On March 7, 2024, Social Security held their “National Slam the Scam Day.” It’s clear that if Social Security feels the need to have a day dedicated to raising awareness around scams, scamming is alive and well. Just today, as I write this, I received an email from what appeared to be Norton, the antivirus…
Did you know that according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), millions of dollars in life insurance benefits go unclaimed every year? These unclaimed benefits may be from a policy of a deceased relative or even a policy that a family member or parent purchased for you. Changes in the insurance industry, such…
Asset protection is a fancy way to talk about risk management, which is another fancy word related to insurance. Maybe we use jargon like this because we don’t want to discuss insurance. But protecting what is valuable in our lives is crucial. Our assets aren’t only financial. Every time you put your seatbelt on, you…
I was once on a flight from Nashville to Denver. It was a cloudy day—dark, dreary, with a little rain. As we took off, we rose into the dark clouds, blocking our view of anything above or below. Once we broke through the cloud cover, the sun almost blinded me. At that moment, I was…
We’ve likely all experienced a local farmer’s market. These are lovely places where sellers of delicious, locally grown food come together to offer their goods to buyers. It’s a simple picture of a market at work. Similarly, a local real estate market is more complex but still easy to understand. Buyers and sellers are brought…
I know, it’s a nerdy thing to say and surely, I could think of more interesting loves, but I’m not budging on this one. I love insurance. Life is full of risks, they cannot be avoided. Car wrecks, house fires, and loss of life happen every day. No matter what innovations, safety features, or federal…
With Valentine’s Day squarely in the middle of this month. I’m writing about the things I love about my work. The first is Financial Planning. Nick Murray said, “Money is Love.” Those two words, Money and Love, conjure all sorts of thoughts, feelings, and emotions. When joined together and saying each equals the other, I…
Marley has been in our family for nearly 7 years. She was our first and only family pet, if you don’t count the bunnies we clumsily cared for once upon a time. I didn’t grow up with pets that were particularly close to me. But, as Marley has made herself more and more a part…
Early this month I turned 43. Not a very exciting age, but I’m certainly thankful for good health and another year of life! There are plenty of other ages that from a financial planning point of view are worth attention. Below I’ve put together a list of some of the key ages and the opportunities…
Those 1099s and other tax documents reporting dividends, interest, distributions, and more are coming. Forms from Raymond James will be mailed: These forms can be sent directly to your tax professional for you. Please call us and we will have you sign the necessary authorization. If you use tax planning software such as H&R Block,…