Publications,
Insights & News

Following a year of economic instability, it appears that many of us are turning our attention to something that’s been around for decades, but has recently piqued national interest - inflation. In fact, a recent study found that people are Googling the word “inflation” at a rapid rate, with a peak not seen since 2008.1 Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, six major stimulus bills totaling around $5.3 trillion have passed. With these efforts to alleviate pandemic-fueled financial strife, are inflation levels being impacted?

Life has likely felt like a whirlwind since the pandemic started. While adjusting to the new normal, it’s possible your insurance coverage has not been top of mind. But in reality, you could be missing out by not reevaluating your current coverage. Here are four insurance areas you should reevaluate right away.

Several U.S. senators have proposed new legislation in an effort to raise $3 trillion in tax revenue over the next decade.1 Called the Ultra-Millionaire Tax, this new proposed legislation comes in direct response to the economic turmoil Americans have experienced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Senator Elizabeth Warren described the necessity for such revenue saying, “As Congress develops additional plans to help our economy, the wealth tax should be at the top of the list to help pay for these plans because of the huge amounts of revenue it would generate.”1

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions that you will make in adulthood and for many people, this may be seen as a part of the “American Dream.” While it can feel good to own something rather than rent, it’s not for everybody and can come with costs and limitations. If you’re having a hard time deciding which option is best for you, consider the pros and cons of owning a home versus renting.

Working with a trusted financial professional is important when it comes to strategizing and preparing to meet your financial goals. But as most of us handle money on a daily basis, it’s important to have an in-depth understanding of the fundamentals of financial literacy. Below we’ve identified five financial basics everyone should know. Understanding these important concepts can serve as a basis for your financial standings.

When it comes to attracting top candidates and improving retention, offering certain advantages such as a 401(k) plan can be an effective move. But as a small business owner, you may have shied away from such benefits due to logistical and financial concerns. If you’re thinking about offering a plan for your employees, get started with these three steps.

Each year, around 86 percent of college students obtain some form of financial aid.1 In order to receive financial aid from the government, all students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, otherwise known as the FAFSA. The FAFSA determines the financial need of a student based on factors such as family income and the prior tax year’s income.

While President Biden has a packed agenda between combatting COVID-19, a slow-started vaccine rollout and economic instability, he has promised that from day one, he will “use the full authority of the executive branch to make progress and significantly reduce emissions.”1 While on the campaign trail, now-President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. made it clear that climate change would be a major priority once he entered office. On Jan. 27, 2021, Biden began taking executive action to address climate change.

There is no way to create the ‘perfect’ budget. Expenses are always changing. It’s important to allow your budget to flex and to have the ability to stretch for unforeseen costs. Let’s start by breaking these down into small, medium & large expenses and then we will talk about how to address each one of these.

The CARES Act, a direct response to the economic turmoil caused by COVID-19, sought to provide economic support to millions of Americans. This support extended to the way taxes are filed and processed for 2020, creating additional benefits depending on your circumstances. Read on to learn five ways the events that took place in 2020 could affect your taxes.

“It turns out my job was not to find great investments, but to help create great investors,” writes Carl Richards, author of “The Behavior Gap.”1 From increasing our budget mindfulness to taking a steadier approach to investing, Richards has drawn attention to the way our unexamined behaviors and emotions can be our detriment when it comes to living a happy and financially sound life. In many cases, we make poor financial decisions when experiencing panic or anxiety as a result of personal or widespread events. Over the course of last year, the Coronavirus is one such event that has affected nearly every industry and home as people and governments continue to take action to keep themselves and their community safe. The virus continues to evoke fear and panic as the number of affected individuals rises.

With the tax season officially upon us, it's likely you'll be reaching out to your CPA or financial advisor to begin the tax filing process shortly (if you haven't already). Before doing so, it may be helpful to know what your tax bracket will likely be this year - especially if COVID-19 impacted your earnings.