Blog

New Year's Resolutions to Get Your Finances in Order

Mike Rogers

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

New Year's is traditionally the time to review your life and make resolutions for change. In addition to thinking about working out, eating healthy, and meeting personal and professional goals, you should also think about your finances...

Getting a Jump on January Tax Season

Mike Rogers

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

From pandemic-related stimulus payments to job losses and furloughs, for many taxpayers, next spring's tax season may be more complex than usual. With the end of 2020 rapidly approaching, you should take some time to review your tax...

End of Year (EOY) Deadlines Checklist

Mike Rogers

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

2020 has been one of the most unprecedented years in recent history, but some things—like tax contributions and retirement deadlines—don't change much, if at all. And with the uncertainty surrounding just about everything,...

End of Year Planning: Set Goals and Reduce Taxes

Mike Rogers

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

By the last third of the calendar year, you're likely to have a pretty good idea of what your annual income will be and whether any major expenses or big life changes await you. This can allow you to engage in more robust tax planning,...

Recognizing and Avoiding Online Scams

Mike Rogers

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, the number of U.S. data breaches hit a new high in 2017. Nearly 20% of breaches included credit and debit card information, a nearly 6% increase from the prior year. The actual number of...

12 Estate Planning Must-Dos

Mike Rogers

Monday, October 5, 2020

Many of you already have estate documents, probably executed many years ago. You need an estate attorney to look over your documents every 10 years or so. Here are a dozen points to review. Do you have a will and powers of attorney for...

What Gen Xers, Millennials, and Baby Boomers Need to Know About Financial Planning?

Mike Rogers

Monday, October 5, 2020

Financial planning is an important part of securing your current lifestyle as well as preparing yourself for what you wish to do in your eventual retirement. And while this importance may look different during each stage of your life,...

Investing in an Election Year

Mike Rogers

Monday, October 5, 2020

The world's events always affect the markets, and making smart investment choices requires you to look at what's happening around the world. But what about during an election year? How should you invest while the country is deciding...

Appropriate Checklists for Year-End Tax Planning

Mike Rogers

Friday, September 4, 2020

What are appropriate checklists for year-end tax planning? Tax planners often develop checklists to guide taxpayers toward year-end strategies that might help reduce taxes. Typically, suggestions are grouped into several different...

How to Protect Your Wealth as You Get Older

Mike Rogers

Friday, September 4, 2020

As you get older and closer to retirement, your financial practices need to shift slightly as you transition from working and saving to relying on your nest egg. As you approach this stage of your life, you need to take steps to...

Three Steps to Build Your Savings

Mike Rogers

Monday, August 31, 2020

The fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic has made the need for a healthy savings account clearer than ever. Even before the pandemic, the U.S. Federal Reserve estimated that nearly 40 percent of Americans didn't have enough set aside to...

Eleven Ways to Help Yourself Stay Sane in a Crazy Market

Mike Rogers

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Keeping your cool can be hard to do when the market goes on one of its periodic roller-coaster rides. It's useful to have strategies in place that prepare you both financially and psychologically to handle market volatility. Here are...

Why A Potential Democrat Sweep May Not Be A Market Worry

Mike Rogers

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Market Blog Based on the latest polling data, there’s growing consensus that former Vice President Joe Biden potentially may win the election and Democrats possibly may sweep Congress. Some might think this could be a negative...

Teaching Money Mindfulness to Your Children

Mike Rogers

Friday, July 3, 2020

Teaching Money Mindfulness to Your Children At some point in a child's development, all parents wonder: how can I best teach my child the value of money? Parents who grew up in more modest circumstances than their own children can...

Social Security and Medicare Face Financial Challenges

Mike Rogers

Friday, July 3, 2020

Most Americans will eventually receive Social Security and Medicare benefits. Each year, the Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds release lengthy reports to Congress that assess the health of these important...

Socially Responsible Investing

Mike Rogers

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Investing with an eye toward promoting social, political, or environmental concerns (or at least not supporting activities you feel are harmful) doesn’t mean you have to forgo pursuing a return on your money. Socially...

Getting Started: Establishing a Financial Safety Net

Mike Rogers

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

In times of crisis, you don't want to be shaking pennies out of a piggy bank. Having a financial safety net in place can ensure that you're protected when a financial emergency arises. One way to accomplish this is by setting up a cash...

Stocks have weakened as various global concerns keep popping up. Stretched valuations, weakening technicals, and increased tensions between the United States and China have investors on edge. This week, the LPL strategists discuss...

More bad economic data A record 20.5 million people lost their jobs in April, well above the previous record of 2 million during World War II. This is further confirmation of how quickly our economy stopped, and the LPL strategists...

Stocks hit a rough patch the last week of April, as the historic rally could be tiring. The news was heavy and the economic data continued to be very weak, but central banks are doing all they can to help weather the storm. Central...

529 Savings Plans vs. Prepaid Tuition Plans

Mike Rogers

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Section 529 plans are popular education savings vehicles. To choose the type of 529 plan that's right for you, it's important to understand how 529 savings plans and 529 prepaid tuition plans work and the differences between them. Who...

Coping With Market Volatility in Uncertain Times

Mike Rogers

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

As the United States desperately tries to flatten the contagion curve for the coronavirus, many state governors have mandated the closure of an unprecedented number of businesses and issued stay-at-home orders to their citizens. The...

How a Financial Professional Can Guide You Through Choppy Seas

Mike Rogers

Friday, May 1, 2020

In these trying times, even those with veins of steel can find themselves nervous about the market's direction and what it could mean for one's financial future. And the unprecedented nature of the novel coronavirus—and its...

Have Stay-At-Home Growth Stocks Peaked?

Mike Rogers

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Over the past couple of weeks, we have thankfully witnessed new cases of COVID-19 in the US trending lower. Increasingly, we are also seeing governors implementing plans to re-open their state economies in phases. If the US economy...

When Will The Recession Officially Start?

Mike Rogers

Thursday, April 23, 2020

With 22 million jobs lost in the past four weeks, a record drop in retail sales, and huge drops in industrial production and housing starts, it is safe to say we are likely in a recession. Even the Federal Reserve (Fed) in the recent...

The economic data keeps getting worse, yet stocks have been in the midst of one of the greatest multi-week rallies ever. As the LPL Chart of the Day shows, the S&P 500 Index gained 27.2% in the 15 days after the March 23 lows, the...

Big Annual Declines Are Rare

Mike Rogers

Thursday, April 9, 2020

Stocks have rallied nicely off the March 23 lows on the back of a bold policy response from the Federal Reserve (Fed) and lawmakers in Washington, DC, which was followed by signs that a peak in growth of COVID-19 cases may come soon....

5 Ways to Build A Better Tax Plan

Mike Rogers

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

You just finished your taxes, but it's not too early to make plans for next year. It's important that as you build your plan, you think about some strategies to reduce or defer your taxes now or in the future. Here are some strategies...

Is a Depression Coming?

Mike Rogers

Thursday, April 2, 2020

“Could there be another depression” is one of the top questions we’ve received over the past week. “Yes, we are in a recession and many are worried if things may get much worse before they get better,”...

What Is in the $2 Trillion Relief Package?

Mike Rogers

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

The United States has more cases of the coronavirus than any other country, and in an attempt to stop the spread of this disease, states have closed schools and businesses throughout the country. These unprecedented shutdowns have...

6 Things to Know about Retirement and the Coronavirus Relief Bill

Mike Rogers

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Now that the $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill has passed. There are huge implications within this bill that we want to make sure our clients and community understand, especially when it comes to retirement accounts. We’ve...

The Covid-19 Battle

Mike Rogers

Friday, March 27, 2020

The world continues its battle to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, which now has likely impacted, either directly or indirectly, nearly every person on Earth. This is far more than just a health crisis—this is a human crisis. Its...

Market Volatility Stresses Liquidity

Mike Rogers

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented volatility in recent weeks that has investors and traders scrambling to assess the economic and market impact of the aggressive containment measures. This past week the CBOE Volatility...

How Quickly Can Stocks Recover From COVID-19?

Mike Rogers

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

The market volatility continues, as the S&P 500 Index has closed either up or down 4% or more for a record 7 consecutive days. With the S&P 500 Index down 30% from the highs, it has officially moved into a bear market. Yesterday, we...

Positive Signs From China on COVID-19

Mike Rogers

Thursday, March 12, 2020

COVID-19 related fear has gripped markets, driving the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 Index into bear territory. As difficult as these markets are for all of us, there are reasons to be reassured coming out of China,...

Adding a Personal Backup With a Living Trust

Mike Rogers

Friday, March 6, 2020

The managers of well-run businesses usually name "backups" to keep things going smoothly -- just in case. That's also a smart plan for your personal finances, where you risk experiencing financial losses or other difficulties if you...

Tax Planning for Income

Mike Rogers

Thursday, March 5, 2020

What is tax planning for income? Tax planning for income usually involves strategies for minimizing your taxable income. In particular, the timing and the method by which your income is reported become paramount. Effective planning...

Tax Planning for Business Owners

Mike Rogers

Thursday, March 5, 2020

What is business tax planning? When starting a business, you must consider a number of tax-related issues. Although business tax planning is a complicated area, it is essential to understand three major topics: tax consequences when...

If you ask an economist what makes them toss and turn at night, chances are they’ll tell you, “Fear of missing the warning signs of a recession.” After all, for anyone who studies the economy for a living, few things...

China has introduced a new weapon to use in the trade war with the United States. That weapon? Its own currency. On Thursday, August 1, President Trump proposed a new slate of tariffs on Chinese goods. In response, the Chinese central...

LPL Research released their Mid-Year Outlook for 2019! We are pleased to announce the release of the LPL Research Midyear Outlook 2019: FUNDAMENTAL: How to Focus on What Really Matters in the Markets, with investment insights and...

There's more to retirement planning than putting money in your 401(k) or IRA. In fact, retirement planning is one of the most important financial goals you'll undertake during your lifetime. Do it right and you'll enjoy the things you...

Well, tax season has (almost) come and gone. For adults like us, this time of year can be like a second Christmas. The stress of filing will soon be over, and some of us will have our tax refunds to look forward to. The question is:...

The first half of February is typically full of hearts, flowers and candies. After Valentine's Day, we are reminded that Tax Day isn't that far away. Give yourself some love and make sure you are organized and prepared for this tax...

The new year brings new opportunities for a fresh start, and many people have hopes of changing habits in their life in the upcoming year. Intentionally addressing your finances during the new year can allow you more freedom to live...

As a new year approaches, many of us will reflect on the year that has passed. Personal and professional accomplishments may take center stage. And we may take stock of any disappointments and re-calibrate as 2019 approaches. But in...

“A player surprised is a player half-beaten.” – Chess Proverb The World Chess Championship is currently being played in London, and for the first time in decades, an American could be crowned as champion. But this...

I present you with two quotes: “Democracy is the form of government in which the free are rulers.” – Aristotle “I tell you, all politics is applesauce.” – Will Rogers Whichever quote best describes...

What we don't know can hurt us. When it comes to investing, investing too conservatively for our goals may be just as damaging as investing too aggressively. How can individuals strike the balance between risk and return in selecting...

Is your spouse in your investment loop? There was a famous fast-food TV commercial in the 80's in which Clara Peller asked, "Where's the Beef?" We suggest a much more important question: "Where's Your Spouse?" Of the tasks to deal with...

5 Steps to Take Before You're 65

Mike Rogers

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Even if you’re not sure whether you’re going to retire at the age of 65, it’s still a good deadline to set to have your retirement plans in place, for when the time comes. That may require some careful calculations...

How to Reduce Retirement Anxiety

Mike Rogers

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

If your final day at the office is fast approaching, chances are you are experiencing some retirement anxiety. That anxiety can come from a number of sources- saying goodbye to your career and coworkers, embarking on an uncertain...

The headlines are filled with rumors of a trade war between the United States and China. You’ve probably heard by now that both nations have announced tariffs on many of each other’s goods. This has many economists...

Retirement can sound like a permanent vacation. When you awake on Monday, you will wake up when you want to wake up. No more alarm clocks and no more commutes to the office. One of our goals as financial advisors is to help put our...

Please open your economic textbooks to page forty-seven, class, because it's time to talk about something you probably haven't thought of since college: tariffs. On Thursday, March 1, President Trump announced a new plan to institute...

360 Financial Acquires True North Capital Alliance Press Release 360 Financial acquired True North Capital Alliance as of February 7, 2018. “The 360 Financial team approach, enhanced capabilities, and fiduciary standard will...

Linda and Peter are worried about their financial future. "We want our one-year-old son, Raymond, to go to college, but we're concerned that in 17 years, the cost might be more than we can afford," says Peter. "We also need to save for...

If you are preparing to change jobs, do you know what your choices are for managing the money in your current employer's retirement plan? Although many people choose to take a cash distribution, there are other options that may benefit...

As the giving season approaches, there is one important item to add to your to do list: Create a holiday budget. Before the gift shopping and wrapping begins, take control of your wallet through financial preparation. Remember, you can...

30 Important Questions to Answer about Your Will

Mike Rogers

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

If you have a family, by now you’ve probably already put together a basic last will and testament. That’s a good start, but when was the last time you took a close look at your will? Since initially penning your will...