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Thursday, March 18, 2021

March 18, 2021 Major League Baseball scheduled Opening Day for April 1, but two states have already scored with spring training underway. Every year, spring training divides the 30 MLB teams into two squads. Half of the teams travel...

 

Thursday, March 4, 2021

March 4, 2021 At this time last year, it was still unknown that a deadly global pandemic was on the rise, eventually stalling economic growth and sending crude oil prices into negative territory. But recently, oil prices have surged,...

 

Thursday, February 18, 2021

February 18, 2021 It can be easy to overlook the nation’s solid economic fundamentals when the financial media splashes stories every day about an army of amateur traders, short-selling mania, and initial public offerings (IPOs)...

 

Thursday, February 11, 2021

February 11, 2021 Traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA), which were created in 1974, are owned by roughly 46.4 million U.S. households. And Roth IRAs, created as part of the Taxpayer Relief Act in 1997, are owned by nearly...

 

Thursday, February 4, 2021

February 4, 2021 By now, you have likely read, or at least seen, something about Gamestop in the news. What exactly happened? Well, here’s a quick guide to the market frenzy you’re seeing in the headlines. What is GameStop...

 

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Thursday, January 14, 2021

January 14, 2021 Have you ever had one of those months? The water heater stops heating, the dishwasher stops washing, and your family ends up on a first-name basis with the nurse at urgent care. Then, as you’re driving to work,...

 

Thursday, January 7, 2021

January 7, 2021 After a bit of political posturing in December, the $900 billion Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (2021 CAA) was signed into law by President Trump as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact employers and...

 

Thursday, December 24, 2020

December 24, 2020 What would Christmastime be without your favorite holiday movie playing on the TV? I know for our family, the Christmas season hasn't officially begun until we see Scott Calvin float up into the air with Santa's bag...

 

Thursday, December 17, 2020

December 17, 2020 The start of the holiday shopping season can provide important clues about the economy's state and, more importantly, overall consumer confidence. So far, the results have been a “mixed bag” with empty...

 

Friday, December 4, 2020

December 4th, 2020 We know that the calendar hasn't quite flipped yet. But we thought it was still a good time to reflect on the past year. It's certainly easy to want to turn the page on 2020 and never look back, but we would be...

 

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

When it comes to Thanksgiving, the name says it all. Taking time to cultivate gratitude is especially important when times are tough. Sharing your blessings and offering thanks to family and friends can lighten your...

 

Thursday, November 19, 2020

With the Federal Reserve keeping interest rates at or near zero, you may wonder about your mortgage. Is it a good time to refinance or even pay off the debt entirely? After all, your...

 

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Now that several major news groups have projected Joe Biden the winner of the presidential election—and Congress appears divided with Democrats in control of...

 

Thursday, November 5, 2020

With all the election chatter and stock market volatility, it may have been easy to miss the ongoing uptrend in long-term interest rates. The yield on the 10-year Treasury bond is sitting just below 1%. Just a few...

 

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Do you remember a board game called Mouse Trap? For a little boy that loved tinkering with things, it was the perfect mix of competition, science, and fun. I haven't played it for...

 

Thursday, October 22, 2020

On October 13, 2020, the Social Security Administration (SSA) officially announced that Social Security recipients will receive a 1.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2021. This adjustment will begin with...

 

Friday, October 16, 2020

When training to become a financial professional, much of our course work centers on the six critical areas of creating a financial strategy. Some recognize October as Financial Planning Month, so it's an excellent...

 

Thursday, October 8, 2020

It should come as no surprise to hear the economy is the top issue for voters in the 2020 election. Nearly 8 in ten voters say that the economy will be very important to them when they cast their votes. But when...

 

Friday, October 2, 2020

A U.S. drug company recently said that it’s in late-stage trials for its coronavirus vaccine and reported that it could be given to Americans as early as the end of the year. Great news. But it seems like every...

 

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Have you found yourself at your local hardware store more often this year? How about the closest Home Depot, or Menard's? I know I certainly have. Just this calendar year, we have installed 1,200 square feet of...

 

Thursday, September 17, 2020

Football is back, which means Summer is coming to a close, days will get shorter, and sweaters will soon be in play. This year, there was no pre-season, so...

 

Thursday, September 10, 2020

Most recently, you may have read that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced a change in how the Fed views inflation. In the past, the Fed said it would consider adjusting short-term rates when inflation...

 

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), one of the most widely followed stock market indices, has made some key changes to its starting lineup. Salesforce.com, Amgen Inc. and Honeywell International Inc. have...

 

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Two high-profile companies—Apple and Tesla—have announced stock splits in the past few weeks, which makes it a great time to discuss what’s involved when a company announces a stock split. Remember, any companies...

 

Thursday, July 2, 2020

2020 is destined to become an indelible chapter in American history. In just six months, we have suffered a pandemic, encountered economic and financial disruption, and tackled civil justice issues. After all that, we deserve a...

 

Saturday, June 20, 2020

As a father of two boys ages 5 and 3, I am continually reminded of the importance of being a present and involved father. I could provide numerous studies and statistics around this truth, but I would rather speak more from the heart...

 

Friday, May 22, 2020

In honor of Memorial Day, I’d like to tell you a story about a man named Ben Salomon. Ben Salomon was a dentist. He went to school, got his degree, and started his own dental practice at the age of 23. The most trying ordeal he...

 

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Growing up we don’t realize the type of sacrifices that our mothers make for us on a daily basis. They are always the one that will forget about their own needs to serve and support their children. They never ask for any type of...

 

Saturday, April 11, 2020

I have always loved Easter weekends as it is usually the first family gathering of the year for the traditional egg hunt, games, food, and all the festivities. Of course, this year is very different for all of us. Because of COVID 19,...

 

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

The CARES Act is designed “to provide emergency assistance and health care response for individuals, families, and businesses affected by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.”3 Think of it as a kind of massive care package. Just...

 

Monday, March 30, 2020

In late February, concern that efforts to contain Coronavirus Disease 2019 (a.k.a. COVID-19) might result in slower global economic growth disrupted global markets. Share prices fell as economists and financial analysts revised growth...

 

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Did you know that giving thanks – thinking of the blessings and happy moments you experience each day – can improve your life? According to the Mayo Clinic, positive thinking can actually make you healthier. The many...

 

Thursday, September 5, 2019

My family and I recently had the privilege of attending the Money Concepts financial planning conference in Normandy, France. What I found, while walking the area of Omaha Beach, is that it is difficult to put into words what happened there

 

Monday, August 26, 2019

Think about a time where you were influenced by somebody else, where maybe somebody said something that had a great impact on your life or just simply helped you in a time of need. When you think of that...

 

Sunday, July 7, 2019

A Prescription for Dementia Prevention If you’ve ever played a party game that asks you to make difficult decisions, you may have run into a question like this one: Would you rather enjoy good physical health all of your life or...

 

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

As we gather together with friends and family this 4th of July may we all be reminded of the cost of freedom.

 

Saturday, June 15, 2019

I’m at the beach or doing something fun because if it weren’t for your courage, I would not have the opportunities that I have today! I consider what you did for our family not only courageous but also heroic because so...