529 Plans College planning

Give the Gift of College: Starting a 529 Plan

Whether celebrating the arrival of a new nephew or a granddaughter's first birthday, relatives (and friends) are often looking for meaningful gifts for their loved ones. With college costs at record highs, many parents may not be able to pay the full cost of their children's higher education without help.…

Kristin McKennaNovember 18, 2015

Employee benefits Financial Planning Tax planning Updated for 2021

HSA vs. FSA: Differences Between Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts

Updated for 2021. What are the differences between a health savings account (HSA) vs flexible spending account (FSA)? While these accounts can provide significant tax savings for those who utilize them properly, there can also be hefty penalties if you don't know the rules. Not so eager to opt for…

Kristin McKennaNovember 4, 2015

Infographics

Retirement Planning Statistics (Infographic)

How does your retirement planning stack up? Ask one of our retirement wealth advisors about comprehensive financial planning today. (more…)

Kristin McKennaOctober 28, 2015

Employee benefits Financial Planning Financial tips for young professionals Insurance

Do Single People Need Life Insurance?

Most people believe that life insurance is necessary only for those that have dependents. However, for those of us that do not have a spouse or children, is the policy really necessary? Although it will ultimately depend on your personal situation, don't automatically dismiss the applicability of this type of…

Kristin McKennaOctober 21, 2015

403(b) Plans Financial planning for physicians IRA Rollover Job Transition Updated for 2021

What Should You Do With Your Old 403(b)? Here Are Four Options.

Updated for 2021. For doctors and medical professionals, switching hospitals often means starting a new 403(b) retirement plan. Before leaving, consider your options for the old plan. In most instances, it makes sense to roll the old 403(b) plan into an IRA account. However, it is important to know what…

Kristin McKennaOctober 14, 2015

Asset Management Financial tips for young professionals Investing Prioritizing financial goals Starting to invest

When Should I Start Investing?

Young professionals in their twenties and thirties often ask, when should I start investing? It can be difficult to determine when you're financially stable enough or how much money you need to get started. Although these answers will differ for everyone, it is generally wise to start developing an investment…

Kristin McKennaSeptember 16, 2015

Employee benefits Financial tips for young professionals Job Transition

Looking Beyond Salary – How to Evaluate A Job Offer

If you’re lucky enough to be comparing job offers, it’s easy to just focus on the salary. After all, for most people this is the largest and most important part of their compensation. However, to truly evaluate a job offer and whether it is the right fit, you need to…

Kristin McKennaSeptember 2, 2015

Asset Management Investing Managing Risk Rebalancing Roth IRA

Why Do You Need To Rebalance Your IRA?

Why do you need to rebalance your IRA? Setting up an asset allocation for your traditional or Roth IRA is important to diversify your investments to meet your long terms goals and manage risk. Asset allocation is the composition of your portfolio - the percentage of your investments that will…

Kristin McKennaAugust 19, 2015

Financial Planning Financial tips for first time homebuyers Real Estate

The Return of Interest-Only Mortgages

An interest-only home loan is an alternative to a traditional mortgage. Interest-only mortgages provide homeowners and investors with the opportunity to own property with lower monthly payments. While fixed-rate, or amortizing, mortgages offer fixed monthly payments of the principal plus interest, over a period of 10 to 30 years, interest-only…

Kristin McKennaAugust 18, 2015

Employee benefits Financial Planning ISOs NQSOs RSUs Stock options

What Happens to Stock Options After a Company is Acquired?

What happens to stock when a company is bought out or acquired? If you have stock options, RSUs, or another type of equity compensation, you'll want to know what could happen when a company is bought. What happens to stock options or restricted stock units after a merger or a…

Kristin McKennaAugust 12, 2015