Insights

Impersonators are using WhatsApp to pose as adviser personnel, urging clients to make financial moves like buying or selling securities. This WhatsApp scam is a fraudulent tactic designed to deceive and exploit. 

Reaching adulthood is a major milestone. It comes with new freedom and opportunities, as well as responsibilities. This guide is intended to highlight some of financial and legal steps to consider as you step into this new phase of life.

Estate planning can feel like an overwhelming task, but careful preparation offers a powerful way to ensure your legacy, plan for your loved ones, and manage tax liabilities. With 2025 well underway, it’s particularly important to focus on estate planning now, as potential changes to tax laws could have a significant impact on your plans. Whether you’re new to estate planning or revisiting your strategy, understanding the key elements is essential.

It’s been a turbulent few weeks in the market. People are asking questions about what’s going on, and rightly so.

If you are a parent or grandparent, securing your child’s or grandchild's future after high school is undoubtedly a priority, and saving for further education and training is a crucial first step. Enter the 529 plan – a beacon of strategic savings that combines investment potential with tax benefits.

When deciding between a human financial adviser and a robo-adviser, understanding the unique value each brings to the table is crucial. While robo-advisers offer affordability and convenience, human financial advisers provide personalized guidance that technology alone cannot replicate.

Looking ahead to 2025, all eyes are on the sunsetting Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“TCJA”). As written, much of this extensive tax reform bill is set to expire at the end of 2025, unless Congress can extend the provisions or make them permanent. The portions set to return to their previous levels include cuts to individual tax rates, expansions of various deductions and credits, and the significant increase in the federal estate tax exemption.

At its highly anticipated September meeting, the Federal Reserve opted to kick off its rate cutting cycle with a 0.50% cut. They continued this path with a 0.25% cut in December, bringing the target rate to a range of 4.25% to 4.50%.

It’s a New Year, the market just pulled an all-nighter, and the punch bowl is still half full. The stock market finished 2024 at both a celebratory and precarious spot. Investors have many reasons to cheer following the S&P 500 Index’s second year in a row of returns exceeding 20%. The last time this happened was in the late 1990s.

Despite considerable uncertainty surrounding the U.S. election, monetary policy, and geopolitical factors, 2024 proved to be a year of resiliency for the economy. Consumer spending remained strong, buoyed by a rising stock market, falling interest rates, and a healthy labor market