It’s important to have a basic understanding of the concepts and terms financial professionals you speak with will be using. This can help you make more informed decisions as you move forward in navigating the financial services industry.

In honor of July 4th, we are providing a bucket list of patriotic places to visit throughout our vast and varied country. Whether you are still working or are newly retired, it is always beneficial to take a step back and consider whether your "life planning" goals need to be updated or acted upon in a more intentional manner.

The traditional approach to investment management may be sexy to individual investors, but it comes at a cost. And, while a passive or pure index approach has certain advantages over the traditional active approach, evidence-based investing may bring even greater advantages. Learn some key differences between evidenced-based investing and the traditional active approach.

Properly naming beneficiaries in your estate plan starts with understanding your goals and the nature of your assets. With improper designations, you run the risk of not disposing the assets to your intended heirs, an increase in income taxes, or the loss of asset protection and preservation.

You may want to ask whether your financial advisor a fiduciary. Maybe you assume he/she is but it's important to educate yourself on the differences between a fiduciary vs. a broker.

Typically, the cost of preparing a basic will is just a few hundred dollars, and only takes a day or two. Yet not having a will can come with severe consequences.