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Life Insurance

Protection for All Life’s Stages As your life changes, your financial needs often change, as well. Regardless of whether you are just starting out in life, are in mid-career, or are at the peak of your earning years, life...

Education: One of the Best Investments You Can Make

It wasn’t long ago when an individual went to college, got an education, and embarked on one career that usually lasted a lifetime. Many companies provided on-the-job training, and little emphasis was put on the idea of going...

The Advantages & Disadvantages of 401(k) Loans

Sometimes a 401(k) loan makes sense, but there are a lot of considerations Tapping your tax-advantaged retirement savings seems like a desperate financial move (because it is), yet also a sound one in specific circumstances. Best know...

Five workplace trends will shape life after lockdown

We are experiencing the biggest remote work experiment in history – but many are beginning to imagine life after lockdown. Amid unprecedented global job losses, concerns about transport infrastructure and the continuing need for...

Changes to Student Loans and Payments in 2021

The student loan landscape has changed dramatically since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. From the suspension of interest payments on federal student loans to tax incentives for employers who pay their employees' student loans,...

Inheritance Planning Can Help Avoid Headaches

Your financial professional can help ensure you leave your estate in the best possible way Families inherit money and sometimes make the right moves investing and spending. Inheritances can also ignite disruption, divorce and a host of...

Workers Want to Stay Put in Home Office

In a survey by job listings site Flexjobs, an astonishing 65 percent of pandemic remote workers said they wanted to keep working from home and 58 percent even said they would look for a new job if they would have to return to the...

Retirement Confidence Remains Strong, Despite Pandemic

Despite the economic shock of the coronavirus pandemic, American workers and retirees remain largely optimistic about their financial prospects for retirement. In its annual Retirement Confidence Survey conducted in January 2021, the...

American Families Plan Would Provide Benefits for Some, More Taxes for Others

On April 28, 2021, the White House released a fact sheet for President Biden's American Families Plan (AFP), which proposes about $1 trillion in investments and $800 billion in tax cuts. There would also be tax increases for those...

Crisis Averted? Financial Help for Struggling Renters and Landlords

By one estimate, U.S. landlords were owed about $57 billion in unpaid back rent at the beginning of 2021. The average household that fell behind owed about four months of rent, or $5,600. Altogether, more than 10 million U.S. families...

Wealth Preservation in America: Portfolios Including Alternative Types of Investments

After the financial crisis, and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans examined how and why they invest. Many investors that had their entire wealth tied to the stock market proved to be more destructive than having alternative...

Rising Inflation: Where Will It Go from Here?

In March 2021, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.6%, the largest one-month increase since August 2012. Over the previous 12 months, the increase was 2.6%, the highest year-over-year inflation rate since...

Donor-Advised Funds: A Solution to Gifting with Tax Benefits

Gifting, for many investors, is about the philanthropic support they want to give charities. Gifting to help make the world better by benefitting society is one reason many families choose to donate. The charitable giving tax deduction...

The Great Wealth Transfer: Is Your Family Prepared?

Over the next twenty years, a wealth transfer will occur that exceeds $30 trillion as the Baby Boomer generation passes the remainder of their wealth to the Millennials and subsequent generations. The Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) are...

High Net-Worth Individuals: Are You Missing Opportunities in Your Financial Planning?

High Net-Worth executives and those that have been self-employed, can experience common problems in their financial planning journey. Often, they have missed opportunities in their financial planning because they haven’t planned...

Stroke Awareness Month 2021

In our efforts to promote National Stroke Awareness Month, we would like you to meet Jennifer Barrios, an Associate of the Danielson Financial Group. Jennifer is a stroke survivor at the age of 31. Knowing the F.A.S.T signs could have...

What Should Grandparents Know About 529 Savings Accounts?

Grandparents can often find themselves in a better financial position to save for their grandchildren's education than their own children are. The parents of prospective students may still be contending with competing priorities like...

5 Investment Considerations for Small Business Owners

If you're a small business owner, many of the best practices employed by individual investors are also available to you (of course!), but you also have some additional options and factors to weigh while creating your investment plans....

What Should Single Parents Know About College Planning?

Single parents are faced with the pressure of supporting an entire household on their own—which can often make paying for college seem like an insurmountable goal. Fortunately, there are several different ways for single parents...

How to Increase Your Financial Literacy

Unlike verbal literacy, financial literacy isn't often taught in schools—which means that many people may enter adulthood without having all the tools they need to make informed and effective financial decisions.[1] Fortunately,...

Key Considerations as You Start Receiving Social Security Benefits

As your retirement draws closer, you will probably start to have lots of questions such as: How much Social Security will I receive? When should I retire? How will I know when to retire? Do I have enough saved? What will I need to do...

Retirement Planning: To Roth or Not to Roth?

When saving for retirement, it often makes sense to contribute to employer-sponsored retirement plans to take advantage of any available employer match opportunities. However, not everyone has access to an employer-sponsored plan. Even...

Three Key Components of Financial Literacy

Financial feats that were once unheard of—from investing in cryptocurrency to instantly paying someone through an online payment system—have now become commonplace in many parts of the country. But these sophisticated tasks...

All online, all the time? Technology brings new benefits to hiring a property manager.

Once upon a time, investing in the stock market involved ticker tape and a lot of phone calls. Today, most investors reach no further than their pocket for up-to-the-minute market updates, portfolio valuations, trading capabilities,...

How Financial Asset Management May Help Investors Stay the Course

Most people who decide to purchase stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or other investment vehicles do so understanding that there are risks associated with investing, but believing that the potential growth they may realize over time...

Tips for Women to Help Build Financial Independence

Traditionally, women have been the caretakers of both the older and younger generations of their families. But providing care for family members is becoming increasingly difficult, as doing so may require a leave of absence from work...

Re-thinking Your Bucket List

When approaching the latter part of life, it is easy to get caught up in achieving every goal on your bucket list. Individual lists vary widely, but often are filled with wild adventures like skydiving and scuba diving in the Great...

Tips for Tax Preparation

In 2020, the government gave taxpayers an automatic six-month extension due to the coronavirus. Individuals who were affected by the damaging wildfires were also given additional time to meet most tax deadlines. However, in 2021, the...

Optimizing Required Minimum Distributions

Body Seventy-two is an important age milestone for those in or near retirement, as it marks the time when required minimum distributions (RMDs) begin to be withdrawn annually from IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans...

Key Tax Deadlines for 2021

While the 2020 tax year saw some significant changes to filing deadlines due to the effects of the global pandemic, the 2021 tax season seems to be set to be on track with normal filing deadlines. With the pandemic still in sight, it...

Assessing Your Retirement Resources

How resourceful can you be during your retirement? Determining where your retirement money will come from is an integral part of planning for retirement. Most people draw on three main sources of income: Social Security,...

Tips for Organizing Your Financial Documents

In an increasingly paper-free society, organizing your financial documents can still be a challenge. No matter how simple or complex your financial picture might be, it takes some thought-out organization to keep your tax documents,...

The Importance of Financial Wellness

Financial wellness, like physical wellness, isn’t something you should ignore. Instead, it's a critical concept for anyone who wants to be knowledgeable and confident about their finances, and in fact, financial wellness is so...

New Year's Resolutions to Get Your Finances in Order

New Year's is traditionally the time to review your life and make resolutions for change. In addition to thinking about working out, eating healthy, and meeting personal and professional goals, you should also think about your finances...

Capital Gains for the 2020 Season Could be Huge

When an investor sells a stock for more than the purchase price, the investor experiences a capital gain (it is simpler to call it a profit, but let’s stick to some technical terms for a minute). For example, if you bought Amazon...

Charitable Giving and Donating Toys

Responsible giving doesn't only involve making sure to help those in need, but also ensuring that you perform your proper research by evaluating the charity. Proper evaluation will help you to make sure that your funds are being used...

Smart Shopping During the Holidays

The holiday season is just a short time away, which means the shopping season is about to be in full swing. Shopping for holiday gifts is stressful but also a little fun, especially when you think about the joy you will bring to those...

Creating a Business Plan for Small Businesses

Your business plan is an important part of creating a business and a critical tool for drawing in lenders and investors. If you're thinking about launching a small business or if you want to take your small business in a new direction...

How to Evaluate a Charity and Whether to Donate

Responsible giving doesn't only involve making sure to help those in need, but also ensuring that you perform your proper research by evaluating the charity. Proper evaluation will help you to make sure that your funds are being used...

Long-Term Care: Better to be Safe than Sorry

As you enter your “golden years”, perhaps you imagine yourself traveling, visiting grandchildren, or pursuing a favorite hobby. Unfortunately, none of us can predict what the future may bring. But, according to the U.S....

End of Year Planning: Set Goals and Reduce Taxes

By the last third of the calendar year, you're likely to have a pretty good idea of what your annual income will be and whether any major expenses or big life changes await you. This can allow you to engage in more robust tax planning,...

COVID-19 Makes Us Scared of Nursing Homes

Nursing homes and long-term care facilities have always been required to report all COVID-19 cases to state and local public health officials. But until recently, they were not required to share such information with federal health...

Investing in an Election Year

The world's events always affect the markets, and making smart investment choices requires you to look at what's happening around the world. But what about during an election year? How should you invest while the country is deciding...

What to Know About Working With a Financial Professional

If you've been wondering how to optimize your finances and ensure your money continues to work for you, a financial professional may be able to help. But the thought of turning over your most sensitive financial information to a...

What Should Women Entrepreneurs Do to Thrive in the COVID Era?

With COVID rocking the employment landscape for job-seekers, some women have taken this opportunity to reinvent themselves and take charge of their own financial futures by launching a business. Entrepreneurship is one of the most...

What to Do If You're Working From Home Longer Than Expected

As the threat of the coronavirus swept through the nation in March, many businesses sent their workers home, and now, as fall looms around the corner, many people are continuing to work from home. If you're working home longer than...

What Gen Xers, Millennials, and Baby Boomers Need to Know About Financial Planning?

Financial planning is an important part of securing your current lifestyle as well as preparing yourself for what you wish to do in your eventual retirement. And while this importance may look different during each stage of your life,...

Women: What You Should Know When Starting a Business

According to the Women's Business Enterprise National Council, as of 2018 there were 12.3 million women-owned businesses in the United States (representing 40% of all businesses), employing over 9 million people and generating $1.8...

Comparing Life Insurance Policies

Like anyone else, you want a life insurance policy that meets your needs and budget. But how do you find the right policy when there are so many to choose from and many of them seem so similar? The key is knowing how to compare...

Appropriate Checklists for Year-End Tax Planning

What are appropriate checklists for year-end tax planning? Tax planners often develop checklists to guide taxpayers toward year-end strategies that might help reduce taxes. Typically, suggestions are grouped into several different...

How Financial Planning Helps You Work Towards Your Self-Improvement Goals

Many self-improvement goals focus on stability and personal growth — and financial goals are often no different. From buying your first home to saving for retirement, planning your finances can also help you work toward your...

Preparing For Your Next 401(k) Open Enrollment

Open enrollment season is one of the shortest—in most cases, employees have only a few weeks to research their options and make a decision on things like their 401(k) contributions, health and dental insurance, disability...

Back to School: Getting Your Financial House in Order

The abrupt end to the 2019-2020 school year in many parts of the U.S. left parents and students alike struggling to establish healthy routines. As many students prepare to head back to the classroom (or the remote classroom) this fall,...

Maximize Your Summer Fun With These Ideas

As temperatures start to heat up and the days get longer, summer fun can kick into gear. Looking for things to do this summer? Then, check out this list of fun and relaxing summertime ideas. Be a tourist in your own area You don't have...

3 Mistakes to Avoid Before Taking Required Minimum Distributions

Uncle Sam wants your money. He has bills to pay, just like you. And he's been waiting patiently for decades for you to hand over his share of your tax-deferred retirement dollars. He expects some folks to be stubborn about it, so he...

What It's Like To Send a Child to College

Sending a child to college for the first time can be a stressful transition for any parent. Even though your child is legally an adult (or almost an adult) by the time they head out on their own, a parent's worries about health, safety...

Retirement Planning Throughout Life: Strategies to Keep in Mind

Retirement planning is a complex process requiring as much support and time as possible to reach the desired end. Retirement planning at all ages is important – the more time put into the process, the less investment is necessary...

Paying for College and the Impact of COVID-19

With the coronavirus shutting done educational institutions and moving classes online, the face of education across the country has changed. While the focus has been primarily on completing the educational requirements to get K through...

How to Make Savings Last Longer in Retirement

Whether you dream of a travel-filled retirement or would prefer to relax and enjoy spending more time at home, you're probably wondering what you can do to make your golden years as stress-free as possible. For many who have spent the...

IRS Offers Relief to Retirement Plan Participants

New guidelines for retirement loans and distributions due to COVID-19 On June 19, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service announced new guidelines to help those affected by COVID-19 gain more access to retirement plan distributions and...

Three Things to Know Before Buying a Home

Whether you're a first-time home buyer or are re-entering the real estate market after a hiatus, it's important to educate yourself on the most up-to-date tips and tricks for purchasing a home. Doing so can help save you thousands or...

Healthcare Workers: How to Keep Your Head Up During Scary Times

Being a healthcare worker can be a stressful and tiring job at the best of times, but in the face of vast uncertainty and fear around the coronavirus, this profession has become even harder. If you are a healthcare worker on the front...

Your 401(k) Options

Estate Planning Checklist

Because you've worked hard to create a secure and comfortable lifestyle for your family and loved ones, you'll want to ensure that you have a sound financial plan that includes trust and estate planning. With some forethought, you may...

Navigating the Path to Homeownership After COVID-19

The arrival of spring flowers often means one thing — the home-buying season is here. But with the COVID-19 pandemic in full swing in early March 2020 and many parts of the U.S. still under shelter-in-place orders through...

Amidst Stay-At-Home, Learn Money Mindfulness

Using money to enhance your life and the lives of those around you Money matters are complex and even scary. How you choose to approach finances mentally is key to mastering them. Financial professionals call this “money...

Working in an Essential Position? How to Cope with Coronavirus Stress

The coronavirus crisis has temporarily shuttered entire industries, closing many businesses deemed "non-essential" until the peak of the illness curve has passed. But while some businesses have closed until further notice, others are...

Assessing Your Retirement Resources

How resourceful can you be during your retirement? Determining where your retirement money will come from is an integral part of planning for retirement. Most people draw on three main sources of income: Social Security,...

Happy Nurses Week: A Look at Nursing in the Time of the Coronavirus

Nurses have always been heroes, tirelessly taking care of others while often putting their own health at risk. However, while dealing with the coronavirus, their role has become even more significant. Nurses are on the front lines of...

The Small Business's Guide to Surviving the Coronavirus Pandemic

Whether your business has been temporarily closed by a state shelter-in-place order or is still operating as a provider of essential services, balancing your revenue needs with protecting the safety of your employees and customers can...

Dealing with Life’s Transitional Moments

Some life transitions, such as a career change or marriage, are planned, but a job loss or divorce can be sudden and unexpected. One common thread that accompanies all transitions, however, is the concern about whether there will be...

Social Security’s Future is Safe

Social Security is the bedrock of Americans’ retirement income security. So you may have been concerned by the news that the federal government needed to dip into the Social Security’s trust fund to pay for the program this...

The Coronavirus Bear and Its Place in History

Helping investors better understand bear markets, corrections and crashes The pace with which the Coronavirus bear toppled the longest-running bull market in history was startling. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIJA) officially...

5 Big Problems to Solve Before You Retire

It seems, sometimes, as though financial professionals come in only two flavors. There are those who promise everything is going to be fine; you don't have to fret about retirement, they say, because they'll help you make more than...

The April 15th Tax Deadline is Now July 15th

The U.S. Department of the Treasury is delaying the April 15th deadline to file and pay taxes by 90 days, giving individuals and businesses another 3 months to file and then pay the government what they owe. What Should You Do? Putting...

A Unique Economic Situation

These are challenging times, and this week may be the toughest as we wait for COVID-19 to reach its peak in the United States. As the war against COVID-19 wages on, we continue to be inspired by the tremendous bravery shown by...

April is Financial Literacy Month

April is National Financial Literacy Month – an entire month dedicated to underscoring the importance of learning, establishing and maintaining healthy financial habits. But ask yourself this: what have you learned about anything...

Retirement Assistance Within the CARES Act

In late March 2020, as the number of novel coronavirus cases in the U.S. surged past 100,000, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed into law.1 The CARES Act provides around $2.2 trillion in aid to...

What Is in the $2 Trillion Relief Package?

The United States has more cases of the coronavirus than any other country, and in an attempt to stop the spread of this disease, states have closed schools and businesses throughout the country. These unprecedented shutdowns have...

Managing Anxiety through Charitable Giving

How are you holding up? If you’re like many of us, you’re probably feeling some level of anxiety regarding the COVID-19 outbreak. And that’s okay. We’re living in a time when feeling helpless is understandable....

A Look at College Savings Options

As time goes by, planning for a child’s college education is more challenging than ever before. The saving or investing method you choose will depend on your child’s age, as well as your financial resources. Other...

March 23, 2020 - More Coronavirus Volatility

The Week on Wall StreetThe stock market suffered through another volatile week as it wrestled with the health and economic fallout of the domestic spread of the coronavirus. Swift and decisive actions by the Federal Reserve and policy...

Build a Solid Financial Foundation

When the markets and the economy are behaving badly, as they tend to do from time to time, it's easy to feel helpless. But creating a solid financial foundation can help you gain control of your investments and possibly avoid mistakes...

Countdown to Retirement: Strategies for Saving in Your 50s

Many retirees today are redefining the “golden years.” Forget about endless days of leisure. Retirees seek adventure, travel, and new business pursuits. While these changes may redefine retirement, will retirees be able to...

A Plan to Reduce Credit Card Debt

If you are contributing to a staggering sum of outstanding credit card debt in America, you need to start digging your way out, and the sooner the better. Debt can stand between you and your financial goals, such as buying a home and...

SETTING EVERY COMMUNITY UP FOR RETIREMENT ENHANCEMENT (SECURE) ACT

As Enacted on December 20, 2019 · Prepared for LPL by Davis & Harman LLP Top 10 Key Provisions Open Multiple Employer Plans / Pooled Employer Plans – The SECURE Act allows unrelated small employers to band together in...

Planning for Marriage: Financial Tips for Women

Planning for marriage should involve more than just picking out invitations and deciding whether you should serve chicken or fish at the reception. More importantly, you'll want to take a look at how marriage will impact your financial...

Retirement Planning Considerations for a Stay-at-Home Spouse

Married couples often decide together that one spouse should be the primary breadwinner while the other stays home to take care of family members. Although this often works out well for childrearing or eldercare responsibilities in the...

Money Issues That Concern Married Couples

What is it? Marriage is an important step in anyone's life and brings many challenges with it. One of those challenges is the management of your finances as a couple. The money decisions that you make now as a couple can have a lasting...

A Woman's Guide to Health Care in Retirement

At any age, health care is a priority. But when you retire, you should probably focus more on health care than ever before. That's why it's particularly important for women to factor in the cost of health care, including long- term...

Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act

As Enacted on December 20, 2019 · Prepared for LPL by Davis & Harman LLP Top 10 Key Provisions Open Multiple Employer Plans / Pooled Employer Plans – The SECURE Act allows unrelated small employers to band together in...

Proper Financial Planning: Critical for Women

A key goal of investing for retirement is making sure you save enough to make your money last throughout your lifetime. On this score, women may need to save more than men. The current life expectancy of a female at birth is roughly 81...

Applying for a Mortgage

Since most people finance their home purchases, buying a home usually involves applying for a mortgage. Here is some basic information to help guide you through the process. Mortgage prequalification vs. preapproval Before applying for...

Six Tips To Take Control of Your Financial Health

Similar to taking care of your personal health by proactively incorporating healthy habits and annual checkups, you can also take control of your financial health when you are proactive and engaged in managing your finances. And also...

Establishing a Budget

Do you ever wonder where your money goes each month? Does it seem like you're never able to get ahead? If so, you may want to establish a budget to help you keep track of how you spend your money and help you reach your financial goals...

Avoid These Financial Traps

Money. It's hard to get and easy to lose. It doesn't take long for the wealth you've accumulated to disappear if you don't manage your money well or have a plan to protect your assets from sudden calamity. Snares like the ones...

Children and Wealth: Important Lessons Start Early in Life

Wealth can be a mixed blessing -- one that creates great opportunity as well as weighty responsibility -- especially for children. As a parent, grandparent, or concerned relative, you hope to pass on what you have learned about...

Charitable Giving

The definition of a charitable donation is “a gift made by an individual or an organization to a nonprofit organization, charity, or private foundation. Charitable donations are commonly in the form of cash, but they can also...

Most Donors Make Small Charitable Gifts

The average donor household in the United States gives around $2,000 a year, with small donations making up the bulk of charitable gifts, according to a report prepared by the Center on Philanthropy for Indiana University. The study...

Buying Locally and Giving Locally

For many of us, buying locally matters. We’ve all heard the term and seen the signs: Shop Locally. Eat Locally. But let’s extend that thought for a minute: do you consider giving to your local charities? The fact is we are...

Seven Steps to Your Financial Future

Sometimes, even highly-compensated individuals may find it difficult to achieve long-term success when it comes to managing their personal finances. Although they may attain a comfortable level of income, their focus may be on career...

Charitable Giving

Charitable giving can play an important role in many estate plans. Philanthropy cannot only give you great personal satisfaction, it can also give you a current income tax deduction, let you avoid capital gains tax, and reduce the...

Re-balancing Your Portfolio

Everyone loves a winner. If an investment is successful, most people naturally want to stick with it. But is that the best approach? It may sound counter-intuitive, but it may be possible to have too much of a good thing. Over time,...

September 23, 2019 - Stocks Stage a Modest Retreat

The Week on Wall Street Investors reacted to two major news items last week, one far more of a surprise than the other. The Federal Reserve did indeed make a rate cut, matching Wall Street expectations. Drone strikes on two of the...

Orchestrating Your Retirement Accounts

An orchestra is merely a collection of instruments, each creating a unique sound. It is only when a conductor leads them that they produce the beautiful music imagined by the composer. The same can be said about your retirement...

September 16, 2019 - Dow Logs 8-Day Win Streak

The Week on Wall Street Stocks edged toward all-time peaks during a relatively calm week marked by easing trade tensions. Friday marked the eighth straight daily advance for the Dow Jones Industrial Average.[1] Small-cap shares, as...

September 9, 2019 - Dow, Nasdaq, S&P 500 Advance

The Week on Wall Street Stocks rose last week, with help from two developments: the announcement of further U.S.-China trade talks as well as August hiring and manufacturing numbers that seemed to bolster the argument for a rate cut...

Inventorying Your Possessions

It’s great to have insurance against damage and loss, but if you can’t show proof of your possessions, it may result in a protracted settlement process with your insurance company.[i] Four Tips for Creating an Inventory....

Your Changing Definition of Risk in Retirement

During your accumulation years, you may have categorized your risk as “conservative,” “moderate,” or “aggressive,” and that guided how your portfolio was built. Maybe you concerned yourself with...

Top Tips for Finding an Accessible Home

House hunting, buying, selling, and moving can be challenging no matter the circumstances. When you’re looking for an accessible property, things can be even more complicated. Here are some pointers for simplifying your search...

August 26, 2019 - China Announces More Tariffs

The Week on Wall Street Traders assumed that the week's biggest news event would be Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's speech at the annual Jackson Hole banking conference. Instead, China seized the headlines by announcing new...

August 19, 2019 - Equities Face Some Volatility

The Week on Wall Street U.S. stock indices saw significant ups and downs last week, with traders looking for economic cues from Treasury yields and also developments in the tariff fight between the U.S. and China. The S&P 500 lost 1...

Global vs. International Funds: What's The Difference?

For investors who are looking to diversify their portfolio with exposure to companies located outside the U.S., there exist two basic choices: a global mutual fund or an international mutual fund. By definition, international funds...

August 12, 2019 - Trade Tensions Affect Stocks

The Week on Wall Street Stocks spent much of last week rebounding from a Monday drop that reflected nervousness about the U.S.-China trade fight. By Thursday's closing bell, the S&P 500 had regained all its Monday losses - but it...

August 5, 2019 - Fed Cuts Rates, Stocks Retreat

The Week on Wall Street Last week, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time in more than a decade, in line with Wall Street's expectations. Ironically, stocks had their worst week of 2019. The S&P 500 finished the...

Should You Choose a Fixed or Variable?

Buying a home is the single largest financial commitment most people ever make. And sorting through mortgages involves a lot of critical choices. One of these is choosing between a fixed- or variable-interest-rate mortgage. True to its...

July 29, 2019 - S&P & Nasdaq Outgain Dow

The Week on Wall Street Last week, investors assessed earnings and the initial estimate of second-quarter economic growth, while awaiting the Federal Reserve's next announcement about interest rates. Stocks rose for the week;...

Overcoming Long-Term Financial Challenges When You Have a Disability

Personal finances can be difficult for anyone. Unfortunately, people with disabilities face money challenges that can make it even more challenging to plan for the future. Disabilities tend to create many additional expenses. While the...

July 22, 2019 - Stocks Descend from Recent Peaks

The Week on Wall Street Stock benchmarks retreated during the first week of the second-quarter earnings season. As some big names shared quarterly results, investors seemed more interested in what might happen at the Federal Reserve's...

How to Research Tax-Exempt Organizations

How to Research Tax-Exempt Organizations Not only does donating to a local charity or nonprofit feel good and help others, but your donations can also be a tax deduction. But before you donate, make sure you research the organization...

July 15, 2019 - S&P 500 Tops 3,000

The Week on Wall Street Friday, the S&P 500 settled above 3,000 for the first time, after rising 0.78% for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average chalked up a milestone of its own: the blue chips ended the week above 27,000,...

July 1, 2019 - Down Week Ends Strong Month

The Week on Wall Street A month of gains for stocks ended with a weekly retreat. The S&P 500 lost 0.30%; the Nasdaq Composite, 0.32%; the Dow Jones Industrial Average, 0.45%. In contrast, overseas shares, tracked by the MSCI EAFE...

Getting a Head Start on College Savings

The American family with a child born today can expect to spend about $233,610 to raise that child to the age of 18. And if you’ve already traded that supercharged convertible dream for a minivan, you can expect your little...

Trends in Charitable Giving

According to Giving USA 2018, Americans gave an estimated $410.02 billion to charity in 2017. That’s the first time that the amount has totaled more than $400 billion in the history of the report.[1] Americans give to charity for...

June 17, 2019 - Further June Gains

The Week on Wall Street Stocks advanced for a second straight week. The S&P 500 benchmark rose 0.47%; the Nasdaq Composite, 0.70%; the Dow Jones Industrial Average, 0.41%. Overseas shares, as tracked by the MSCI EAFE developed markets...

June 10, 2019 - Big Gains for the Major Indices

The Week on Wall Street Stocks rallied during a week in which Wall Street was buffeted by headlines. The S&P 500 rose 4.41%. The Nasdaq Composite and Dow Jones Industrial Average respectively added 3.88% and 4.71%. The MSCI EAFE index...

June 3, 2019 - May Ends with a Retreat

The Week on Wall Street Stocks struggled during a 4-day market week as the U.S.-China trade standoff continued to weigh on the minds of market participants. From the Friday, May 24 close to the Friday, May 31 close, the S&P 500...

Red Flags for Tax Auditors

No one wants to see an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) auditor show up at their door. But in 2018, the IRS budget is roughly $1 billion less than it was 8 years ago, down from $12.1 billion in 2010 to $11.2 billion. And even though the...

Trade Tensions Linger

The Week on Wall Street Stocks drifted lower last week as investors considered the possibility that the world’s two largest economies might take some time to resolve key trade issues. The S&P 500 retreated 1.17%; the Nasdaq...

May 20, 2019 - Trade News Moves the Market

The Week on Wall Street Stocks fell sharply at the start of last week over trade tensions, then recovered with help from strong earnings and indications that U.S.-China trade talks would continue. Even so, the major indices had a down...

Ways to Save Energy at Home

There are a lot of ways to save energy at home, including a few you might not have thought of. Here are a few energy saving tips that are different and doable: Energy-efficient landscaping: Plan where you place shade trees around the...

Higher Tariffs Take Effect

The Week on Wall Street As we noted recently, Wall Street has a wandering eye. Last week, it focused on the new tariff threats in the ongoing U.S.-China trade dispute. Stocks fell across five trading sessions: the Dow Jones Industrial...

May 6, 2019 - Major Indices Have a Mixed Week

The Week on Wall Street Stocks were up and down last week, and the three major benchmarks ended up little changed after five trading days. The S&P 500 rose 0.20% for the week; the Nasdaq Composite, 0.22%. The Dow Jones Industrial...

April 29, 2019 - S&P 500 Reaches a New Peak

The Week on Wall Street Stocks returned to record territory, with both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite closing at historic highs. The S&P gained 1.20% for the week; the Nasdaq, 1.85%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged,...

April 22, 2019 - A Mild Week for the Market

The Week on Wall Street A short and relatively placid trading week wrapped up Thursday, with the major indices turning in mixed performances. The S&P 500 retreated 0.08%, the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.17%, and the Dow Jones...

April 15, 2019 - The Q1 Earnings Season Begins

The Week on Wall Street Stocks broke out of a narrow range on Friday following news that two major banks grew their bottom line in the first quarter. For the week, the S&P 500 rose 0.79%; the Nasdaq Composite, 0.91%. The Dow Jones...

April 8, 2019 - Special Update: Quarterly Report

The Week on Wall Street Stocks just posted their second straight weekly gain. Investors were encouraged by the latest jobs report and new signs of progress on a U.S.-China trade deal. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1.17% in...

IRA Withdrawals That Escape the 10% Penalty

An IRA, or Individual Retirement Account, is a tax-advantaged account that is subject to special rules regarding contributions and withdrawals. One of the central rules of IRAs is that withdrawals prior to age 59½ are generally...

April 1, 2019 - Gains Conclude a Great Quarter

The Week on Wall Street Stocks ended last week higher as volatility slowed, completing their best quarter since 2009. A Friday tweet from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin encouraged investors, referring to "constructive" discussions...

March 25, 2019 - Treasury Yields Prompt Concerns

The Week on Wall Street Friday, the yield of the 3-month Treasury bill exceeded the yield of the 10-year Treasury note for the first time in 12 years. For some analysts, this "inverted yield curve" may imply a short-term lessening of...

March 18, 2019 - Dow, S&P, Nasdaq All Rise

The Week on Wall Street The big story last week was the sudden grounding of Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 passenger jets in dozens of countries. The financial effects of this ban could potentially impact the airline industry and segments of...

March 11, 2019 - Stocks Dip on Growth Concerns

The Week on Wall Street As in February, investors spent most of the first full trading week of March hoping for new details in U.S.-China trade negotiations. While they waited, stock benchmarks drifted downward. From Monday's open to...

March 4, 2019 - S&P Ends Week Little Changed

The Week on Wall Street Stocks lost a little ground as February gave way to March. While domestic and overseas political developments made headlines, the market stayed relatively calm: from Monday's open through Friday's close, the...

February 25, 2019 - Optimism Spurs a Broad Rally

The Week on Wall Street Stocks rallied last week as optimism about a potential U.S.-China trade deal grew. The S&P 500 advanced 0.80% during the 4-day trading week to 2,792.67. The Nasdaq Composite improved 0.86% to 7,527.54, and the...

February 19, 2019 - Dow, S&P, Nasdaq Climb Higher

The Week on Wall Street Stocks ended a good week on a high note, as hints of progress in U.S.-China trade talks encouraged investors. When the closing bell rang Friday, the S&P 500 settled at 2,775.60, after rising 2.50% in five days....

Child Tax Credit and a 529 Plan

Child Tax Credit has doubled to $2,000 per qualifying child. Consider the Advantages for Funding the Future with the Increased Tax Refund. Reduction of Future Debt: You may consider reinvesting the increased tax refund in a qualified...

Masters of Manipulating Human Emotions

Americans Lost $143 Million In Online Relationship Scams Last Year The Federal Trade Commission is celebrating Valentine's Day by reminding people to not get scammed when looking for love. The agency received more than 21,000 reports...

February 11, 2019 - Stocks Post Small Weekly Gains

The Week on Wall Street Major U.S. stock benchmarks eked out slight gains last week, with corporate profit reports and news about U.S.-China trade negotiations vying for investor attention over five trading sessions. The big three...

Sudden Wealth - What Should You Do If You Strike It Rich?

Sudden Wealth What Should You Do If You Strike It Rich? If a few million dollars—or more—fell into your lap tomorrow, what would you do? Sudden wealth isn’t a common or reliable way to get rich, but it can and does...

February 4, 2019 - Markets Gain Again

Last week closed out one of stocks' top January performances in years. In fact, both the S&P 500 and Dow posted their best January results in at least 3 decades.[1] For the week, major domestic indexes were also up. The S&P 500 gained...

Wealth Management Consultative Process

At Danielson Financial Group, our Wealth Management Consultative Process is designed to help you make smart decisions about your money. To do so, we use a systematic investment consulting process to determine what type of plan will...

Tax Identity Theft Awareness

Tax season is just around the corner, and that means the opportunities for bad guys to snatch and use consumers’ personal information are at their greatest. Jan. 28 through Feb. 1 is Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week and this...

January 29, 2019 - Stocks Muted, Big Week Ahead

For the first time in months, U.S. markets experienced little movement last week.[1] The Dow and NASDAQ did have their 5th week of gains in a row, but their increases were small: 0.12% and 0.11%, respectively. Meanwhile, the S&P 500...

January 22, 2019 - The Rally Continues

U.S. markets were up again last week, as major domestic indexes posted their 4th weekly gains in a row.[1] In fact, the S&P 500 was no longer in correction territory at Friday's close - and was in the middle of its best yearly start...