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Did you know that in a recent survey more than 90% of companies increased the amount of money allocated for performance-based bonuses for 2015? Instead of salary increases more companies are issuing higher bonuses. This means the responsibility is yours when it comes to ensuring your well-deserved b...

A recent CNN poll found that for the first time since 2007 a majority of Americans think things are going well in our country--albeit a very slim majority; 52 percent of surveyors said things are going well. In line with this statistic, economic sentiments have improved and more Americans believe th...

The old adage "can money buy happiness?" is one we have all heard. Research shows that on a broad level people with higher incomes tend to be happier than those who struggle to live. Yet, more importantly how people spend their money is a much more important question that directly relates to happine...

Whether you have ham on Thanksgiving or Christmas, it has never been more expensive than this year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ham prices are up nearly 14% from a year ago. If families stick with tradition, this year's holiday meal will be significantly more expensive. The increase...

In a recent study most people greatly underestimate how long they will live. There is a slight relationship between how long people thought they would live and how long they actually lived-but the most unusual finding was that people do not seem to fully understand the longevity risk they face. T...

Oil is in the middle of its steepest decline since the financial crisis of 2008. A major reason in the recent decline is the surging global oil production that has resulted in supply increasing more than demand. Although this is not great news for oil producers and distributors, it has been good for...

Last Friday, a federal judge approved a plan that would hopefully allow Detroit to escape years of financial ruin. The approved plan comes less than 16 months since Detroit became the largest city in the United States to file for bankruptcy. The plan enables the city to clear $7 billion in debt and...

I attended a Women's Philanthropy event held through the Jewish Federation of Rochester, of which, Brighton Securities was honored to have the opportunity to sponsor. The Women's Philanthropy Event or the Main Event for Women is a tremendous event that generates many charitable dollars which ultimat...

Last Wednesday, the Federal Reserve announced the end of its bond purchasing program. This announcement concluded a six-year program that began in November of 2008, known as Quantitative Easing, to help aid the economy and stabilize the crippling housing market. In addition to ending the bond-buying...

According to the Social Security Administration, in 2015, the average American will receive $1,328 a month, or, $15,936 a year in social security benefits. The administration announced that starting in January, more than 58 million recipients will see a bump in their monthly checks. Monthly benef...