Blog
Timely Topics
Below you will find a wealth of information covering everything from Social Security to advanced financial planning in both written and video formats. The topics we covered are diverse, but they are all designed to provide you with valuable information to help you with your overall financial planning.
5 Do’s and Don'ts for Charitable Giving During the Holidays
5 Do’s and Don'ts for Charitable Giving During the HolidaysThe fourth quarter holidays are often seen as one of the prime times to take out your checkbook — not only do many charities put in extra efforts helping others...
Read MoreThe 12 Days of Year-End Planning: Things to Consider Going into “The New Year" (Year-End Planning Ch
The 12 Days of Year-End Planning: Things to Consider Going into “The New Year" (Year-End Planning Checklist)At the end of the year, it is necessary to reflect on your financial picture, review the last 12 months, and plan for the...
Read MoreCreating a Legacy of Change through Charitable Giving
Creating a Legacy of Change through Charitable Giving Philanthropy today is different than it was in the past. It was once common for donors to distribute their wealth through smaller grants to numerous organizations. Over time,...
Read MoreExamining Donor-Advised Funds
Examining Donor-Advised FundsMaking it Easy to Make A Difference Americans donate billions to charity annually. If you give to charity, you need to know about one of the best tools to facilitate generosity: Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)...
Read MoreMake a Positive Impact This Giving Tuesday With Impact Investing
While Black Friday and Cyber Monday center on consumer deals, Giving Tuesday—the Tuesday after Thanksgiving—has a different focus. Each year, individuals and corporations are encouraged to use the day to support charities...
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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...
Read MoreRetirement’s Second Act: Setting the Stage for Encore Entrepreneurship
An encore entrepreneur is a person who starts a new business or venture after age 55. They represent more than half of all business owners in the U.S., and for a good reason.1 These entrepreneurs have decades of work and life...
Read MoreEntrepreneurs aren’t Born, They’re Made
Who are entrepreneurs? Sometimes they are the people who leave the corporate world to pursue their own dreams. In many cases, they may be individuals who have found themselves dislocated or “downsized” from a previous job....
Read MoreEnd of Year (EOY) Deadlines Checklist
For many of us, a new year is an opportunity for fresh starts and discovering the best versions of ourselves, but some things—like tax contributions and retirement deadlines—don't change much, if at all. And with that shiny...
Read More10 Easy Financial Planning Steps for Beginners
If you've never engaged in financial planning and are unsure how to get started, this article is for you. A financial plan starts by evaluating your current financial situation and future expectations and can be created independently...
Read MoreAn Essential Guide to Estate Planning Preparedness
A recent survey by Caring.com found that a whopping two in three American adults do not have an estate plan1—an alarming statistic, considering that an estate plan can protect your assets and ensure that they go to the right...
Read MoreTen Things You Must Know About Medicare
Heading into your retirement years brings a slew of new topics to grapple with, and one of the most maddening may be Medicare. Figuring out when to enroll, what to enroll in and what coverage will be best for you can be daunting. To...
Read MoreA Fall Financial Checklist
For many, autumn is the best time of year. The return of cool breezes, comforting foods, and pumpkins can be invigorating. It’s also a bookmark of sorts, especially for your finances—a perfect time to take stock of your...
Read MoreEfficiency Rules: 3 Simple Steps for Improved Planning and Productivity
Do you wish that there was more time in a day? Do you want to have time to drink a cup of coffee in the morning, or get to the gym before or after work? Well, we can’t change how much time there is each day, but we can help you...
Read MoreAre You Maximizing 401(k) Contributions?
The more money that you can save when you are working, the easier it should be for you to retire and enjoy your golden years. Unfortunately, Social Security may no longer provide a sufficient income to live on during retirement. To...
Read MoreMaking Decisions About Medicare
As you near age 65, you may start to think about Medicare. How do you sort through your coverage options? When (and how) do you enroll? And what if you have other health insurance? Here is some information to help you when it's time to...
Read MoreHow to Celebrate International Day of Charity
Mother Teresa was one of the most well-known figures for her charitable service, officially recognized with an International Day of Charity[1]. September 5th marks the anniversary of her death and is a day where much of the world...
Read MoreEarnings Recap: Still Hanging In There
Earnings growth of 6-7% doesn’t sound very exciting, but given the challenges corporate America has faced, we consider the nearly-complete second quarter earnings season a resounding success. The numerous challenges last quarter...
Read MoreHome Sales Fall (Again). What’s Next?
Existing home sales fell 5.9% in July, the sixth consecutive month of declines as higher interest rates weigh on housing affordability and prospective buyers. As the housing market slowed, so did prices. The median price for a single...
Read More4 Tips and Resources to Help Seniors During Periods of High Inflation and Market Volatility
In 2022, U.S. inflation hit a 40-year high, with prices for food, housing, gasoline, and other key staples increasing by nearly 10% over the previous year.1 During these uncertain times, stocks have continued a roller-coaster ride...
Read MoreThe Principles of Financial Literacy
Financial literacy refers to the skills and knowledge that allow an individual to make informed and effective decisions through their understanding of finances. Financial literacy starts by building a basic understanding of 'money...
Read MoreThe Case for a U.S. Recession Weakens
The market pundits remain intensely focused on the question of whether the U.S. economy is in or about to enter recession, so we thought a piece on what a recession might mean for the stock market would be of interest. While...
Read More3 Golf Tips to Keep Your Retirement Plan on Course
In golf, as in finances, there are a few rules of thumb that may improve your game: keep a level head, avoid traps, practice before trying something new and stay the course. Applying lessons from the golf course to your financial life...
Read MoreWhat a Week for the Stock Market
That was quite a week. These days a Federal Reserve (Fed) policy meeting alone gets a lot of headlines and has market participants on the edge of their seats. Add to that the second straight quarter of negative gross domestic product...
Read More3 Factors That Could Change the Inflation Course
For the past year, supply-related problems contributed more to inflation than demand-related imbalances, but that may be changing soon. There are at least three factors that could change the course of inflation. First, the improvement...
Read More6 Retirement Tips for Surviving the Sandwich Generation Squeeze
Adults caring for aging parents and children simultaneously have now become known as the "sandwich generation." While each generation comes with its own array of financial challenges, the sandwich generation often feels...
Read MoreManaging Market Volatility
Markets rarely give us clear skies, and there are always threats to watch for on the horizon, but the right preparation, context, and support can help us navigate anything that may lie ahead. So far, this year hasn’t seen a...
Read MoreFive Things to Do Before Meeting With an Advisor
Americans' financial lives are increasingly complex. It's not unusual to have checking and savings accounts, a 401(k), IRAs, and other personal investments. Keeping track of all your savings and investments has prompted many...
Read MoreLPL Financial Research Midyear Outlook 2022: Navigating Turbulence
Markets rarely give us clear skies, and there are always threats to watch for on the horizon, but the right preparation, context, and support can help us navigate anything that may lie ahead. So far, this year hasn’t seen a...
Read MoreMaking the Most of Your Relationship with a Financial Professional
Heading to your first meeting with a new financial professional may be a lot like going on a blind date. Can you have anything in common? Can you click? Can you trust this other person with what's most important to you? A strong...
Read MoreConstructive, Not Complacent: Lowering S&P 500 Target
Stocks have been unable to make up much ground since the June 16 lows, with a bear market rally amounting to only around a 4.3% gain in the S&P 500 Index since then (as of July 1). After the more than 6% rally the week of June 24 and...
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 MoreRelief at the Pump and for Portfolios?
2022 has been rough all-around for the American consumer. Not only are we battling decades-high inflation, but investors’ portfolios are off to one of the worst starts to a year in history as we near the halfway point. Our...
Read More5 Life Events That Impact Your Life Insurance Needs
A life insurance policy is part of financial planning. Life insurance is there to help ease the financial trauma that comes with the loss of a spouse, parent, or partner. As you encounter different events in your life, you may need to...
Read MoreBear Market Q and A
The bear market that started on June 13 has left the S&P 500 Index 23.5% below its January 3 high. After the initial positive reaction to the Federal Reserve’s first 0.75% rate hike since 1994 and tough talk on inflation,...
Read MoreThe History, Significance, and Celebration of Juneteenth
The Juneteeth holiday marks the end of slavery in the United States and is one of the oldest African American holidays. It is the date that troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, after the Civil War, to enforce the Emancipation...
Read MoreFatherly Advice: 7 Timeless Financial Tips Our Fathers Taught Us
Although many things have changed in the financial world over the past 20 years, some nuggets of financial advice are timeless. Here are a few tips that have remained constant for several generations.Always Spend Less Than You...
Read MoreCharitable Gifting
What constitutes a gift to charity?A gift to charity is simply a gratuitous transfer of property to a charitable organization. The key is that your gift must be some kind of property--your time or personal services do not count. There...
Read MoreThe Economy Is Slowing But Not Shrinking
Many pundits are issuing recession warnings and saying the economy is heading for a hard landing. Amid the cacophony of voices, we think the economy is slowing just like central bankers want but not shrinking. Further, we argue that a...
Read MoreI-Bonds and Inflation: Why These Bonds May Be Suitable for You
With a volatile stock market, the Fed Funds rate near zero, and inflation the highest since 1982, some may seek an investment that can protect their purchasing power and limit their market exposure. A-Series I Bonds are appropriately...
Read MoreLooking through the Clouds
At the risk of sounding cliché, making the case for stocks to stage a second half rally back to the prior highs requires investors to see through some heavy cloud cover. If you prefer another market cliché, it’s times...
Read MoreThe Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise: How Exercising During Retirement Can Pay Off
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Continuing to Work After Drawing Social Security? What Retirees Should Know
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Tax Prep Checklist: Everything You Need to Be Ready for Tax Season
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Is Inflation Here To Stay?
Ever since the ten-year treasury’s rapid accent in February, inflation has become the primary concern for both the equity and bond market. However, since the slightly (& brief) hawkish tone out of the Federal Reserve in their May...
Read MoreWhat's Inside Your Portfolio?
Many investors own one or many mutual funds or ETFs, but don’t really understand what the underlying holdings consist of. You may scratch your head in certain years wondering why your portfolio underperformed the major indexes...
Read MoreIs The Traditional 60/40 Portfolio Dead?
In a year of economic optimism, as we emerge from the recession brought on by Covid-19, we have seen substantial gains in the equity market while fixed income has wavered. Through the first quarter of 2020, fixed income--specifically...
Read MoreThe IRS Extends Additional Tax Deadlines for IRAs, HSAs, and More
Previously, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year had been automatically extended from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021.1 More time for allHowever...
Read MoreWho is Uncle FICA?
If your boss took 6.2% of your gross wages and told you that they’d give it back to you later in life, would you pay close attention to where that money went? When it came time for your boss to pay you back for all that money...
Read MoreAugust 2020: Retirement Readiness
Our newsletter this month features a quick video on suggestions to make the most of your investments, activities to keep our brains sharp, a guided retirement route for women, and the impact of your mindset on your portfolio. Hope you...
Read MoreApril is National Social Security Month!
We at Seasons Financial Advisors are Social Security enthusiasts, so thought we'd recognize National Social Security Month with some updates and ideas. First things first, sign up for a "my Social Security" account at https://www.ssa...
Read MoreCoronavirus Economic Impact Part Two
As we enter a new week, it appears volatility in the market is here to stay. The market continues to have big swings both up and down at levels that we have never seen before. Algorithmic (computer driven trading) certainly is a big...
Read MoreCoronavirus Impact On The Markets
Fear of the spreading coronavirus spooked investors as the market dropped double digits last week. Reported cases have now exceeded ninety thousand, with three thousand deaths most of which have been specific to China. What really sent...
Read MoreSocial Security Re-Do
Some of you may have been watching our posts and thought “Oh no, I may have made a mistake when I claimed Social Security”. Is there anything you can do? Well, depends. Let’s go to the rule book. You can reverse a...
Read MoreWorking while collecting Social Security benefits
Very often we’re asked if there are consequences to working while you are receiving benefits. And of course the answer is “it depends”. Here are the simple rules. Once you reach Full Retirement Age you can make as...
Read MoreWill Social Security be there for you?
“Will Social Security be there for me” is probably the number 1 question we receive, and like most government programs the answer is “it depends”. Let’s start with the current facts. According to the 2019...
Read MoreSurprise if you turn 62 in 2020 and want to collect Social Security now. You may be disappointed.
If you were born in 1958 you'll be turning 62 in 2020. For many, reaching age 62 is exciting because it's the first age you can begin collecting Social Security retirement income benefits. That's the good news, you're now eligible for...
Read MoreSocial Security IS NOT a social safety net
Many people treat Social Security as if it’s a social safety net program, meaning there is a life event and the government steps in to help out. Think of a natural disaster - tornado comes through town and the Federal Emergency...
Read More9 Facts About Social Security
Tip: How Much? Check your Social Security earnings and see an estimate of your benefits on the website, www.ssa.gov. Social Security’s been a fact of retirement life ever since it was established in 1935. We all think we know how...
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