By Jessica Searcy Kmetty How do you feel when you think about your money, your goals, or your future? Financial planning can evoke many different feelings. For some, it inspires excitement and motivation; for others, it brings uncertainty, overwhelm, or curiosity....
By Marc C. Shaffer and Brenda Carrico Tax forms often feel like background paperwork that quietly disappears after filing season. Some forms carry long-term consequences if they are missed or forgotten and IRS Form 8606 falls squarely into that category. For investors...
By Ryan Brooke Access to liquidity can be an overlooked component of a thoughtful financial plan. Many families focus on portfolio performance, retirement planning, and long-term wealth management strategies. Fewer take time to consider how they would access capital...
By Marc C. Shaffer At a Glance: Many families delay using long-term care (LTC) insurance because they’re unsure if they qualify or feel overwhelmed by the claims process, often missing out on benefits they’re entitled to. We’re covering common misconceptions, and...
By Marc Shaffer Health Insurance on the Marketplace Is Getting More Expensive in 2026. Here’s What to Know and What You Can Do. For many Americans who are self-employed, between jobs, or retired before age 65, health insurance comes from the Federal or state...
By Marc C. Shaffer For more than 40 years, my parents did life together. They raised a family, built routines, shared responsibilities, and made plans as a team. Shortly after my mom’s 70th birthday, my dad and I lost her to breast cancer. Grief changes everything but...
By Marc C. Shaffer If you have ever felt overwhelmed by the number of passwords you need to remember, you are not alone. Between online banking, social media, utilities, insurance, and work systems, password management can easily become a daily frustration. For more...
By John Fales, Principal & Director of Financial Planning Financial planning is not just about numbers on a page or investments in a portfolio. It is a lifelong process that aims to protect your well-being, strengthen your family’s resilience, and help ensure that...
By Ryan Brooke, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional, CIO For most of the time, markets seem to behave in ways that feel predictable. Stocks go up, they go down, and diversified portfolios generally deliver steady growth over the long term. But then there are...
By Marc C. Shaffer As a financial planner, I’ve read countless books about money, investing, and building wealth. Few have resonated as deeply as Carl Richards’ Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in 101 Simple Sketches. The beauty of Carl’s work lies in its simplicity, as...