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Dealing with Periods of Crisis
What is it? By definition, a crisis is a turning point, a time when you have to make crucial decisions (often suddenly) that will affect your future. Although smart planning is the key to effectively dealing with periods of crisis, you...
Read MoreNational Life Insurance Awareness Month
Baby boomers’ huge numbers and surprisingly shaky health threaten government old-age benefits. That’s why you need to bolster your own retirement finances more than ever – and pay attention to your insurance needs....
Read MoreBalancing Work and Family
At one time, the typical American family looked like this: a breadwinner father who commuted a short distance to work and earned a very good living, and a stay-at-home mother who took care of the kids and family home with aplomb. Life...
Read MoreWomen, Wealth, and Legacy Planning
Women play a central role in establishing and preserving family wealth -- whether nurturing the values of children, fulfilling charitable goals, or making investment decisions that affect the financial security of themselves or their...
Read MoreWomen and Money: Taking Control of Your Finances
As a woman, you have financial needs that are unique to your situation in life. Perhaps you would like to buy your first home. Maybe you need to start saving for your child's college education. Or you might be concerned about planning...
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High Earning Women and Wealth Management
In the U.S., women control a third of household assets. But by 2030, U.S. women are expected to control much of the assets that the baby boomer generation will pass to heirs, roughly 30 trillion in assets. High-earning women have...
Read MoreFinancial Planning for Female Entrepreneurs
Women own nearly 20% of the businesses that employ people in the United States, and countless more women run their businesses without employees. There are over one million women-owned firms. They employ over 10 million people and...
Read MoreTips for Women to Help Build Financial Independence
Every woman needs to balance her financial past with her financial futureTraditionally, women have been the caretakers of both the older and younger generations of their families. But providing care for family members is becoming...
Read MoreTips for the Fast Growing Sandwich Generation
Finances are dicey for those simultaneously caring for their parents and kidsOver the last 20 years, the median-age for Americans (the median age is the point where exactly half the population is older and the other half is younger)...
Read MoreLand of the Debt Free
3 Steps To Declare Your Financial IndependenceFinancial independence means different things to different people. For some, it might mean early retirement. For others, the ability to travel the world. It is the freedom to leave a job...
Read MoreAging Parents and Money
Getting old is hard. Your parents’ ability to manage their own finances may decline as they age. Helping them with money matters is a sensitive issue you need to approach carefully.When you hit a certain age of your life, you may...
Read MoreFixed vs. Variable Annuities
Annuity products have grown more sophisticated over the years to meet the demands of today's more sophisticated investors.Just as mutual funds grew in popularity as an alternative to certificates of deposit, the variable annuity was...
Read MoreLast Minute Considerations for the FAFSA Deadline
For many, the expenses of college or technical school can be overwhelming. But, with financial aid programs, tuition, room and board, books, and other college-related costs can become more affordable. To determine if your student...
Read MoreInvesting in Inclusion: Everything You Need To Know About LGBTQ+-Friendly Investing
Inclusion is a decent thing to do from a human standpoint. It may also improve the profitability of a business that commits to investing with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in mind.1 Whether you are part of the...
Read MoreWomen and Asset Protection - How Insurance Can Help
Women are successful professionals, business owners, and knowledgeable investors. At some point in their lives, women may have to manage their own finances due to divorce, widowhood, or remaining single. Every day, women face a variety...
Read More5 Key Steps To Help Women Strengthen Their Business and Their Retirement
As a female entrepreneur, you may face different challenges than your male counterparts. For example, women were disproportionately affected by the COVID pandemic. 1 They also tend to earn less than their male peers—largely in...
Read More5 Mental Health Tips for Moms
Being a mom is one of the most rewarding experiences for many, but it also comes with a host of challenges. Whether you are juggling multiple kids, are a working mom, or just starting out on your motherhood path, one of the most...
Read More7 Reasons to Invest in Women Owned Businesses and How to Get Started
In 2021, women-led companies only received 2% of all venture capital funding, a figure considered the lowest percentage in more than five years.1 Data shows this figure does not necessarily reflect the potential success of...
Read MoreAfter the Military: Tips for Your Financial Transition to Civilian Life
A drawdown is looming. You're separating at the end of active service. You've decided to retire after a long career. No matter why you're leaving the military, a big part of preparing for your civilian life is taking steps to...
Read MoreWomen and Retirement: Closing the Gender Pay & Retirement Savings Gap
Today’s women are more educated and have more significant job opportunities compared to previous generations. Despite more women in the workforce than ever before, women still experience considerable pay disparity compared to...
Read More5 Ways a Financial Professional Could Be a Small-Business Owner's Best Friend
As a business owner, you may assume you do not need professional financial advice until you hit certain milestones such as $1 million in sales, having ten employees, or some other tangible measure. However, financial professionals may...
Read MoreWomen - Moving Forward Financially After the Loss of a Spouse
The loss of a spouse can be a devastating, life-changing event. Due to longer life expectancies, women are more likely to face this situation.Becoming a widow at any age can be one of the most difficult challenges a woman must face....
Read MoreApril is National Financial Literacy Month
When was the last time you learned about anything financial?April is National Financial Literacy Month – an entire month dedicated to underscoring the importance of learning, establishing and maintaining healthy financial habits...
Read MoreWhen to Call Me
Times to Call Your Financial AdvisorMost of us go to see professionals when we’re in trouble or during times of crisis. Think about it. We go to the doctor when we’re sick. We go see a lawyer when we have a pending legal...
Read More3 Way for Women to Achieve Financial Independence
For many women, working toward financial independence is more difficult. Obstacles women face include having a longer life expectancy than men which will require more savings for retirement, spending fewer years in the...
Read MoreReducing Credit Card Debt Without Depriving Yourself
Credit card use can be beneficial to your finances if managed appropriately. Learning to balance credit card use with spending habits while also saving can positively impact your finances over time. Credit card use often helps increase...
Read More7 Financial Planning Tips for Single Parents
For decades the number of single-parent households has been rising worldwide, with the U.S. having the highest rate of children living in single-parent households. Economic well-being for these households is concerning since it is up...
Read MoreWomen’s History Month: The Single Woman
Women’s History Month has its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed and authorized a resolution and requested the President to...
Read MoreDeveloping a Spending Plan
What is a spending plan? Your spending plan is your active strategy for getting where you want to go. Think of your spending plan as a road map that helps you reach your goals, as well as give you a sense of direction. Your spending...
Read More5 Tax Planning Tips for Women Entrepreneurs
When you are busy running a company, it may be difficult to think about your taxes. Proactive tax planning helps you to avoid an unexpected tax liability when you file. These helpful strategies may offset your tax liability and might...
Read MoreWhat to Know About the SECURE Act 2.0
With the signing of the Omnibus Appropriations package into law, both employees and employers can take advantage of more than 90 new provisions aimed at creating opportunities to create or modify workplace retirement plans and...
Read More7 Tips for Time Management
When you’re busy juggling your career, family, social life, and multiple other obligations, you may end up feeling as if you don’t have enough time to do it all. Often, the solution lies in improving how you manage your...
Read MoreA Look at Tax Planning for Retirement
After years of saving and planning for their golden years, many people nearing retirement fail to consider the tax burden they may face on income they receive after they stop working. While you will likely see a reduction in the amount...
Read MoreEveryone Is Working From Home—Here’s How to Do It Effectively
Our homes are supposed to be an escape from reality. A safe place we can go to unwind from the stresses of the day, be that from work or from life as a whole. But when this place of comfort becomes your work space, it can be...
Read MoreTax Prep Checklist: Everything You Need to Be Ready for Tax Season
Regardless of whether you prepare your taxes yourself or use a professional's services, it's a good idea to gather the information and documentation you need well in advance of your actual tax filing date. Below, we've listed some key...
Read MoreFocusing on Your Finances
While most people find the notion of creating a budget about as appealing as cleaning out closets, most would agree that the result—a well-crafted and useful budget—is worth the work. Two financial “snapshots” you...
Read MoreA Season of Giving: 5 Different Ways To Give During the Holidays
With the holidays here, now is the time to get into the giving spirit and help to change others' lives for the better. Whether you are looking to make a difference in a specific person's life or the life of many, there are many ways to...
Read MoreHow To Keep Your Kids Entertained During Winter Break
Winter break is an exciting time for kids—days off from school, giving presents and receiving them, and more time to have play dates with classmates. But that time off can quickly turn from exciting to boring...
Read MoreDeveloping a Dynamic Business Plan
A well-crafted business plan can be a blueprint for entrepreneurial confidence. This multifaceted tool is as important to established business owners looking to grow their companies as it is to budding entrepreneurs. A business plan...
Read MoreThe Most Common Tax Tips before Year End
Tax planning can be advantageous when done during the year and well in advance of year’s end. Opportunities exist for you to mitigate tax liability, which may leave more income for you and/or your family. Generally, people put off...
Read MoreHealthy at 75 Should Be Your Retirement Mantra
Too many people don’t realize that taking care of themselves physically can lead to more confident financial tomorrows.Planning for retirement should start in your early twenties, if not before. Why? Because you can develop good...
Read MoreWhen Is It Time for Long-Term Care?
Is it memory loss due to the aging process or the early onset of dementia? Initially, cognitive changes can be subtle and challenging to diagnose. As a result, it can be difficult to decide if a loved one is able to continue living...
Read MoreHelpful Tax Tips before Year End
Tax planning can be more advantageous when done during the year and well in advance of year’s end. Opportunities may exist for you to minimize tax liability, which could leave more income for you and/or your family.Generally,...
Read MoreManaging Caregivers Stress
With more and more seniors aging in place, the rise in caregivers who are not health professionals has begun to increase as well. Informal caregivers may find that their work is rewarding, since they ensure that their loved one is...
Read MoreEasy Ways to Save Money When Shopping Online
Shopping online saves you a trip to the store and gives you more time in your day, but sometimes shipping costs and prices have you spending more than you probably wanted to. Use these money saving tips to make online shopping cost and...
Read MoreWomen and Estate Planning Basics
When it comes to estate planning, women have unique concerns. The fact is that women live an average of 5.0 years longer than men.* That's important because it means that there's a greater chance that you'll need your assets to last...
Read MoreWhat You Need to Know About Medicare Advantage Plans
If your 65th birthday is coming up—or if you're receiving Social Security Disability payments and are about to qualify for Medicare before age 65—you may be wondering exactly what comes next.1 Below, we discuss some...
Read MoreFinancial Planning Tips for High-Earning Women
When it comes to saving for retirement, women may have extra challenges, even those with a higher-than-average income. For retirement planning, CNBC reports that women save less than men. The pandemic worsened matters, with more than 2...
Read MoreFinancial Considerations for Working Parents
Nine of every 10 U.S. families with children have at least one working parent.1 Though working parents make up one of the largest demographic groups in the country, they face many challenges—from the cost of childcare to...
Read MoreA Growing Trend: Women Entrepreneurs
The business landscape is continually changing—technological advances, corporate downsizing, restructuring, and telecommuting have reshaped the marketplace. Although these improvements and modifications have a great impact...
Read MoreThe Role of Caregiver Affects Women Differently
Today, like so many other women, you may be facing a new challenge while you’re still working full time. Your children are growing up just as your parents are slowing down and need assistance with daily activities. Although years...
Read MoreTreating Yourself Can Be Beneficial to Pursuing Your Financial Goals
Have you ever made a purchase that has thrown your monthly budget off-kilter? Or maybe you’ve put financial restrictions on yourself that push you away from spending on things that bring you joy. The phrase “treat...
Read MoreCommon Cents: Financial Tips Everyone Should Know
Few U.S. high schools have comprehensive personal finance programs, which means that some teens enter adulthood without a deep base of knowledge on topics like investing, budgeting, and consumer debt. Even those who feel they're fairly...
Read MoreWomen and Work: Why Salary, Benefits, and Work-Life Balance Count
As you progress along your career path, there's no telling how far you'll go. But to fully reap the financial rewards of all your hard work, you'll need to take charge of your own career. Here are a few issues you'll want to pay close...
Read MoreTeach Your Children Well: Basic Financial Education
Even before your children can count, they already know something about money: it's what you have to give the ice cream man to get a cone, or put in the slot to ride the rocket ship at the grocery store. So, as soon as your children begin...
Read MoreFinancial Planning at Every Age
Americans are budgeting more due to the pandemic. Knowing where your money is going and making sure you're adequately funding your future could be helpful to maintain your lifestyle for the decades that you may live. Whether you're a...
Read MoreSaving Tips for Younger Adults
Younger adults face a variety of challenges in their pursuit of financial independence. Keep reading for five financial tips to help you manage your personal finances and prepare for your future.
Read MoreTips for Women Who Are Living in the Sandwich Generation
Do you find yourself sandwiched between caregiving demands, career peaks, and looking ahead to your own retirement? Read the following strategies to help navigate through the sandwich generation phase.
Read MoreWellness in Retirement: The Benefits of Social Wellness for Retirees
In retirement, it is sometimes necessary to create new social connections and a new social network, especially if you relied on work for your socialization. Check out the benefits of social wellness that bring many retirees a happier life.
Read MoreTips for Women to Help Build Financial Independence
Every woman needs to balance her financial past with her financial future. Keep reading for tips on how women can help build financial independence.
Read More4 Financial Lessons from America’s Founding Fathers
America’s Founding Fathers created the foundation of a nation like no other. Each had goals and dreams, many with high expectations of what the United States of America could become. For today’s citizens, it may be possible...
Read MoreIs an Annuity Appropriate for You?
When it comes to your retirement, there are three factors that you may want to take into account when planning for your retirement income needs.
Read MoreSecuring Your Future with Life Cycle Planning
The need for regular saving and investing spans many life stages. Through the years, your goals will change and your strategies will shift, but don’t be alarmed. You’re just progressing through the normal stages of life,...
Read More4 Economic Benefits of Homeownership
Even though housing prices throughout much of the U.S. are at or near all-time highs, there are still many distinct financial advantages to owning a home.1 From tax benefits to capital gains exclusions and guaranteed rates of return,...
Read More401(k) Rollover Options to Consider
When people are leaving their employer, one of the decisions they need to make is what to do with their 401(k). A retirement plan participant typically has four options (and may engage in a combination of these options), each choice...
Read MoreMarket Pullbacks Can Provide Opportunity
But take a look at your investment policy statement before you do anything... How this January 2022 market turbulence affects you depends upon how old you are. For people in or near retirement, it is scary – yet there are ways to...
Read MoreRMD Roundup: A Few Key Updates About Required Minimum Distributions
As we approach the end of 2021, now might be a good time to take a closer look at a few developments surrounding required minimum distributions (RMDs). What Are RMDs? Once you reach age 72, you are required to take minimum...
Read MoreA Financial Review Can Pay Off at Year End
Today, many people find themselves bombarded by a constant stream of financial news from television, radio, and the Internet. Yet, does all this “information age” data really help you manage your finances any better now...
Read MoreNational Family Caregivers Month: Caring for the Caregiver
November is a month to celebrate the sacrifice that many caregivers make to take care of loved ones during the most challenging periods of their lives. Being a caregiver sometimes leads to stress, over-exhaustion, and burn-out. So, for...
Read MoreRetirement Mistakes to Fix Before the Holidays
You probably spend more time planning your holiday gathering than preparing for your golden years. As a result, you make basic mistakes in trying to fund your retirement. Here are a few of the top mistakes people make to screw up this...
Read MoreFinancial Planning for Veterans is Different
Every Veteran is unique and requires personalized financial advice According to the most recent data from the U.S. Census, there are over 17 million Veterans in the United States and more than nine million of these Veterans are served...
Read MoreThe Budget and the Debt Ceiling: Federal Spending in the Crosshairs
The Budget and the Debt Ceiling: Federal Spending in the Crosshairs On September 30, 2021, Congress averted a potential federal government shutdown by passing a continuing resolution to provide funding for government operations through...
Read MoreOctober is National Financial Planning Month
October is National Financial Planning Month Tips to help you find a financial professional and financial planning firm The financial professional and financial planning firm you pick to manage your assets and advise you on key...
Read MoreNew Bill Aims to Solve for the Retirement Plan Coverage Gap
New Bill Aims to Solve for the Retirement Plan Coverage Gap One in four Americans does not have any retirement savings. This situation may be due at least partly to not having access to an employer-sponsored retirement account.1 The...
Read MoreWhen to Call Us - Times to Call your NorthShore Team
When to Call Me Times to call your financial advisor Most of us go to see professionals when we’re in trouble or during times of crisis. Think about it. We go to the doctor when we’re sick. We go see a lawyer when we have a...
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