Consider Some New Year’s (Financial) Resolutions   Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Financial Advisor We’re just about ready to open the door to 2017, so you might be thinking about some New Year’s resolutions. What’s on your list this year? More visits to the gym? Learning a new language? Mastering the perfect beef bourguignon? […]

Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Financial Advisor Thanksgiving is almost here. Over the years, this holiday has taken on a variety of meanings, most of them centered on family, caring and sharing. You can carry these same values past Thanksgiving into your daily life – and you can certainly incorporate them into your financial […]

  Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Financial Advisor Halloween is almost here. When you’re passing out candy, you’ll see many “scary” costumes that will probably just make you smile. But in real life, you can easily find some things that truly are frightening – such as bad investment moves. Here are a few that […]

Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Financial Advisor Congress has dedicated the third week of October as National Save for Retirement Week. Clearly, the government feels the need to urge people to do a better job of preparing for retirement. Are you doing all you can? Many of your peers aren’t – or at least […]

Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Financial Advisor With the Olympics almost ending in Rio de Janeiro, one of the most compelling events was the marathon, a 26.2-mile endurance contest with roots dating back to ancient Greece. It may be that we’ve kept our interest in the marathon because it can teach us much about […]

Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Financial Advisor The countdown to 2016 has just about begun. If you’re like many people, you might be mulling over some New Year’s resolutions, such as hitting the gym more, learning a new language or taking a cooking class. All are worthy goals, but why not add some financial […]

Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Financial Advisor There’s a lot to know about investing, so it’s a good idea to get some professional help. But with so many financial advisors out there, how can you choose one that’s right for you? You may have to interview several prospective financial advisors before deciding on one. […]

Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Financial Advisor Who knows where the time goes? Although 2015 is almost in the books, you can still make some year-end investment and financial moves that may help you get off to a good start in 2016. Here are a few suggestions: Boost your 401(k) contributions. Ask your employer […]

Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Financial Advisor During this holiday season, you’ll likely be spending money, in various amounts and in various ways. And you can use this experience to teach your children about money management.. Here are a few ideas for doing just that: Stick to a budget. Tell your children you’ve set […]

Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Financial Advisor Thanksgiving is just around the corner. And like all holidays, this one has plenty of traditions, such as Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (started in 1924) and football (the first broadcast Thanksgiving Day game was played between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears in 1934). Traditions are […]

Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Financial Advisor You may be quite willing to plan an investment strategy for your retirement years. After all, it can be enjoyable to think about traveling the world, pursuing your hobbies or participating in any of the activities you’ve associated with an active retirement. However, once you do retire, […]

Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Financial Advisor What’s the biggest obstacle to your ability to invest successfully? Is it the ups and downs of the financial markets? Political events? The fact that you weren’t born rich? Actually, the chief hurdle you face is something over which you have control: your own emotions. Your emotions […]

Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Financial Advisor you may want to pay special attention to your life insurance to determine if you and your family are adequately protected. How much life insurance do you need? You may hear that you require anywhere from seven to 10 times your annual income in life insurance coverage, […]

Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Financial Advisor In recent months, stocks have fallen sharply from their record highs, with one-day drops that can rightfully be called “dizzying.” As an investor, what are you to make of this volatility? For one thing, you’ll find it useful to know the probable causes of the market gyrations. […]

Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Financial Advisor We’re getting close to Labor Day, a celebration of the men and women who roll up their sleeves and go to work each day. If you’re in the workforce yourself, you can appreciate this recognition of your efforts. And as an investor, you can employ these attributes […]

Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Financial Advisor Many people look for the “secrets” to investment success. Is it timing the market just right? Is it finding those hot stocks or getting in on the “ground floor” of the next big thing? Actually, these types of moves have little relevance to the vast majority of […]

Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Financial Advisor Summer is almost over, which means it’s “back-to-school” time. If you have young children, you may be purchasing backpacks, pencils, notebooks and similar items. But one day, you could be shopping for colleges — and when you do, you’ll find the bill is a little bit higher […]

Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Edward Jones Financial Advisor You might not think much about inflation. After all, it’s been quite low for the past several years. Still, you may want to take it into account when you’re planning your retirement income strategy. Of course, no one can really predict the future course of inflation. […]

Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Financial Advisor August is What Will Be Your Legacy Month. If you knew this, you have an unusual knowledge of obscure celebrations. But even if you weren’t aware of this “month,” you can see that the idea behind it — the importance of leaving a legacy — is an […]

Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Financial Advisor As an investor, you may sometime wonder what on earth is going on in the financial world. One day, the stock market is down 200 points; the next day it’s up 300. One day, a scandal rocks a company; the next day, another firm declares a poor […]

Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Edward Jones Financial Advisor Have you given much thought to collecting Social Security? The answer probably depends on how old you are — but whatever your age, you’ll want to consider the best way of incorporating Social Security benefits into your retirement income strategy. Of course, if you have several decades […]

Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Financial Advisor Contributing to an IRA can help you build some of the resources you will need to enjoy a comfortable retirement. But what happens to your IRA if you don’t use it up in your lifetime? You can still put the IRA’s assets to good use — as […]

Sponsored by: Chuck Smith Jr., AAMS®, Financial Advisor It’s that time of year when many of us hit the road for a summer vacation. If you are fortunate, you will be joining them — after all, “all work and no play” is a difficult way to live. But while you may not think it beneficial […]