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The primary purpose of life insurance is to provide financial resources for those that depend on you when you die. However, you can lessen the complexity of charitable giving through wealth transfer by using life insurance as a gifting strategy. Often, the strategies you use to transfer wealth, which organizations you want to donate to, and the length of time you want your assets to last is simplified by using life insurance.

When was the last time you gave yourself a financial checkup? As the saying goes, there’s no time like the present. This is especially true when it comes to reviewing the current state of your finances and figuring out what you need to do to get – or stay – on track so you can pursue your financial goals. To do this requires you to take into account a variety of factors. Setting aside time to understand your financial condition and conduct an honest assessment of where you stan

As we approach the end of the year, you may want to review areas that may impact your wealth and estate planning next year. In this year-end planning guide, we examine four critical areas to consider that may affect your finances

If you hope to retire soon and are concerned about what the future may hold for your investments, you are not alone. Inflation has many retirees and soon-to-be retirees worried about outliving their savings and investments. What might you do to survive and even thrive during volatile markets? A financial plan may help you feel more confident and help you consider a few additional ways to manage your financial worries in retirement. 

Even if you never thought of yourself as especially wealthy, there may be a fair chance that you fall into the category of "high net worth individuals"—those who have liquid assets of $1 million or more.1 For many individuals who hope to leave a legacy for their loved ones, estate planning may take on new importance. Here are two estate planning tips every high-net-worth individual should consider.  

The financial literacy gap—or the gaps in financial knowledge among various sectors of the public—may have racial, gender, and socioeconomic components. Those whose parents or mentors are experienced investors who may provide sage advice have a leg up on those who must navigate the process themselves.However, financial professionals have identified ways to close these gaps and make budgeting, investing, and wealth creation more accessible to more people. Below, we discuss a few ways

Don't let disorganization become one of your biggest money problems.

Parents of kids heading off to college soon may wonder about the best way to save for these seemingly inevitable costs. Two popular options include whole life insurance policies and 529 college savings plans, but the paths to paying for a college degree utilizing either of these op

Most people hate the thought of reading a life insurance policy (or any insurance policy, for that matter). However, if you can find the time and muster the patience, it's probably a good idea to read through your policy.

Bull markets happen. Bear markets happen. Just stick to your financial plan, and stay calm and disciplined. When the market sours or slumps, don’t believe talk that this bear it is different. It is not.

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.

Market downturns could be a good time to adjust your fund portfolio to minimize the tax bite. Here’s how to calculate the best ways to do that – now and in the future.

See if you can spot the flaw in this couple's plan:A husband and wife are retiring next month at age 62, with an equal amount saved in retirement and non-retirement accounts (let's call it $500,000 each).Like most, over their lifetimes they have emphasized higher-growth assets in their retirement accounts (IRAs, 401(k)s, etc.), which are invested almost entirely in stocks. By contrast, their non-retirement accounts are far more conservative, since they were more likely to tap those over

From 2008 to 2022, the cost of in-state tuition at public universities rose nearly 80%.1 The high price tag now associated with a college education makes it critical for families to carefully plan how to pay for higher education expenses. Part of this careful planning involves reducing tax liability—the more you pay in taxes, the less you will have available for these other important expenses. Here we discuss four especially tax-efficient ways to help your kids afford college.

Being a doctor comes with a lot of stressors, but planning for taxes should not be one of them. As a doctor, you have been through years of hard work and may be looking for ways to help limit your tax liability and preserve as much of your hard-earned income as possible. Below are some tax strategies that doctors may find useful to help minimize their tax liability.

What is investment tax planning for stocks? Investment tax planning for stocks takes advantage of the tax rules with the goal of achieving the best after-tax return on these investments. Strategies will differ depending on whether you purchase common stock or preferred stock. What is common stock, and how does it generate earnings? Common stock is a form of equity that represents a share of ownership in a corporation.

A life insurance policy is part of financial planning. Life insurance is there to help ease the financial trauma that comes with the loss of a spouse, parent, or partner. As you encounter different events in your life, you may need to review your policy and make changes.

Life insurance can provide you with the confidence that your family and loved ones will not experience any financial distress if you die unexpectedly. However, the importance of having a life insurance policy can make being rejected sting even more.

LPL Research’s Midyear Outlook 2022: Navigating Turbulence is designed to help you assess conditions over the second half of the year, alert you to the challenges that may still lie ahead, and help you find the smoothest path for making continued progress toward your destination.

Life insurance is essential in providing for beneficiaries upon your death, but it can also offer other tax advantages you may not know. For this reason, whole life insurance, also called cash value life insurance, is often used as a vehicle to reduce your taxes while alive and for your estate and beneficiaries.

Planning for retirement is essential as a step toward financial security. Most investors are familiar with 401(k)s, Traditional IRAs, or Roth IRAs but often may not know about an annuity's benefits in retirement. Knowing if retirement savings can last the rest of our lives can be stressful, and retirees often consider an annuity to provide them with consistent payments that last their entire life.

Many investors still adhere to the adage; "sell in May and go away" while others remain fully invested even as the summer heatwaves begin. What goes unsaid is that if your asset allocation accurately reflects your risk tolerance, you won't need to base your investment decisions on the calendar.

Being a nurse comes with a lot of responsibility alongside a sense of pride in knowing that you are helping others. But while the road to becoming a nurse already involves a fair bit of course work, there unfortunately isn't much on helping nurses take control of their finances.Staying on top of finances will help put you in the ideal position to pursue your financial goals, whether they include early retirement, travel, or just feeling more comfortable.

If you have never engaged in financial planning and are unsure how to get started, this article is for you. A financial plan starts by evaluating your current financial situation and future expectations and can be created independently or with the help of a financial professional. In short, financial planning involves: Examining long-term financial goals and creating a strategy to pursue them.

Whether you are expecting your first child or have been a parent for years, finances and building a future for your family go hand-in-hand. Luckily, there are money moves you can make now to help manage financial stress, support yourself and your loved ones, and help your children as they get older. Here are three key financial moves all parents should consider making.

The ability to enjoy a secure retirement is an objective that many teachers and their colleagues pursue years before they leave their jobs. Many public school workers, in different positions, devote their lives to furthering the education of young people. Eventually, each must consider life beyond his or her career and the benefits offered through, and outside of, the public school retirement system.

Police officers have one of the most stressful and dangerous jobs in the United States. As a result, they also have different retirement benefits that may allow full retirement after only a couple of decades of active duty.1 For some officers, relying on the police pension may not be enough to retire comfortably and confidently.

First responders; police, firefighters, and EMS workers; spend their shifts responding to disasters and emergencies from which many people would flee. They often deal with hazardous diseases, natural disasters, and violent outbursts as a normal part of their job. Unfortunately, these risky situations can increase the chances that a first responder will suffer a job-related injury or death.

Teaching your children about finances may seem like a weighty topic; however, it does not have to be challenging. By opening the lines of communication early and demonstrating good financial decisions of your own, you may set your children up for success.

Most often, the first question a prospective employee will ask is about your company’s benefit program. And in my experience, the two most often-asked questions are about health insurance and an employer-sponsored retirement program.

With tax season coming to an end, it’s the ideal time to use this year's tax return to help update your financial plan. If you’re in the group of one in four Americans who do not already have a financial plan, it may be time to create your first one.