News and Commentary

Tips to Help Protect your Marriage from Financial Infidelity by Kathleen Marteney, CRPC

Posted September 7, 2018

If you think that the only form of cheating in a marriage happens in the bedroom, you would be wrong. In fact, a growing number of marriages are suffering the damaging effects of financial infidelity in which a spouse intentionally lies about and/or hides assets or other financial information from his or her betrothed. Both […]

It is Time for a Financial Checkup? by Scott Montgomery, CLU, ChFC

Posted August 29, 2018

As if the new tax laws that went into effect in January 2018 were not enough to jolt investors to review their estate plans, the recent market swings and continued political uncertainty should be a final warning bell that investors should take action. Mitigating risks and preparing portfolios and estate plans for whatever the future […]

What Employee Benefit Plans Need to Know about New Disability Claims Procedures by Sean Deviney, CFP

Posted August 21, 2018

Employers that offer workers short- and long-term disability benefits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) have new rules for reviewing and managing disability claims filed on or after April 1, 2018. These changes, which the Department of Labor first introduced in 2016, aim to provide workers with greater protections when plan fiduciaries and […]

Relatable Finance Podcast Episode 2 – FOMO and What to Do with Investing Tips

Posted August 14, 2018

In this episode, the guys discuss behavioral impacts on investing, FOMO and what to do with investing tips.

Relatable Finance Podcast Episode 3 – Financial Things We Can Control and How to Manage The Ones We Can’t Control

Posted August 9, 2018

In this episode the guys share their thoughts on things you can and cannot control related to money, savings, taxes and social security.

Avoid the Problems that Can Come with Cosigning Loans by Kathleen Marteney, CRPC

Posted August 8, 2018

Cosigning a loan for a friend or family member can spell financial disaster and ruin an otherwise healthy relationship. While it is not unusual for parents to cosign for a child’s student loans, car loans or even a mortgage, doing so can damage parents’ credit scores and leave them liable for paying off the entire […]

Fight Back against Identify Theft with a Free Credit Freeze by Jamel Gordon, CFP

Posted August 3, 2018

Beginning in September 2018, consumers will have easier access to one of the most effective tools for protecting themselves against identity theft without having to reach into their pockets to pay a fee. Under the recently enacted Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act, you will be able to place a freeze on your credit […]

Market Update August 2018 by Joseph Karl

Posted August 2, 2018

Halfway through the year, 2018 is making records for attention-grabbing headlines. How this constant barrage of news affects the greater economy and the implications for investable assets requires consideration of many factors and how they interact with each other. Foremost, we are in the latter stages of an economic expansion, in which signs of […]

Relatable Finance Podcast Episode 1 – Budgeting, Savings and Debt

Posted July 31, 2018

In this episode, the guys explain the basics of budgeting, saving and debt and share tips on making them work for you.

Planning for Spending during Retirement by Todd A. Moll, CFP, CFA

Posted July 31, 2018

One of the primary objectives of financial planning is to ensure that individuals have more than ample spendable cash flow during all of their retirement years. Navigating the careful balance between spending too much and possibly running out of funds, or spending too little and missing out on all of the potential joys of retirement […]

Managing Finances When the Kids Move Back Home by Brendan T. Hayes

Posted July 25, 2018

According to Pew Research Center, more than one-third of young adults between the ages of 18 and 34 are currently living in a home with their parents. While these living arrangements can help young adults to pay down student loans or save enough money to establish their own financial independence, it can also put a […]

The Reality of Investing: A Look into Behavioral Finance by Shane Phillips, CFA, CAIA

Posted July 19, 2018

Most versions of economic and finance theory take the approach that humans are rational and will make the best decisions given their specific circumstances. Unfortunately, theory is not reality. In reality, humans often make irrational decisions. Often, these choices are influenced by psychological factors that can be explained through the study of behavioral finance. Behavioral […]

Lack of Estate Planning Can Lead to Years of Legal Woes by Scott Montgomery, CLU, ChFC

Posted July 10, 2018

As the saying goes, there are only two certainties in life: death and taxes. An unwillingness to plan for either is a recipe for disaster. Individuals who pass away without a will essentially hand the keys to their kingdom and control of their assets over to the states where they reside. Without a will, intestate […]

Relatable Finance Podcast Episode No. 1: Debt, Saving and Budgeting

Posted July 9, 2018

In this episode, Joseph Karl and Shane Phillips discuss debt, saving and budgeting.

Are my Savings Protected Under Latest Fiduciary Rule Update? by Eric P. Zeitlin

Posted July 6, 2018

The Department of Labor introduced the fiduciary rule in an effort to provide consumers with enhanced protections when receiving retirement saving advice from financial advisors and investment brokers who manage consumers’ 401(k)s, IRAs, pension plans and other retirement assets. However, in March 2018, the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit invalidated the regulation and […]