It’s been a year like no other. A global pandemic. A sudden shift to a bear market. Unexpected oil price drama. A race for a vaccine. Or better testing. Or a nationwide database to trace outbreaks. It all has an impact on your personal finances. As we head into the second half of the year, let’s take stock of what you may want to consider before year-end.

During this pandemic, you may have family or friends whose health has been directly affected by COVID-19. And the longer you live, the more people you know will face significant health concerns. Making sure you and your family are prepared for these situations – now and in the future – is an act of kindness...

Cultivating an “abundance mindset” might be far down your list of what needs attention today. In times such as these, you might even believe that the thing most in abundance right now is a mounting variety of very real financial stressors...

The government’s massive COVID-19 and economic relief package – the CARES Act, which was signed into law in March – contained some significant measures to encourage immediate charitable giving to nonprofits. These included revisions to the Internal Revenue Code intended to provide additional tax benefits to taxpayers supporting charities.

Families who have determined that they’ve accumulated more wealth than they expect to spend in their lifetimes often approach legacy planning looking primarily for tactical help and technical expertise. They may come to the conversation simply seeking the specific tool or set of tools most appropriate for passing their wealth to heirs and charities with as little as possible lost to taxes or unwanted third parties.

Is recent stock market volatility bugging you? Do you wince with every headline announcing the expansion of quarantines, knowing the market will likely panic? Do you sneak a peak at your portfolio’s performance more than quarterly (or perhaps even annually)?

One of the best gifts you can leave your heirs is education about money in general and your financial affairs specifically. This can include passing along your ethics and values.

As you start 2020, take a deep, meditative breath and envision how much easier your life could be if certain obstacles were removed and nagging problems were solved. What if you could eliminate this unnecessary baggage and get to that peaceful life you visualize?

Hopefully, our recent series of posts on accountants have helped you build a better sense of what to expect from this valuable professional services relationship. Changing accountants can be a time-consuming project, but, if you do not currently have an accountant as part of your professional team or you are unsatisfied with your existing accountant, a few simple questions can guide you to the right solution.

Donating to a nonprofit organization is a wonderful way to make a positive impact on an issue that connects to your values. Currently, 2.7 million nonprofits in the U.S. are looking for donors and volunteers (1). The opportunities to support a nonprofit can seem endless and overwhelming.

The holiday season is approaching, and while our focus may soon turn to turkey, travel and the New Year, we need to make sure we don’t neglect our finances before the ball drops. Below are seven financial planning opportunities that every investor should consider before year-end.

Ronald Reagan famously described inflation as being “as violent as a mugger, as frightening as an armed robber and as deadly as a hitman.” While the inflation experienced under President Reagan was all those things, inflation over the past decade would struggle to get a ticket for jaywalking.