Asset Management Diversification Infographics Investing Managing Risk

Investing Outside of the S&P 500

If you've ever heard excerpts from the latest Apple earnings report, you may have thought, 'so what?' Well, for many investors, Apple's relative performance could impact your own bottom line. As of January 2019, the 5 largest publicly traded companies (Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, Johnson & Johnson) in the world were all…

Kristin McKennaJanuary 20, 2019

Infographics Investing

The Truth About Market Timing

The debate about whether investors can regularly 'beat' the market by timing when to buy and sell is not new. At the most basic level, individual and institutional investors have the same goal: to buy low and sell high. For market-timers, this means trying to spot the highs and the…

Kristin McKennaMay 22, 2018

Asset Management Infographics Inheritance Secure Act SEP IRA Traditional IRA Updated for 2020

Options After Inheriting an IRA from Your Spouse

If your spouse has named you as a beneficiary on their traditional IRA, SEP IRA, or SIMPLE IRA, you will need to understand your options for the account you have just inherited. In general, you will have three choices for the IRA you have inherited. As you review your options,…

Kristin McKennaApril 13, 2018

401(k) Plans 403(b) Plans Infographics Inheritance Roth IRA Secure Act SEP IRA Traditional IRA

What to do after inheriting a retirement account from a parent or relative

If you have just inherited a traditional IRA, SEP IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k) or 403(b) plan from a parent, sibling, or relative, you may be unsure about what your options are and what to do next. As a non-spouse beneficiary, you will need to begin taking distributions from the account.…

Kristin McKennaMarch 18, 2018

401(k) Plans 403(b) Plans Employee benefits Infographics Retirement Planning Updated for 2020

What’s the Difference Between a 401(k) and 403(b)?

How is a 403(b) different from a 401(k)? (Updated for 2019). Although 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans are very similar, there are some key differences between the two. If you recently changed jobs and aren't sure how your new retirement plan compares to your old plan, this infographic may be…

Kristin McKennaNovember 8, 2017

Financial planning for new parents Financial tips for expecting parents Infographics

4 Financial Tasks Every Parent Should Complete

Financial planning is an important step for couples and families, but often tasks get put on the back burner as life gets busy. These are the top 4 most important money and financial tasks that should be on every Mom and Dad's to do list. (more…)

Kristin McKennaMay 23, 2017

Infographics ISOs NQSOs Stock options

Incentive Stock Options vs Non-Qualified Stock Options

What's the difference between ISOs and NSOs? Although there are some key differences to be aware of, non-qualified and incentive stock options also have a lot in common. For employees, stock options can offer both risk and reward. Unlike restricted stock units, which are given or "awarded" to employees, incentive…

Kristin McKennaApril 1, 2017

401(k) Plans Business owners Infographics Retirement Planning SEP IRA Solo 401(k)Tax planning Updated for 2020

SEP IRA vs Solo 401(k): What’s the Best Retirement Plan for Small Business Owners?

Updated for 2020. Business owners have several retirement plans to choose from. For small companies, the SEP IRA and Solo 401(k) are the most common. What are the pros and cons of the SEP IRA vs Solo 401(k)? Determining which plan is best suited for you will depend on certain…

Kristin McKennaFebruary 8, 2017