Tips for Financial Security
Published January 12, 2016 6205 Views
Financial security can be like swimming toward the horizon if you do not create a plan and stick to it. Working with an advisor to create your own plan can help to create a sense of ownership over your financial future. It is very easy to allow "life" to get in the way of planning but if you can keep your focus you will be much happier in the long term.
Nothing Worked
Published January 7, 2016 6507 Views
"We've long felt that the only value of stock forecasters is to make fortune tellers look good." - Warren BuffetIt's safe to say that a majority of investors were not celebrating their portfolios this past holiday season. With the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 2.23%, the S&P 500 down 0.7%, and b...
Not Just for Year End
Published December 17, 2015 5914 Views
As 2015 comes to a close there are so many things to do! There are gifts to wrap, meals to cook, cookies to bake, bonuses to earn, and perhaps some tips to take to improve your portfolio. Many advisors provide an annual review and make suggestions on how to improve performance and potentially gain t...
Local Acquisitions
Published December 3, 2015 6203 Views
In the world of business there is always possibility that a company may purchase or merge with another. This week Five Star Bank's parent company, Financial Institutions Inc., announced the purchase of Courier Capital for $9 million. Courier Capital is an advisory and wealth management firm with loc...
Life Insurance: How much do you really need?
Published November 16, 2015 5934 Views
If something were to happen to you, would your family have enough life insurance to continue living the way they do today? Some experts say many families need 70%-90% of their current gross income1 if something were to happen to the breadwinner. While a sobering topic, it is very important and can h...
How to Monetize Your Heirlooms
Published November 3, 2015 6026 Views
What are you going to do with all your "stuff" when you retire? Years of furniture, souvenirs, great deals, and collections add up over time.As you get closer to retirement, it is smart and efficient to develop a strategy for your belongings. Whether you're planning to downsize, want to see your chi...
When a Loved One Dies
Published October 29, 2015 6101 Views
Many of us have seen families, maybe our own, go through transitions where you may be caring for your children as well as your aging parents. This burden not only impacts the family emotionally but also financially. Many adult children are faced with challenging situations of affording and organizin...
Do You Have Aging Parents? It's Time to Talk
Published October 13, 2015 6047 Views
You are not alone if the thought of asking your aging parents about the way they handle their household finances--or how they'd feel about moving to a nursing home fills you with anxiety. However, you can't afford to delay this conversation. As your parents get older, it's important to sit down with...
Investing vs. Paying Off Debt: Which one is right?
Published October 6, 2015 6349 Views
Looking at the numbers, the process for eliminating debt is anything but an easy-to-solve financial equation. Yet, many people wonder if they should pay off their debt as quickly as possible or invest their money, letting debt payments run their course. Theories about balancing investing with debt vary widely.
Should you really look at a new Medicare plan?
Published September 30, 2015 5960 Views
Most of us are really intelligent people, but not exactly experts when it comes to Medicare, and it can be an extremely frustrating and overwhelming task to review so many Medicare plans.
Next week, Medicare eligible persons will be getting their annual notice of change from the current plan as w...