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After a busy life on the farm, you may be looking at the next steps and addressing how you plan to pass on the property, land, and assets that you worked so hard throughout your life for. While many people may feel they do not need an estate plan if they aren't wealthy, it is crucial to help ensure that your property goes to who you designate and helps create the least amount of burden for them. So if you are ready to begin your estate planning, there are a few items to consider before getti

Black Friday is sometimes the largest shopping holiday of the entire year. Millions of people typically shop in stores or online on Black Friday to score the top deals on must-have holiday gifts. While it may be easy to become overwhelmed by Black Friday deals, it is always helpful to practice good budgeting to keep yourself from overspending or purchasing more items than you need. Check out some helpful budgeting tips to help you stay on track while taking advantage of Black Friday deals. 1. Wo

The S&P 500 does best when one party controls Congress and the WH too   The 2022 Midterm Elections will feature hundreds of hotly contested races at the state and local level and will decide whether the Democrats maintain – or the Republicans gain – control of Congress. Irrespective of what the polls suggest will happen – and without getting into any political discussions – let’s explore what impacts the 2022 Midterm Elections might have on U.S s

Why did you purchase life insurance? If you're like most people who buy life insurance, you're looking to provide a source of income for someone (e.g., a spouse, parent, or child) after you die. Buying the policy was the first step. Now you'll need to do a little more work to ensure that the money you leave behind lasts. You can never leave too much. or can you? First, make sure what you'll leave behind is enough. Review your insurance needs annually, or more often if necessary.

If you are self-employed or own a small business and you haven't established a retirement savings plan, what are you waiting for? A retirement plan can help you and your employees save for the future. Tax advantages A retirement plan can have significant tax advantages: Your contributions are deductible when madeYour contributions aren't taxed to an employee until distributed from the planMoney in the retirement program grows tax deferred (or, in the case of Roth accounts, potentially

When it comes to saving for retirement, the options can seem endless. From 401(k) plans to IRAs, to Roth IRAs, health savings accounts, even life insurance policies, there are a variety of financial vehicles that allow you to set aside and invest funds for your future. But when it comes down to allocating your funds between accounts, what should you consider? Here we discuss the basics of the 401(k) vs. life insurance debate.  How Life Insurance Can Help You Save for Retirement Term life i

Your life insurance needs change as your life changes. When you are young, you may not have a need for life insurance. However, as you take on more responsibility and your family grows, your life insurance needs increase. Your needs may then decrease after your children are grown. You should periodically review your needs to ensure that your life insurance coverage adequately reflects your life situation. Estimating your life insurance need There are a couple of simple methods that you can use

Investing for your retirement isn't about getting rich quick. More often, it's about having a game plan that you can live with over a long time. You wouldn't expect to be able to play the piano without learning the basics and practicing. Investing for your retirement over the long term also takes a little knowledge and discipline. Though there can be no guarantee that any investment strategy will be successful and all investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal,

Last week was epic for market-watchers. A Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike, a much-anticipated gross domestic product (GDP) report, and the busiest week of earnings season got most of the headlines. There was even a surprise out of Washington D.C., with a Schumer-Manchin agreement on a climate-healthcare-tax bill and some inflation data that added to the evidence that inflation has peaked. Stocks expressed approval of this news, securing its second straight solidly positive week. The S&P 500

In 2022, U.S. inflation hit a 40-year high, with prices for food, housing, gasoline, and other key staples increasing by nearly 10% over the previous year.1 During these uncertain times, stocks have continued a roller-coaster ride that has given heartburn to financial professionals and investors alike.For retirees and seniors on a fixed income, the true costs of inflation and market volatility can be much higher—potentially jeopardizing a comfortable retirement. Though Social Security

As a small-business owner, you may be looking for the next big thing—an investment that might double your profits within the next year or allow you to maintain your income while working just a few hours a week. However, business success may depend on many incremental investments you make along the way. By including investments that fall outside the financial realm, you may better position your business and yourself to take advantage of future opportunities. Here are four key investments th

Though baseball and stock market investing may not seem to have much in common, there are a few key similarities—both are stats-driven and require focus, a relative lack of emotion, and a clear mind. And when it comes to investing, you would probably rather emulate Babe Ruth than Bill Buckner. Here we discuss three common investing mistakes that every major league investor should try to avoid. Swinging For the Fences on Every Pitch As any baseball fan knows, with the exception of the Home

Go out into your yard and dig a big hole. Every month, throw $50 into it, but don't take any money out until you're ready to buy a house, send your child to college, or retire.It sounds a little crazy, doesn't it? But that's what investing without setting clear-cut goals is like. If you're lucky, you may end up with enough money to meet your needs, but you have no way to know for sure. How do you set investment goals? Setting investment goals means defining your dreams for t

Corporate wellness programs have been key tools in improving productivity, employee retention, and creating a more desirable corporate culture. While many companies have put a strong focus on physical wellness plans, many are just touching on the surfaces of other vital components of a wellness program, such as emotional, financial, and social wellness. By including social wellness as part of the corporate wellness policy, you can better improve the things that help bring happiness and stability

Today, many individuals are finding it necessary to help elderly parents or relatives manage their personal finances. One area of particular concern is property management. This issue may arise when seniors reach their late seventies or older, and plans that may have proven satisfactory at age 65 may require a second look. If you have an aging parent or relative, the following arrangements can assist you in addressing this concern:  Durable Power of Attorney—This mechanism allows elde

Almost half of all adults are part of the "sandwich generation." These are adults in their 40s and 50s who are helping support or care for a parent while also supporting or caring for a child.1 Being caught between two generations of loved ones who require care can be both financially and emotionally draining, but there are ways to reduce the pressure. Here are three financial planning challenges the sandwich generation is likely to face—and some strategies to address them. Chall

Whether you dream of a travel-filled retirement or would prefer to relax and enjoy spending more time at home, you are probably wondering what you might consider to make your golden years as stress-free as possible.  For those who spent the last several decades in a wealth-accumulation mode, withdrawing savings may trigger anxieties about the future. Some of the choices you may make during the earliest years of retirement may significantly alter the speed with which you spend down your reti