Big Banks

          After just graduating college this past May, I look back at my time in high school, and there aren’t too many things I would do differently. But if I could go back and make a change, at the top of this list would certainly be taking more Advanced Placement (AP) courses and their exams back in high school.

On May 13, 2019, escalating trade tensions between the United States and China sparked a worldwide stock sell-off that wiped out more than $1 trillion in global equity values.¹ The markets recovered over the next three days, but tensions between the economic giants continued to drive volatility with no resolution in sight.² Investors sometimes overreact to short-term event

In recent years, reverse mortgages have been enthusiastically marketed to homeowners ages 62 and over. Optimally designed for homeowners with at least 50 percent equity in their home, reverse mortgages allow homeowners to tap into that equity, providing them with a regular monthly payment – the complete opposite of a standard mortgage. Any income a homeowner receives from a reverse mortgage is typically tax-free, with payments continuing as long as the borrower remains in their home. However, if the homeowner moves or the home is sold, the loan becomes due and payable. If the borrower dies, the loan is usually paid back through the deceased homeowner’s estate.

If you’re interested in beginning to invest but are nervous, or simply don’t have a lot of money to invest, why not start slow?

There are a multitude of ways to get started without risking a lot of money in the process. If you have $1,000 and are ready to start investing, here are some ways to do so:

November 2018 International Trade

By: Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA

A quick guide for spending with intent, being present and having meaningful conversations with those you love.

It feels like the period of thankfulness and thoughtfulness brought on by a Thanksgiving feast is getting shorter every year. Black Friday looms large, ready to bombard us with shopping and deals. Consumption once again saddles in and takes precedence. In 2017, on Thanksgiving Day, online revenue grew by 28%. [i] If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed at the thought of another year of maxing out credit cards and rushing into the bargain-hunting fray to fight it out for the perfect gift item that no one really needs, then read on. For those who want a little more thankfulness and thoughtfulness this holiday season, I will discuss five ways to promote and nurture gratitude through the holidays and beyond.

A lot of people have fantasized about suddenly striking it rich. They imagine that a financial windfall – inheriting a fortune from a distant relative, collecting royalties for a best-selling novel, or even winning the lottery – would make all their dreams come true.