2020, the ratio of companies with executive buying compared with executive selling...

 

Friday, July 31, 2020

Stocks slipped in the final days of trading last week on higher jobless claims and rising tensions in the U.S.-China relationship.The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.76%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 dipped 0.28%. The...

 

Friday, July 31, 2020

With all of the storm and stress of the year 2020, you’d be forgiven if you momentarily forgot that we’re due for another national election in November. Many states will be selecting governors, representatives, and...

 

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

To some, the buying and selling of a company’s stock by corporate officers and directors can be an indicator of Wall Street sentiment.In July 2020, the ratio of companies with executive buying compared with executive selling...

 

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Lately, it can feel like each day brings a new headline about fluctuating market behavior. But amid the ups and downs of 2020, there may be some potential good news on the horizon. On July 16, 2020, the interest rate for a 30-year...

 

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Stocks were mixed last week as investors reacted to positive economic data, progress on a COVID-19 vaccine, and the continued nationwide increase in COVID-19 cases.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 2.29%, while the Standard...

 

Monday, July 27, 2020

Every few months, you may hear the phrase “we’re entering earnings season” as you read financial news.But what exactly is “earnings season” and why is it important to Wall Street?Earnings season is the...

 

Friday, July 17, 2020

Recently, you may have heard that financial industry regulators established a new set of rules designed to guide investors who work with an investment professional. This new set of rules is called “Regulation Best...

 

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Stock prices notched solid gains last week, looking past an increase in COVID-19 cases and any potential economic concerns raised by the trend.The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.96%, while the Standard & Poor’s...

 

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

This year has had no shortage of changes to the normal course of business.In March, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service announced that they extended the federal income tax filing and payment deadline until July 15...

 

Monday, July 13, 2020

In the era of COVID-19, and the financial woes it has created, I often get asked, “Why is the stock market holding up so well when the economy appears to be struggling?” To understand why the markets react — or...

 

Thursday, July 9, 2020

With the economy and financial markets flashing mixed signals, it’s no wonder that lawmakers are deadlocked on whether to pass a Phase 4 of the CARES Act.More than $3 trillion in stimulus has been pushed into the economy since...

 

Monday, July 6, 2020

In our uncertain climate, it’s unsurprising that when American investors are thinking about their financial strategy, that the topic of life insurance comes up.For some, it’s always been front of mind. For younger...

 

Monday, June 29, 2020

Americans who have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic may now be able to access retirement accounts to help cover daily expenses, penalty-free.Now, in addition to those who have lost their jobs during the COVID-19...

 

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

An “eye-popping” $2 trillion in cash has been stashed in deposit accounts at U.S. banks since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the country in January.1This surge of money into banks has no precedent in history.Several...

 

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Investor sentiment turned negative last week, amid an increasing number of COVID-19 cases in states where reopening has been underway as well as a subdued economic forecast from the Federal Reserve.The Dow Jones Industrial Average...

 

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) reported in recent weeks that the U.S. economy officially entered a recession in February 2020. This transition brought a 128-month expansion to an end, the longest in post World War II...

 

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

As businesses begin the process of reopening their doors after the COVID-19 shutdown, many have considered turning to the Federal Reserve’s Main Street Lending Program for aid. Announced on March 23, the Program’s goal is...

 

Monday, June 15, 2020

In economics, one might classify statistics that measure overall business activity as either leading indicators, lagging indicators, or coincident indicators.Leading indicators attempt to point toward a future activity while lagging...

 

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

As Americans adjust their spending habits in a rapidly changing economy, they are building cash reserves at an unprecedented rate.The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported on May 29th that the personal savings rate hit a historic 33%...

 

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

As states cautiously begin the process of relaxing their COVID-19 restrictions, some are wondering, “Why is the stock market doing so well when the economy is doing so poorly?”It’s a great question, and fortunately,...

 

Monday, June 8, 2020

Undeniably, spring 2020 has tried the patience of investors.An 11-year bull market ended. Key economic indicators went haywire. Household confidence was shaken. The Standard & Poor’s 500, the benchmark for the broad stock...

 

Thursday, June 4, 2020

The shortened week, which began with a powerful two-day rally of trading, was enough to drive the markets into another week of solid gains.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 3.75%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 advanced...

 

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Tucked into the gigantic “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security” (“CARES”) Act were two key changes you should know about, regarding required minimum distributions (RMDs). Both were designed to give...

 

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Are you or someone you know currently making federal student loan payments? In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, some welcome relief may be on the way.Thanks to the recent passage of the CARES Act, the U.S. Department of Education will...

 

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Thanks to COVID-19, flying is down, driving is down, and the price of fuel is way, way down.On April 20, U.S. crude oil dropped to its lowest level in more than 30 years, due to a slump in demand. That day, West Texas Intermediate...

 

Monday, June 1, 2020

Few life events are more stressful than a job loss.If you or someone you know is in this situation due to COVID-19, you’ll likely have several questions about job hunting, unemployment insurance, and health care. You may also be...

 

Sunday, May 31, 2020

American lawmakers have passed the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, a program that will offer small business loans to employers in need of aid as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.1,2The bill is a $484...

 

Saturday, May 30, 2020

The Internal Revenue Service knows that many taxpayers have had a stressful spring. So, it has reset the federal tax deadline. You now have until July 15 to file your 1040 form. July 15 is also the deadline to pay any federal taxes...

 

Friday, May 29, 2020

Hindsight is 20/20. It’s only human to imagine what it might have been like to turn left instead of right on some fateful day. However, that sort of daydreaming is unhelpful when investing, especially when it leads you to try...

 

Thursday, May 28, 2020

If you’re like most of us, you’ve probably been thinking about your health quite a bit lately — especially if you’re approaching retirement. Trust me, I understand. Anticipating your future medical costs can...

 

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Even in “normal” times, the news can be depressing. But these days, it can seem like there’s an awful lot to worry about. Here’s a sampling of the types of headlines I’ve seen recently:Why US hospitals...

 

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken up nearly every aspect of American life. To say it’s been a difficult time would be an understatement. However, difficult times may open doors to new possibilities. Businesses are changing...

 

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

There are many upsides to downsizing as a senior. You can pay less for utilities, have less space to keep clean, be closer to family members and friends, and have better access to certain activities you enjoy, just to name a few....

 

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Some of us may be better planners than others, but we can all identify with the ease and peace of mind that a well-thought-out plan brings. Pre-planning your funeral can bring that same sense of relief. It might not be the most...

 

Thursday, December 26, 2019

When a loved one has Alzheimer’s disease, you face many challenges. Handling the events of daily life is enough without worrying about how to cover the costs associated with the disease. Here is practical advice so you can...

 

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Living on a fixed income can be a challenge for many seniors, especially those who are living with health issues or disabilities. The cost of medical care or medications can be overwhelming, and often seniors are faced with living...

 

Monday, November 19, 2018

When it comes to your employer sponsored 401(k) plan, knowing your options goes a long way in helping make better decisions. If you are exploring your career options or perhaps planning ahead towards retirement, here are some options...

 

Monday, November 12, 2018

Surely anyone who has been in the market to purchase a life insurance policy has run into the confusing array of plans available. The following will give you a brief summary on two of the most popular life insurance coverage choices:...

 

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Most understand that waiting to claim Social Security benefits can result in higher monthly payments. However, many don’t know that there are other ways to maximize their benefits, some of which depend on their marital status....