An emergency fund may help alleviate the stress associated with a financial crisis. Have you ever had one of those months? The water heater stops heating, the dishwasher stops washing, and your family ends up on a first-name basis with the nurse at urgent care. Then,...

Here are some things you might want to do before saying goodbye to 2018.  What has changed for you in 2018? Did you start a new job or leave a job behind? Did you retire? Did you start a family? If notable changes occurred in your personal or professional life, then...

As you start a family, consider these ideas.  Provided by Brower Financial Group Being a parent means being responsible to a degree you never have been before. That elevated responsibility also impacts your financial decisions. You are now a provider and a protector,...

For millennials, today is the right time. Provided by Brower Financial Group. If you are under 30, you have likely heard that now is the ideal time to save and invest. You know that the power of compound interest is on your side; you recognize the potential advantages...

Now is the time to explore the possibilities. Provided by Brower Financial Group Grandparents Day provides a reminder of the bond between grandparents and grandchildren and the importance of family legacies. A family legacy can have multiple aspects. It can include...

Federal law says you can, but you may want to think twice about it. When President Trump signed the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act into law late in 2017, new possibilities emerged for the tax-advantaged investment vehicles known as 529 college savings plans. Funds from these...

In this week’s recap: a consumer spending miss, a slight decline in confidence, a wave of new home buying, and the end of a good quarter for equities.   INCOME AND SPENDING RISE, ALONG WITH CORE INFLATION According to the latest monthly Department of Commerce...

To consolidate or not: that is the question. Some couples elect to consolidate their personal finances, while others largely keep their financial lives separate. What choice might suit your household?   The first question is: how do you and your partner view money...

Some things to think about as you get started with your strategy.  First, look at your expenses and your debt. Review your core living expenses (such as a mortgage payment, car payment, etc.). Can any core expenses be reduced? Investing aside, you position yourself to...

What should you know? What should your executor know? When people think about estate planning, they may think in terms of personal property, real estate, and investments. Digital assets might seem like a lesser concern, perhaps no concern at all. But it is something...

WEEKLY TIP          Yes, you could file for Social Security at 62, as soon as you are eligible. It might pay to wait, however. The size of your monthly payment will grow by about 8% for every year you hold off claiming benefits through age 70. RETAIL SALES RISE...