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How Bonuses Are Taxed: What to Know Before You Spend It
Have you recently received a bonus from your employer? While bonuses can be a welcome boost to your income, they often come with questions—and surprises—at tax time. Understanding how bonuses are taxed and withheld can help you plan...
Read MoreWhen the Business Can’t Run Without You
For many business owners, success looks like this: steady revenue, a growing team, and a full calendar. On paper, things are working. But beneath the surface, no one discusses the quiet reality: the business depends too much on you. If...
Read MoreWhen Your Personal Wealth Is Trapped in the Business
For many business owners, success looks strong from the outside. Revenue is healthy. The team is growing. The business has real value. Yet when asked a simple question: “How financially secure are you, separate from the business? The...
Read MoreEvaluating an Early Retirement Offer
In today's corporate environment, cost cutting, restructuring, and downsizing are the norm, and many employers are offering their employees early retirement packages. But how do you know if the seemingly attractive offer you've...
Read MoreFunding a Buy-Sell Agreement with Life Insurance
As a partner or co-owner (private shareholder) of a business, you've spent years building a valuable financial interest in your company. You may have considered setting up a buy-sell agreement to ensure your surviving family a smooth...
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New and Continuing Needs for Life Insurance in Divorce
What is it? You and your spouse have recently divorced or are planning to divorce. Either one of you may have life insurance policies in effect, and you probably have questions about your new and continuing needs for life insurance....
Read MoreFinancial Resolutions That Stick: Building Better Money Habits
Every new year brings the opportunity to set financial goals, but many resolutions fizzle out before February. Whether your priority is saving more, paying down debt, or investing for the future, creating a realistic plan and adopting...
Read MoreNavigating the 2026 Economic Outlook
As we step into 2026, it's essential to understand the economic forces shaping the investment landscape. While the future remains uncertain, current projections offer valuable insights for investors seeking to align their strategies...
Read MoreAppropriate 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...
Read MoreWorking During Retirement
Planning on working during retirement? If so, you're not alone. An increasing number of employees nearing retirement plan to work at least some period of time during their retirement years. Why work during retirement? Obviously, if you...
Read MoreYear-End Review: Investments and Portfolio Allocation
As the year comes to a close, it’s a good time to check in on your investment portfolio. Market fluctuations, changing interest rates, and personal milestones can all impact whether your investments still align with your goals and...
Read MoreYour Insurance and Protection Plans
The end of the year is a natural time to take stock of your financial picture. This includes the insurance coverage that protects your income, family, and assets. Life changes, inflation, and shifting financial goals can all affect how...
Read MoreFive Keys to Investing for Retirement
Making decisions about your retirement account can seem overwhelming, especially if you feel unsure about your knowledge of investments. However, the following basic rules can help you make smarter choices regardless of whether you...
Read MoreNew Twists on Classic Thanksgiving Traditions
Thanksgiving brings together two of life’s best things: food and family. Whether you’ve been heading to grandma’s house for the past 20 years or you’re hosting your first Friendsgiving in a tiny apartment, the same beloved traditions...
Read MoreLife Insurance and Charitable Giving
Life insurance can be an excellent tool for charitable giving. Not only does life insurance allow you to make a substantial gift to charity at relatively little cost to you, but you may also benefit from tax rules that apply to gifts...
Read MoreSpend Smarter This Holiday Season
The holidays can be joyful and expensive. With higher prices on everything from travel to groceries and endless options for gifts, it’s easy for spending to spiral. A thoughtful plan can help you keep the season merry without straining...
Read MorePlanning for the Financial Impact of Children
Children are a special blessing and their arrival brings boundless love and joy into our lives that you can't put a price on. But adding a child to the household impacts the family budget in very measurable ways. Whether this is your...
Read MoreHow Men and Women Approach Financial Planning Differently
When it comes to something as personal as our finances, it's natural that our individual perspectives, experiences, and even our gender can shape how we approach money and who we trust for advice. A study conducted by Barnum Financial...
Read MoreIs Your Retirement Plan Adaptable to Life's Unexpected Twists?
The traditional image of retirement often involves a clear-cut path: work for X years, retire at age Y, and live comfortably on a pension and Social Security. While appealing, this retirement picture is rapidly changing. Today, the...
Read MoreThe Spending Plan: Setting and Prioritizing Your Budget Goals
What are budget goals? Think of your budget goals as your financial wish list and your spending plan as a way to make those wishes a reality. Without clear budget goals, your financial life may remain in disarray. Like any other goals...
Read MoreEstimating Your Retirement Income Needs
You know how important it is to plan for your retirement, but where do you begin? One of your first steps should be to estimate how much income you'll need to fund your retirement. That's not as easy as it sounds, because retirement...
Read MoreMaximizing the Estate Planning Value of Life Insurance
What is maximizing the estate planning value of life insurance?Simply put, maximizing the estate planning value of life insurance means getting the most bang for your buck. That is, it involves keeping as much of the proceeds as...
Read MoreWhy Most Americans Value Life Insurance (And How to Bridge the Gap)
In the world of financial planning, few tools are as universally valued as life insurance. While some people may put off having the conversation, our Study of Working Americans reveals a powerful truth: those who have it, value it...
Read MoreLife Insurance: The Underwriting Process
The underwriting process is how an insurance company evaluates the risk of insuring an applicant to determine their eligibility for coverage and set the appropriate premium. It's a comprehensive review that assesses a wide range of...
Read MorePreparing the Next Generation for Lasting Wealth
As the summer winds down, many families find themselves in a natural moment of reflection – shifting focus from leisurely pursuits to the long-term stewardship of their legacy. August, often a quieter period, presents a strategic...
Read MoreRepaying Your Student Loans
You vaguely remember signing a form every year at college registration time. Now that you've graduated, it's all become painfully clear — those forms were promissory notes detailing your student loan obligations. Your loans aren't...
Read MoreRetirement Planning for Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs face distinct challenges when securing their retirement. Their fluctuating business income, coupled with the inherent uncertainties of a dynamic business plan, creates a unique landscape compared to traditional employment...
Read MoreScore Smart Savings During Connecticut's Sales Tax-Free Week (August 17-23, 2025)
As the Connecticut summer winds down, an opportunity emerges for savvy shoppers and families gearing up for fall: the annual Sales Tax-Free Week. From Saturday, August 17th, through Friday, August 23rd, 2025, residents of Connecticut...
Read MoreAn Update on Medicare in 2025 and What It Means for You
Medicare, the federal health insurance program for Americans aged 65 or older and certain younger individuals with disabilities, is constantly evolving. The updates primarily driven by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), aim to...
Read MoreERISA: Safeguarding American Workers' Benefits
A Look at Its History, Importance, and Evolving Landscape The American workplace has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past century, and with it, the nature of employee benefits. In the midst of this evolution, one piece of...
Read MoreReaching Retirement: Now What?
You've worked hard your whole life anticipating the day you could finally retire. Congratulations — that day has arrived! But with it comes the realization that you'll need to carefully manage your assets to give them lasting potential...
Read MoreYour Mid-Year Check In
Life's an unpredictable journey, isn't it? One moment you're cruising, and the next you're navigating a sharp turn. It could be a new job, a growing family, or an unexpected expense. These shifts, big and small, directly impact your...
Read MoreCommon Factors Affecting Retirement Income
When it comes to planning for your retirement income, it's easy to overlook some of the common factors that can affect how much you'll have available to spend. If you don't consider how your retirement income can be impacted by...
Read MoreCreating a Lasting Legacy Through Philanthropic Planning
We all have causes that stir our hearts, issues that ignite a desire for change. Often, our generosity manifests as a check, a contribution made with good intentions. But what if our giving could transcend a single transaction, and...
Read MoreLiving with Your Parents: Should You Stay or Should You Go?
You're an adult, and that distinction comes with some privileges, benefits, responsibilities, and choices to make, including the potential decision of whether to live with your parents or move out. Not surprisingly, there are pluses...
Read MoreThe Art of the Deal (and the Return)
Investing in Collectibles as an Alternative Asset Imagine stumbling upon a dusty painting in your attic, only to discover it's a lost masterpiece worth a fortune. Or perhaps the carefully preserved vintage baseball card you inherited...
Read MoreFinancial Insights for NIL Athletes
Student-athletes can profit from NIL, but managing contracts, taxes, and finances is key. Work with experts to protect income, cut taxes, and plan ahead. Secure your future while maximizing your NIL deal.
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