Blog

Help Safeguard Your Assets from a Beneficiary’s Divorce
Joel Appleman Joel Appleman

Help Safeguard Your Assets from a Beneficiary’s Divorce

Smart estate planning doesn’t just take into account what you’ll pass down to your heirs, but how you’ll do it. There are numerous ways to make the transfer, and some offer more protection than others. If one of your heirs gets divorced down the line, you don’t want to risk your wealth ending up in unintended hands.

Read More
Trust Basics
Joel Appleman Joel Appleman

Trust Basics

Whether you're seeking to manage your own assets, control how your assets are distributed after your death, or plan for incapacity, trusts can help you accomplish your estate planning goals. Their power is in their versatility — many types of trusts exist, each designed for a specific purpose. Although trust law is complex and establishing a trust requires the services of an experienced attorney, mastering the basics isn't hard.

Read More
Through the Back Door to Bigger Retirement Savings
Joel Appleman Joel Appleman

Through the Back Door to Bigger Retirement Savings

For people looking to build a balanced retirement savings portfolio, a Roth IRA can serve as a great companion to an employer plan such as a 401(k). But if you earn too much money, you may not qualify to invest fully – or at all – in a Roth IRA. And no matter how much you earn, you may find that contribution limits prevent you from building as fat a fund as you’d like. Fortunately, there are “backdoor” strategies that may help you get around these limitations. Here’s what you need to know.

Read More
Opportunity Blooms in Tax Season
Joel Appleman Joel Appleman

Opportunity Blooms in Tax Season

Tax season can be a period of new possibilities – especially when it comes down to what to do with your refund or, on the flip side, how to settle your bill.

Read More
What Time is the Right Time for Retirement?
Joel Appleman Joel Appleman

What Time is the Right Time for Retirement?

Age may just be a number, but when it comes to retirement, it matters. A recent survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that only 11% of workers plan to retire before the age of 60. But with the right preparation, you can create a retirement plan that will provide you with financial resources and the freedom to pursue your passions, whether you flip the switch at 65, 60 or sooner.

Read More
From the Desk of Jo’nelle Fetzer
Joel Appleman Joel Appleman

From the Desk of Jo’nelle Fetzer

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi
This quote has always resonated with me, echoing through various seasons of my life. I was born and raised in central Pennsylvania, where my upbringing was decidedly more 'rural' than most. Summers were spent with cousins at my grandparents’ place, where slip-and-slide adventures down the hill and backyard campouts were the norm.

Read More
7 Money Moves to Help Enhance Your Cash
Joel Appleman Joel Appleman

7 Money Moves to Help Enhance Your Cash

Sometimes savings can be easier to find if you know where to look. Beyond the generic advice of “saving more,” these nuanced strategies can help your cash flow. Here are some tips:…

Read More
The Federal Reserve’s Key Meeting Dates in 2024
Joel Appleman Joel Appleman

The Federal Reserve’s Key Meeting Dates in 2024

The Federal Reserve's rapid series of interest rate hikes throughout 2022 and 2023 — initiated in an effort to bring down red-hot inflation — rippled throughout financial markets and the broader economy.

People pay attention to the "Fed" to see where interest rates are headed, but also for its economic analysis and forecasting. Members of the Federal Reserve regularly conduct economic research, give speeches, and testify about inflation and unemployment, which can provide clues about where the economy is going. This information can be useful for consumers when making borrowing and investing decisions.

Read More
How Savers and Spenders Can Meet in the Middle
Joel Appleman Joel Appleman

How Savers and Spenders Can Meet in the Middle

Couples who have opposite philosophies regarding saving and spending often have trouble finding common ground, and money arguments frequently erupt. But you can learn to work with — and even appreciate — your financial differences.

Read More
Key Retirement and Tax Numbers for 2024
Joel Appleman Joel Appleman

Key Retirement and Tax Numbers for 2024

Every year, the Internal Revenue Service announces cost-of-living adjustments that affect contribution limits for retirement plans and various tax deduction, exclusion, exemption, and threshold amounts. Here are a few of the key adjustments for 2024.

Read More
Do You Have These Key Estate Planning Documents?
Joel Appleman Joel Appleman

Do You Have These Key Estate Planning Documents?

Estate planning is the process of managing and preserving your assets while you are alive, and conserving and controlling their distribution after your death. There are four key estate planning documents almost everyone should have regardless of age, health, or wealth. They are…

Read More
A New Year, A New Opportunity to Save with a 529 Plan
Joel Appleman Joel Appleman

A New Year, A New Opportunity to Save with a 529 Plan

The start of a new year is typically a time when people resolve to implement or recommit themselves to a personal financial goal. This year, why not consider opening a 529 plan account, or increasing your contributions to an existing account, to enhance your child's or grandchild's financial future? 529 plans are the most flexible they've ever been since their creation more than 25 years ago.

Read More
The Lasting Benefits of Financial Security
Joel Appleman Joel Appleman

The Lasting Benefits of Financial Security

Talking to kids about money can be awkward, but it’s important. That’s the takeaway from a recent T. Rowe Price survey, which showed that parents consider topics like death and politics easier to discuss with kids than saving for a goal. A full 85% wanted to avoid the issue by signing their kid up for a personal finance course.

Read More