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Change is a constant in today’s world. One of the biggest insurance policies of modern times, social security, is no stranger to change. Based on recent numbers from the USA TODAY article, 61.5 million people receive benefits and more than 42 million (or 62%) of them are retirees. Bottom line, any changes to social security affects a large number of Americans.

Last week, Equifax—one of the nation’s largest credit reporting agencies, reported that hackers stole personal data from an estimated 143 million Americans. The breach lasted from mid-May through July—the hackers accessed people’s names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and in some cases, driver’s license numbers.

Concerned yet? It can be an overwhelming thought that your information is in the hands of criminals looking to profit at your expense. Here are some steps to consider:

When talking about early stage company valuations, all opening paragraphs should start out with: it’s really hard. That’s why convertible notes are popular, why Y Combinator created the SAFE, (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) and why Draper is creating TATS (Tradable Automatic Term Sheets) effectively letting investors and entrepreneurs get around trying to value things today, and agree to try to figure it out later.

Business succession can be an emotional, financial, and timing issue for business owners. Do you have a business succession plan?

No matter your age or your approach to investing, there is one kind of investment that may be considered for your portfolio: dividend-paying stocks. That’s the opinion of Scott Wren, Managing Director and Senior Global Equity Strategist for Wells Fargo Investment Institute. While hardly the...

What comes easy won’t last, and what lasts won’t come easy.” - Unknown The strong first quarter of 2017 was the third in a row for stock markets. It might even be one of the most idyllic in decades. Not only was the S&P 500 up 5.5%, its daily price volatility was the lowest...

With the loss of corporate pensions and concerns about the long-term viability of Social Security, most Americans expect to be personally responsible for funding their retirement to a degree unimaginable just a few generations ago. So the sooner you can start saving and investing, the better your chances for a secure retirement.

The popularity and accessibility of retirement plans has resulted in Americans holding a significant portion of their assets in 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and IRAs.  For many, these accounts represent the largest portion of their wealth outside of their homes. If you’re like most people you will likely need income from these accounts during retirement, or you may have accumulated sufficient other assets to sustain your lifestyle and wish to preserve your retirement assets for your heirs.

Unfortunately, financial scams and identity theft are not only with credit cards and bank accounts, but they have expanded into taxes. Inevitably there are an unlucky few who are plagued with identity theft at tax time in a variety of ways. It is very important to be aware of phishing schemes and other potential ways that these criminals can get your personal information.

On Wednesday, January 25, 2017, the Dow Jones Industrial Average passed a new benchmark: 20,000. This is a milestone investors have been waiting for since the fourth quarter of 2016. This milestone came on the heels of the NASDAQ also crossing its highest level in history on January 24^th at 5,600. Now we are within striking distance of the S&P 500 index making history when it hits 2,300. While this is extremely exciting, at least the media thinks so, what does it mean for you?