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Personal finance is typically spoken about in relation to big financial decisions. From things like establishing long-term savings goals to purchasing a home, choices made surrounding money are frequently thought about on a large scale. More often than not, smaller financial decisions are overlooked or disregarded, many deeming them too small to make an impact. However, seemingly tiny money choices made daily tend to add up to make a significant impact in the long run, especially when analyzed over time. Deciphering between purchases made based on wants versus needs is an important step in reassessing how you look at small financial decisions. Discretionary spending is a broad, vague category by nature, so spending some extra time to think about how you allocate money there is critical. One way to find the money to meet your spending or saving needs is to examine your current spending habits and consider eliminating money

When it comes to retirement, everyone has a different vision. But the path to retirement is generally the same: you work, you save, and hopefully at some point you’ve saved enough that you can stop working and do something else. How much work before retirement is enough? And how much savings is enough? How long will “retirement” last? Years ago, retirement meant you stopped working, started collecting a pension, and sailed away to Margarita Ville for the last 10 to 15 years of your life. But nowadays, retirement could last 30+ years and could include a second career, travel, making new friends, or really, whatever intrigues you. Nearly 70% of workers expect to work for pay in retirement, but only 26% of retirees actually have done so. So how do you plan for a stage in your life in which virtually anything can happen? With no crystal ball to peer

Coming fresh off of your New Year celebrations means that April 15th is approaching. And while no one likes to think about it, tax season is quickly approaching. Tax Day 2019 is on Monday, April 15th and that means that it is time to start preparing to file. Anyone who has prepared for tax time before knows the process seem like endless gathering and sorting of information. Unfortunately, there is no getting around that, but there are some steps to take now that can help you breeze through it more efficiently and with fewer headaches. Getting organized is an important aspect of potentially minimizing your tax burden. As with the majority of things in life, being prepared is your key to success. Today, we examine 3 simple and effective steps to properly preparing for tax season: Decide How to File You really have two choices here: file your taxes yourself

Knowledge is power in every aspect of life. Imagine driving a car without a basic understanding of the rules of the road, or even how to operate it. That’s quite a scary thought. What’s even scarier? Many Americans are operating their personal finances with only the barest minimum of knowledge. One study found that, when asked five basic questions about finances and the markets, 61 percent of Americans were unable to answer more than 3 questions correctly.¹ That same study also found that 18 percent of Americans routinely spend more than their household income. Additionally, it found that one-in-five Americans have overdue medical bills. The reality is that knowledge puts people, retirees especially, in a powerful position. Unfortunately, however, far too many Americans lack the power to control their financial futures. But education lays the foundation for a journey towards a successful and sound financial future. One of the obstacles

As an entrepreneur, you have likely spent years studying your craft, developing your skillset and expanding your business. You’re good at what you do. But unless your business specializes in business management itself, you may still have some questions about the best ways to run your company, manage cash flow, and maximize your profits. One area we see business owners run into some confusion is when it comes to idea of installing a retirement plan. Should you offer a retirement plan? If so, what type? What are the costs? Are they worth it? What plan is best for my company? Which one is fair to my employees and to myself as a business owner? These are common questions people face. On the one hand, a retirement plan can make you a more attractive employer and can also help you offset taxes. As the owner of the business, you’re also allowed

The idea of paying money to someone for them to tell you how to handle your own money can be a difficult concept for people. After all, you can do your own research and listen to the news and that should be sufficient enough to determine where and how to invest, right? The most common and costly error folks make is thinking that if they know what to invest in, their financial life will turn out the way they want it to. But there’s so much more to it than that. A good financial planner helps you make a “financial game plan” that addresses not only retirement goals but also how you should navigate life’s expected and unexpected transitions. They take these complex issues and make them more digestible so you can understand how your money is implicated throughout different walks of life. A good financial planner will provide clarity.

No matter what stage of life you may currently be in, setting financial goals is imperative. A Harvard Business Study conducted in the late 1970s, revealed that only 3 percent of the students in its MBA program had put pen to paper to write down their goals and a concrete plan. Ten years later, that same small segment of students who wrote down their goals were earning ten times as much as the remaining 97 percent of their class. While there are debates regarding the legitimacy of this study, the outcome highlights an undisputable fact: setting well-defined, written goals is critical to accomplishing them. Setting goals as they relate to your finances is the first step in achieving financial health and security. Identifying and thinking through both short-term and long-term financial goals will play a tremendous role in dictating your financial future. The following are some of the most important reasons