Given the high cost of college, getting a loan can be the deciding factor in whether a student can attend school and where he or she will go. In fact, a majority of college students graduate with at least some student loan debt, and the average debt in 2017 was…
Read MoreMany students are happy to sign the loan documents that will enable them to get a college education, but when it comes time to pay off that loan, they may find themselves with a lot of questions. Here are a few ways to get a better handle on the repayment…
Read MoreCollege tuition can be very expensive, but when you’re budgeting for higher education don’t forget to include the many other costs you’ll be facing. Here’s a rundown of some of the most significant expenses to keep in mind: Tuition. Costs for public state schools are generally lower than for private ones, even if you go to…
Read MorePutting away enough money to pay for college costs can seem daunting, but there are several ways to do it, each with its own advantages. 529 Plans There are two kinds of 529 plans, which are named after a section of the U.S. Tax Code: With a 529 prepaid tuition plan, your contributions essentially buy tuition credits that…
Read MoreA look at grants, scholarships, 529 plans, and other methods. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC How much could a college education cost in the 2030s? You may want to take a deep breath and sit down before reading the next paragraph. A MassMutual analysis projects that…
Read MoreYour financial future is up to you and no one else. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC What will be your future? You know that solid retirement strategy takes your time horizon, an often unpredictable factor, into consideration. Your thinking must include an awareness of how long you…
Read MoreIdeas to Help Manage Stress. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC In a recent study, 35% of married couples described money issues as their primary source of stress. While there are many potential causes of such financial stress, in some cases the root may begin with habits formed…
Read MoreWhat is your exit strategy? Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Your company is ripe for sale. Now what? These days, your children or employees may not necessarily want to take over your business, but you still want to sell your business. So, what’s a successful entrepreneur to…
Read MoreFocusing on what you can control can lead to a better investment experience. Whether you’ve been investing for decades or are just getting started, at some point on your investment journey you’ll likely ask yourself some of the questions below. Trying to answer these questions may be intimidating, but know…
Read MorePhysical, mental, and financial warning signals. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Is someone taking advantage of someone you love? June 15 is World Elder Abuse Prevention Day, a day to call attention to a crisis that may become even more common as baby boomers enter the “third acts”…
Read MoreDelegating responsibilities to others may lead to problems down the road. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC When you are putting together a household, it isn’t unusual to delegate responsibilities. One spouse or partner may take on the laundry, while another takes on the shopping. You might also decide which…
Read MoreJoan Alexandre, Investment Analyst II December 13, 2017 In the not-too-distant past, there existed the concept of a “slow news day.” Newspapers were the primary mechanism by which people gathered information on current events, only to be topped off with that evening’s local or national broadcast. On Sunday, June 1,…
Read MoreThe case for aligning your portfolio with your outlook & worldview. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Do your investment choices reflect your outlook? Are they in agreement with your values? These questions may seem rather deep when it comes to deciding what to buy or sell, but…
Read MoreWhat is it and why is it important? Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC While nature offers four seasons, Wall Street offers only one – four times a year. It’s called “earnings season,” and it can move the markets. So, what is earnings season, and why is it important? Earnings…
Read MoreProvided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Regardless of how the markets may perform, consider making the following part of your investment philosophy: Diversification. The saying “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” has real value when it comes to investing. In a bear OR bull market, certain asset classes…
Read MoreHaving your identity stolen may be costly. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Many Americans have taken steps in recent years to protect their personal information, but savvy cybercrooks have overcome some of those defenses. A 2018 Javelin Research report found identity theft hit an all-time high in 2017, affecting…
Read MoreA look at some ways to get ready. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Are Americans saving enough? Only 19% of U.S. adults describe themselves as “very confident” when asked about their savings. Worry spots include retiring without enough money saved (16%) and anxiety about having a “rainy day” emergency…
Read MoreFacts about the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Social Security has been a pillar of retirement life for several decades, but how much do you really know about it? Here are some facts that might surprise you: The Social Security trust…
Read MoreBreaking down the basics & what each part covers. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Whether your 65th birthday is on the horizon or decades away, you should understand the parts of Medicare – what they cover and where they come from. Parts A & B: Original Medicare. There are…
Read MoreDoes thinking about investing leave a bad taste in your mouth? With all the jargon that gets tossed around — headwinds/tailwinds; beta versus smart beta; portfolio under- and over-weightings; Brexit, Grexit and even Texit — investors are often left feeling like they have egg on their face when they try…
Read MoreWhen fear and uncertainty find their way into headlines, investors should ignore the herd and “stay the course.” While there is no magic formula for handicapping a stock market correction, it is not uncommon for resoundingly jubilant investor sentiment to precede a sudden spate of selling. Building on a record…
Read MoreIt may not sound enticing, but creating a will puts power in your hands. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC According to the global analytics firm Gallup, only about 44% of Americans have created a will. This finding may not surprise you. After all, no one wants to…
Read MoreWise moves to make before things are finalized. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Before your divorce goes through, it would be wise to check up on financial matters. It would be better to assess the state of your financial life before the split rather than after. …
Read MoreAs severe weather across the U.S. continues to wreak havoc on Americans’ travel plans, we can’t help but think about how the markets have been stormy as well. With both travel and market movement, we know volatility can occur, but we do not know when. Planning ahead gives you an…
Read MoreIt’s impossible to time the market perfectly or completely avoid market fluctuations, and every year, there is significant rotation on which of the asset classes at right perform well or poorly. So how can long-term investors not only endure market fluctuations but plan for them in their journey to achieve…
Read MoreInvestment Management Research Group (IMRG) of 1st Global December 6, 2018 Impending signs of “doom” lurking around the corner sent U.S. stock markets into a tailspin this week, falling roughly 4 percent at their lowest intra-day point. Volatility and downward pressure has been a relatively consistent theme for the Dow…
Read MoreProvided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC The federal government offers some major tax breaks for older Americans. Some of these perks deserve more publicity than they receive. If you are 65 or older, your standard deduction is $1,300 larger. Make that $1,600 if you are unmarried.…
Read MoreWhat are your options for insuring yourself prior to age 65? Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC If you retire before age 65, you must be prepared to address two insurance issues. One, finding health coverage in the period before you can sign up for Medicare. Two,…
Read MoreWatch out for crooks impersonating I.R.S. agents (and financial industry professionals). Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Do you know how the Internal Revenue Service contacts taxpayers to resolve a problem? The first step is almost always to send a letter through the U.S. Postal Service to the…
Read MoreHere are some things you might want to do before saying goodbye to 2018. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC What has changed for you in 2018? Did you start a new job or leave a job behind? Did you retire? Did you start a family? If…
Read MoreIt may need to be adjusted due to the 2017 federal tax reforms. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC The Internal Revenue Service has a message for you. You may need to adjust the amount withheld from your paycheck or the size of your estimated tax payments because…
Read MoreThere is really no reason to wait. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC October is here – the ideal time for college students to apply for financial aid. October 1, in fact, marks the first day a current or future college student can submit a Free Application…
Read MoreAs you start a family, consider these ideas. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Being a parent means being responsible to a degree you never have been before. That elevated responsibility also impacts your financial decisions. You are now a provider and a protector, and that reality…
Read MoreSome say yes, pointing to the recent federal tax reforms. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Will federal income tax rates ever be lower than they are right now? Given the outlook for Social Security and Medicare, it is hard to imagine them falling much further. Higher federal…
Read MoreBaby boomers entering their “second acts” should think about these matters. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Retirement is undeniably a major life and financial transition. Even so, baby boomers can run the risk of growing nonchalant about some of the financial challenges that retirement poses, for not…
Read MoreFall is a good time to assess where you stand and where you could be. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC You need not wait for 2019 to plan improvements to your finances. You can begin now. The last few months of 2018 give you a prime time to…
Read MoreThings to think about before heading to a dealership. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Time to buy a car? Short of buying a house, this is one on the most important purchases you will make. It’s also one that you might be making several times through your…
Read MoreLike an emergency fund, it can come in handy. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Sometimes, life gets expensive. A little bad luck or a twist of fate can hit us right in the checkbook and challenge us to live within our budget. An emergency fund may…
Read MoreNow is a good time to think about a few financial matters. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Making changes earlier rather than later. If you own a business, earn a good deal of investment income, are recently married or divorced, or have a Flexible Savings Account (FSA),…
Read MoreGreg Wilson, Head of Information Security, 1st Global Research & Consulting July 24, 2018 A common, growing problem in the technology world is phishing, which is a tactic used by cybercriminals to try to obtain financial or other confidential information from unsuspecting individuals. This is typically done through email messages…
Read MoreFor millennials, today is the right time. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC If you are under 30, you have likely heard that now is the ideal time to save and invest. You know that the power of compound interest is on your side; you recognize the potential…
Read MoreSome good reasons to retain it. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Do you need a life insurance policy in retirement? One school of thought says no. The kids are grown, and the need to financially insulate the household against the loss of a breadwinner has passed. …
Read MoreIf something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC If you are in or near retirement, it is a safe bet that you would like more yield from your investments rather than less. That truth sometimes leads liars, scammers,…
Read MoreYou may be surprised to learn about the potential relationship. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Does your credit history partly determine the cost of your life insurance? It may. The potential for such a relationship may surprise you – and the relationship is not without controversy. …
Read MoreWhile computer system breaches are often done through means of technology, there are certain methods hackers can use to take advantage of unsuspecting individuals that are less technical — especially social engineering. Social engineering uses direct human interaction, whereby hackers fool others in order to gain access to…
Read MoreSteps to get your credit rating back toward 720. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC We all know the value of a good credit score. We all try to maintain one. Sometimes, though, life throws us a financial curve and that score declines. What steps can…
Read MoreSomeday, you or your parents could be at risk. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC You may know victims of financial elder abuse. According to a new Wells Fargo Elder Needs Survey, almost half of Americans do.1 As you read or hear stories about seniors being financially…
Read MorePaying them down and managing their financial impact. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Is student loan debt weighing on the economy? Probably. Total student loan debt in America is now around $1.5 trillion, having tripled since 2008. The average indebted college graduate leaves campus owing nearly $40,000,…
Read MoreWhy striving to stay in the workforce a little longer may make financial sense. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC The median retirement age for an American woman is 62. The Federal Reserve says so in its most recent Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (2017). Sixty-two,…
Read MoreYou may be surprised to learn what is and is not covered. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC If you have a homeowners insurance policy, you should be aware of what the insurance does and does not cover. These policies have their limitations as well as their underrecognized…
Read MoreThis vital investment account question should be answered sooner rather than later. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Investment firms have a new client service requirement. They must now ask you if you want to provide the name and information of a trusted contact.1 You do not…
Read MoreA lack of money is but one answer. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Common wisdom says that you should start saving for retirement as soon as you can. Why do some people wait decades to begin? Nearly everyone can save something. Even small cash savings…
Read MoreA few realities that must be acknowledged. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Shopping for life insurance means paying attention to detail. In scrutinizing these details, however, some fundamental, big-picture truths may be ignored. If you want to renew or upgrade coverage later in life, the…
Read MoreSometimes more money can mean more problems. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC “Lifestyle creep” is an unusual phrase describing an all-too-common problem: the more money people earn, the more money they tend to spend. Frequently, the newly affluent are the most susceptible. As people establish themselves…
Read MoreWhat steps can a family take? Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Besides impacting lives and relationships, dementia can also impact family finances. It may call for another family member to assume money management responsibilities for a parent, grandparent, or sibling. It may increase the risk of financial…
Read MoreTo consolidate or not: that is the question. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Some couples elect to consolidate their personal finances, while others largely keep their financial lives separate. What choice might suit your household? The first question is: how do you and your partner view…
Read MoreThere are incidents that standard policies may not cover. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC No insurance policy will protect you from everything. Even the most comprehensive umbrella liability policy has its shortcomings. A good auto, homeowner, or renter policy will insure you against what the carrier believes…
Read MoreA tax-advantaged option too many families overlook. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC At first glance, a Roth IRA might seem an unusual college savings vehicle. Upon further examination, it may look like a particularly smart choice. A Roth IRA allows you to save for college without…
Read MoreAs you approach retirement, it may be time to pay more attention to investment risk. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC If you are an experienced investor, you have probably fine-tuned your portfolio through the years in response to market cycles or in pursuit of a better return.…
Read MoreThis popular retirement savings vehicle comes in several varieties. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC What don’t you know? Many Americans know about Roth and traditional IRAs, but there are other types of Individual Retirement Arrangements. Here’s a quick look at all the different types of IRAs: …
Read MoreClassroom educators are coping with hybrid plans and pension fund shortfalls. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Arizona. Kentucky. Massachusetts. Michigan. Pennsylvania. Rhode Island. Tennessee. In these states and others, teachers are concerned about their financial futures. The retirement programs they were counting on have either restructured or…
Read MoreThey are all too common. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Many households think they are planning carefully for retirement. In many cases, they are not. Weak spots in their retirement planning and saving may go unnoticed. Couples should recognize that they may face major medical expenses.…
Read MoreShop wisely when you look for coverage. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Are you about to buy life insurance? Shop carefully. Make your choice with insight from an insurance professional, as it may help you avoid some of these all-too-common missteps. Buying the first policy you see.…
Read MoreA primer for parents and grandparents. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC A university education can often require financing and assuming debt. If your student fills out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and does not qualify for a Pell Grant or other kinds of help, and…
Read MoreWhy a middle-class woman may end up less ready to retire than a middle-class man. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC What is the retirement outlook for the average fifty-something working woman? As a generalization, less sunny than that of a man in her age group. Most…
Read MoreYou might get to deduct the mortgage interest premiums you paid in 2017 after all. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Recently, you may have received a corrected Internal Revenue Service Form 1098 from your mortgage lender. The correction probably spells good news for you. When the…
Read MoreEven with less itemizing, there are still tax documents you want to retain for years to come. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Fewer taxpayers are itemizing in the wake of federal tax reforms. You may be one of them, and you may be wondering how many receipts,…
Read MoreOnce away from work, your cost of living may rise before it falls. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC New retirees sometimes wory tha they are spending too much, too soon. Should they scale back? Are they at risk of outliving their money? This concern is legitimate.…
Read MoreIf you are starting at or near 50, consider these ideas. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Do you fear you are saving for retirement too late? Plan to address that anxiety with some positive financial moves. If you have little saved for retirement at age 50 (or…
Read MoreYour investment portfolio may be off-kilter, and you may not even know it. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Is 80% of your portfolio held in equities? Perhaps it is without you realizing it. You could invite this risk, and others, if you go too long without rebalancing…
Read MoreBy the Investment Management Research Group of 1st Global February 2018 When fear and uncertainty find their way into headlines, investors should ignore the herd and “stay the course.” While there is no magic formula for handicapping a stock market correction, it is not uncommon for resoundingly…
Read MoreSome of the impact of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act will be felt later than January 1. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC President Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act into law on December 22, and on January 1, some key details of the…
Read MoreProvided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Why do higher-income households inquire about Health Savings Accounts? They have heard about what an HSA can potentially offer them: a pool of tax-exempt dollars for health care, a path to tax savings, even a possible source of retirement income after age 65.…
Read MoreWhy are they made again and again? Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Much has been written about the classic financial mistakes that plague start-ups, family businesses, corporations, and charities. Aside from these blunders, there are also some classic financial missteps that plague retirees. Calling them “mistakes”…
Read MoreThe notion that we separate from work in our sixties may have to go. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC An executive transitions into a consulting role at age 62 and stops working altogether at 65; then, he becomes a buyer for a church network at 69. A…
Read MoreWith or without the estate tax, it addresses several key priorities. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Every few years, predictions emerge that the estate tax will sunset. Even if it does, that will not remove the need for life insurance in estate planning. Why? The reasons are…
Read MoreWhat should you keep in mind as you donate? Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Are you making charitable donations this holiday season? If so, you should know about some of the financial “fine print” involved, as the right moves could potentially bring more of a benefit to…
Read MoreResist the temptation. Your future self will thank you. Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC Retirement accounts are not bank accounts. Nor should they be treated as such. When retirement funds are drawn down, they impede the progress of retirement planning, even if the money is later restored. …
Read MoreSeptember 27, 2017 – Damien Paumi is pleased to announce that he has been named to the 2017 edition of the Financial Times 401 Top Retirement Plan Advisers. The list awards and recognizes the top financial advisers with specialization in serving defined contribution (DC) retirement plans. Applicants of the award…
Read MoreIs your investment strategy as socially and environmentally conscious as you are? Provided by Nisivoccia Wealth Advisors LLC It’s not uncommon – Many a well-educated, socially conscious, environmentally friendly investor winds up buying shares of companies whose beliefs and business practices are far removed from their own. Why?…
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