Insights Financial Planning

As one of the fastest-growing demographics in the U.S., Hispanic Americans continue to play a larger role in the U.S. economy each year. They’re enjoying more purchasing power and are on track to accumulate a staggering $113 trillion in wealth by 2050. What’s more, while Hispanic Americans make up 20 percent of the population, less …

 As financial advisors aim to provide more value to their clients, they’ve turned to technology to boost efficiency while providing more comprehensive services. But knowing what to use and when can be a puzzle. In the wide world of financial planning software for advisors, knowing what best fits your firm can be difficult. At …

 If you’re establishing or growing your practice as a financial advisor, you’ve likely heard that gearing your services toward a specific client base can accelerate your growth. Indeed, niches can offer several significant benefits, like helping you build connections and trust with clients. Niches for financial advisors are virtually unlimited. They can include clients …

As a special Christmas present to all of us, the SECURE 2.0 Act became law right before the holiday. The SECURE 2.0 Act caught a ride on the $1.7 billion omnibus spending bill that was unveiled on December 19. While the bill presents numerous changes to existing retirement savings and withdrawal rules, as my present …

 The first goal of any advisor is to help our clients – help them pursue their goals, avoid unnecessary risk and develop a comprehensive financial plan. Simultaneously, you want to grow your business and provide value to your clients. Many advisors focus on growth through finding and converting prospects to clients, whether through marketing, …

Many Americans run into unexpected health care situations, natural disasters or other unforeseeable tragedies that also become financial tragedies. We’ve seen research showing that nearly half of Americans would struggle to cover an unexpected $400 expense and that 56% of Americans could not cover a $1,000 expense with savings. These numbers and surveys vary in …

Back when the SECURE Act passed in 2019, I wrote an article for Forbes called “Why The SECURE Act Makes 2020 The Year of Missed RMDs.” The reality then was that the two biggest and most impactful provisions of the SECURE Act 1.0 were around required minimum distributions (RMDs) from retirement accounts. With the passage …

The SECURE 2.0 Act has passed, making it the largest retirement legislation since the original SECURE Act hit in late 2019. As 55% of Americans say they don’t have enough saved for retirement, this bipartisan legislation primarily seeks to make it easier to contribute to retirement plans and use those funds appropriately for their needs …

A couple of years ago, I started to notice a trend: Some advisors I work with were having significant – but sporadic – success with business owners who were exiting their business. These advisors were knocking down the occasional $15 million to $20 million opportunity, but had no formal method for delivering this service or …

There’s no question college costs are daunting: The average tuition and fees for the 2020-21 school year was $9,400 for public in-state four-year schools, climbing to $37,600 for private nonprofit four-year institutions, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. And that doesn’t include other related costs, such as books, supplies, transportation or living expenses …

Financial planning for the LGBTQ+ community requires both more sensitivity and additional practical analysis that their straight counterparts do not have to consider. As financial advisors, it is our job to be aware of these unique challenges, build fitting solutions into their plans and make sure they feel welcome, heard and understood in our offices. …