Financial Planning

6 Steps to Take in Response to Equifax Security Breach

6 Steps to Take in Response to Equifax Security Breach

The most recent Equifax data breach has left the door wide open on personal security. Getting your credit report is just the first step in protecting your identity. To fully protect your identity, you'll need to go beyond the three big credit bureaus to protect yourself against banking fraud, tax fraud, Social Security fraud, and other criminal activities.

YOUR ESTATE PLAN NEEDS ONGOING MAINTENANCE

YOUR ESTATE PLAN NEEDS ONGOING MAINTENANCE

Your estate plan can't be a document which is created and then shelved. Over time, your estate plan will no longer reflect your actual estate. Ongoing maintenance is required to help your family avoid confusion, fighting, and even lawsuits.

Do You Know How Your Advisor is Licensed

Do You Know How Your Advisor is Licensed

Between the wide range of meaningless job titles and the alphabet soup of certifications and designations, it's easy for an advisor to hide how they truly do business. One thing an adviser can't hide, however, is how they're licensed. Knowing the license will tell you what they can advise on, how they are compensated, and whether they are fiduciaries.

How Much Life Insurance Is Enough

How Much Life Insurance Is Enough

Calculating the right amount of insurance is as much art as it is science. There are a wide variety of methods developed to calculate life insurance needs, including ones that rely on rules of thumb and make it easy to come to a number. Simpler methods make calculating your life insurance needs so simple you can do it in a few seconds with a calculator. But are they accurate?

Don't Wait Until January First to Plan Next Year

Don't Wait Until January First to Plan Next Year

As the year comes to a close, it is important you and your family enter the new year with a plan for your finances. By focusing on what you would have liked to do better last year, you can develop a solid plan for the new year of actions you can take to improve your financial situation. 

Signs You Need A Financial Adviser

Signs You Need A Financial Adviser

For those who regularly read and learn about their personal finances, it is easy to fall into the thinking you don't need a professional financial adviser. For some, do-it-yourself financial management can work quite well when you are first starting out. As your life and your finances become more complex, doing it yourself can cause unforeseen problems. Here are some of the signs that indicate you might need a professional financial adviser.