Perspectives & Insights Article

It is well-known that money is the leading cause of disagreements in marriage as two individuals must come together to form a cohesive financial unit. Now that you have said “yes” to the ring…will you both say “yes” to combining finances?

The steps are predictable: Graduate from college, start your first job and then, with a few paychecks in the bank, start saving for retirement and make sure you have the necessary insurance to cover your other stages of life. But for millennials, the current generation of young adults and the largest generation in the U.S., the process doesn’t necessarily include life insurance coverage. A Gallup poll indicates that millennials are the least likely to be engaged with their primary insurer and a...

With the holiday season upon us, it is time to start thinking about how you can give back in a multitude of ways that could also be beneficial to you, as the donor. Making a charitable contribution of money or time in place of traditional gift-giving can make your holiday shopping that much easier, while helping someone in need.

With a new year comes New Year’s resolutions, and although we start the year with good intentions, oftentimes many resolutions fall by the wayside. Some of the most common resolutions include losing weight, spending more time with family and friends, learning a new hobby and getting organized. Taking care of oneself should be at the top of everyone’s New Year’s resolution list, but for many of us we feel the need to take care of others before taking care of ourselves.

In today’s society there is no such thing as simple, especially when it comes to families. Complicated family structures are becoming more prevalent, with a decline in the so-called “traditional family.” According to Pew Research, only 46% of children are living with two married parents in their first marriage, compared with 73% in 1960; one in six children are living in blended families (Parenting in America, Dec. 2015). With these newer unique family structures, come questions and complexit...

To keep or not to keep, that is the question. Good record keeping is essential to making your financial life easier and can save you money and time in the long run. But in regards to record retention, how long is too long? Some original documents should be kept permanently (think birth certificate and social security card), whereas others can be shredded after seven years (bank statements and canceled checks), and still others have much more unique retention lengths.

Life is filled with stress, and both financial and emotional change in the workplace and at home ― expected or not ― can certainly increase your anxiety level. According to the American Psychological Association’s annual Stress in America™ survey, money and work remain the two most commonly reported sources of stress, and losing or changing a job can be found at the top of any “life’s biggest stressors” list.