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Springtime is almost here! Spring brings a sense of renewal and optimism after the long dreary winter months. As the warmer weather moves in, we tend to find ourselves feeling more motivated, ready to clear out the old and bring in the new! Spring cleaning is a popular tradition for many, as it provides a chance to clear out any stagnant clutter and stale air. We kick off the season with scrubbing, organizing, and decluttering all of the physical aspects of our home and lives.

2022 has been a challenging year! We’ve seen markets hit lows with virtually every market segment falling in value, including bonds. Inflation skyrocketed, hitting rates the US has not seen in 30 years. The most recent Consumer Price Index numbers were released this morning, reflecting a 7.1% inflation rate for the United States through November(1). This comes as reassuring news, as many economists were expecting higher numbers to close out the year. Albeit, 7.1% is still mighty high.

There is no doubt that the rapidly growing inflation rates seen around the world in 2022 have severely impacted Americans. September 2022 numbers show the US inflation rate hovering at about 8.2% for the previous 12 months(1) as American families struggle to keep up with rising costs of basic needs like food and gas. The IRS recently released adjustments for over 60 tax provisions in response to the overwhelming inflation rates...

It’s no secret that student loan debt is a major problem in this country. Even with recent efforts to relieve many federal borrowers of some of their debt, many individuals that are now having babies and raising children are still paying down massive student loans. As a result, parents and grandparents are thinking more proactively about saving and planning for college expenses.

It is no surprise that inflation is skyrocketing in the US. The current inflation rate for 2022 exceeds 9%. Typically, annual inflation is estimated to be about a “standard” 3%. So what has happened to cause this craziness, and what does it mean for you?

As financial advisors, one area that we are well versed in is protecting our clients from financial fraud. Although everyone is susceptible to falling victim to fraud, seniors tend to be the group that is targeted most frequently. Therefore, in observance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15th, we will focus on one area of elder abuse: financial exploitation.

It is no secret that women traditionally had little to do with family finances or retirement planning. Over time, women have come a long way, especially as their presence in the workforce expanded and income increased.

In these times, we are connected virtually more than ever. Internet usage has been ramping up rapidly for years now, and then came Covid. Many of us were forced into a completely digital world, not only personally, but also for work and school. Our rapidly increasing reliance on technology makes us very vulnerable to cybersecurity safety concerns, such as identity theft, phishing, security breaches, viruses and malware attacks. Luckily, there are several simple ways to proactively mitigate risks and stay one step ahead of many potential cybersecurity issues.