Posts by Barb

A fixed index annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company that may help you reach your long-term financial goals. In exchange for your premium payment, the insurance company provides you with income, either starting immediately or at some time in the future. Most fixed index annuities have two phases. First, there’s an…

February is a good time to celebrate your relationship with your significant other—and renew your commitment to your mutual financial success. Here are some ideas to say “I do” to this month. Vow to protect yourselves from emergencies During the government shutdown early this year we learned that 40% of Americans don’t have enough money…

Statistics say there is a seventy percent chance that you or your spouse will experience a need for long-term care! Long-term care includes a range of services and supports you may need to meet your personal care needs. Most long-term care is not medical care, but rather assistance with the basic personal tasks of everyday…

You might be thinking, “Since I don’t need the required minimum distribution from my retirement accounts in order to live on, can’t I just leave it in my retirement account?” If you do not withdraw the required minimum distributions, the IRS will impose a penalty of 50%. Further, after imposing the penalty, you are still…

We work with dozens of people to help them create retirement plans. But in order to get to a successful retirement, there are thousands of small decisions along the way. Like, should you drive through your local coffee place and grab a latte this morning? Go with the office gang for lunch at that little…

People often ask us, “How long will it take to double my money?’ You can find the answer with the rule of 72. Here’s how it works. Compounding interest is the interest you earn on a growing amount of money.) To find out how long it will take your money to double, take the number…

Written goals are your road map to financial success. Be specific, simple, and realistic and include time frames and dollar amounts. Have some big goals and some small ones. Include a savings plan and an emergency fund. Pay off high-interest debt and control the amount of your debt. Then, take action to achieve your goals.…

A “Living Trust” is a trust you created that is active while you are alive versus a Testamentary Trust which becomes active at your death. When you create a Living Trust, you ensure that your assets will be disbursed efficiently to the people you choose after your death. The big advantage to a Living Trust…

What are the three stages in your financial life? The first stage is preparing for life’s uncertainties. The second stage is managing your net worth and the third stage is managing retirement and your estate. The base of the pyramid is preparing for life’s uncertainties. Insurance is the most cost-effective way to deal with this.…

November is long-term care (LTC) awareness month. Here are five things you should know.   There are different types of facilities providing increasing levels of care.1 If you hear the words “long-term care” and automatically think “nursing home,” you should know that long-term care encompasses a wide range of options and a progression of choices.…