As we close out the third quarter of the year, it's a natural time to pause and take stock of your progress toward your financial goals. By this point in the year, nine months of progress, challenges, and decisions have shaped where you stand today. With three months ahead, there's time to fine-tune your approach, close gaps, and position yourself to finish the year strong.
As we approach the year's final quarter, it’s the perfect time for a retirement plan check-up. Even if you set your 401(k) contributions months ago, life has a way of shifting the numbers — salary increases, bonuses, or payroll changes can all affect how much you are actually putting away.
As we embark on a new year, there's no better time to take control of your financial future by thoroughly reviewing your cash flow. If having a vision and establishing goals is the touchstone for a financial plan, this essential financial practice sets the foundation for achieving your goals and ensuring long-term financial stability.
Anyone who has gone through a divorce knows how emotionally challenging and financially complex it can be. While attorneys handle the legal aspects, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® focuses specifically on the financial implications of divorce. This specialized designation equips professionals with the expertise to guide clients through the intricate financial aspects of divorce proceedings, ensuring better outcomes for their financial future.
Anna Marie Mock, a fee-only certified financial planner at Highland Financial Advisors, discusses the dynamic interplay between art and science in financial planning. Drawing inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci's philosophy that "everything connects to everything else," she emphasizes that financial planning is an art involving subjective goal-setting and a science-driven by objective analysis tools. In this video, Anna explains how the scientific method can be applied to financial planning, using equity compensation as a concrete example.
Every spring, we throw open the windows, drag out the mop, and tackle the clutter that's been quietly piling up since January. But while you're scrubbing baseboards and donating old sweaters, your finances might be sitting in the corner: dusty, disorganized, and in need of attention.
So, where do you begin?
The Federal Reserve remains front and center in financial headlines as policymakers continue navigating the delicate balance between controlling inflation and sustaining economic growth. The outcome of the Fed's most recent meeting, combined with expectations for rate decisions ahead and the potential leadership shift toward Kevin Warsh, provides important clues about what may lie ahead for borrowers and investors.
The end of the year often brings a welcome financial boost: annual bonuses, holiday gifts from employers, or extra income from seasonal work. While it's tempting to splurge on something fun, these windfalls represent a valuable opportunity to strengthen your financial foundation and accelerate progress toward your long-term goals.
If you're enrolled in the federal SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) student loan plan, significant changes have occurred, and more are coming. As of August 1, 2025, interest again accrues on federal loans held under the SAVE plan, marking a significant shift from the previous 0% interest period many borrowers have relied on since the pandemic.
May is a great time to step back and take stock of your personal finances. The rhythm of tax season is behind you, and there's still plenty of time left in the year to make strategic adjustments. Whether working toward long-term goals or simply staying organized, a thoughtful financial check-in can help ensure you're on track and making the most of your resources.
Tackling debt can feel like climbing a mountain, but with the right strategy, you can reach the debt-free summit faster than you might think. Whether dealing with credit cards, student loans, or other forms of debt, implementing a structured approach can save you thousands in interest and free you from financial burden sooner.
The holiday season will soon pass, and for many, the joy of gift-giving has been overshadowed by a mounting credit card balance. As bills start rolling in, the temptation to explore a credit card balance transfer becomes increasingly attractive. But is this financial strategy a lifeline or a potential trap?
Student loan payments resumed on October 1st after over three years of forbearance. More than 30 million people are returning with existing loans, and 13 million new borrowers and recent graduates are entering the system for the first time since the Covid-related forbearance. Regardless of whether everything is appropriately structured for the first federal loan payment, you should still review your student loans to ensure everything is in order and understand your new payment.
U.S. college tuition costs have skyrocketed over the last few decades, leading to an unprecedented number of students needing to finance the burden through student loans. As of August 2022, student loan borrowers owed a collective nearly $1,750,000,000,000 in federal and private student loan debt, with the average borrower owing $28,950.
A FICO Score is a credit score created by Fair Isaac Corporation used by lenders to assess a borrower’s credit risk and is used in 90% of all lending decisions. FICO updates their models every five years to better predict risk and consumer behavior. FICO is releasing two versions of their scoring models this year, FICO 10 and 10T. FICO 10T stands for trended data and is designed to be a snapshot and predictive of the consumer’s credit journey.
How often in the past month have you received a credit card offer with a large sign-up bonus and lofty on-going rewards? Sign-up bonuses can be a flat dollar amount, say $500, or a promise to match any cash back rewards you may earn within the first 3 months. On-going rewards can be cash, points, or travel perks. No matter your need there is sure to be a credit card issuer out there trying to entice you to sign up for their card. Some people accept the sign-up bonus and on-going rewards and don’t think twice about it. Others, though, see these offers and wonder, “What’s the catch?”
On December 22nd, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 signed into law changed the tax landscape for individuals and corporations. Although there are many modifications to the tax code that will affect all Americans, the mortgage interest itemized deduction directly affects current and future homeowners.
