Advisors

Getty Images Clients grappling with a layoff or jumping into retirement may have some tax-planning opportunities as the year winds down, top advisors say. By the third quarter of 2020, 28.6 million baby boomers reported being out of the workforce, out of an entire cohort numbering 71.8 million, according to Pew Research. That’s 3.2 million more

Peter Cade | Getty Images As the holidays approach, philanthropic investors may be eyeing year-end gifts to their favorite charity. However, there are several options to consider with varying tax benefits, according to top advisors. Nearly 90% of wealthy families gave to charity in 2020, according to a study on philanthropy from Bank of America,

sturti | E+ | Getty Images It’s a great time to quit your job. Just make sure you have another one to go to. The latest data from the ADP Worker Vitality report found that the “Great Resignation” going on in today’s labor market is still paying off handsomely for those leaving their jobs for

YinYang | E+ | Getty Images Do new college graduates need to work with a financial advisor? Based on the number of financial subjects they don’t understand, according to advisors, the answer is yes. “The first thing [new grads] don’t get is that they qualify to work with an advisor,” said Katelyn Bombardiere, certified financial

Real estate talking to couple and showing contact – wearing protective face mask FG Trade | E+ | Getty Images Around five years ago, financial advisor Michael Bisaro started getting questions from some of his clients about bitcoin. “It was a murmur in the background,” said Bisaro, president of StraightLine Group, a firm in Troy,

milanvirijevic Are financial crises occurring more frequently? There were nearly four decades between the crash of 1929 and the bear market of 1968. Fast-forward to the 21st century — only 20 years passed between three financial crises: the 2001 dot-com crash, the 2008 global financial crisis and in 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic’s economic recession. What

Morsa Images | E+ | Getty Images After a year of double-digit stock market growth, investors may be looking to cash in some gains from brokerage accounts. And some filers may take profits without a tax bill, even with a six-figure income, experts say.  “A lot of people aren’t aware there’s a 0% tax rate

d3sign | Moment | Getty Images American consumers are already suffering sticker shock from prices on grocery store shelves and at the gas pump. Now, data for October shows inflation was even higher last month than some experts had projected. The Consumer Price Index, which measures the average change in prices over time, climbed 6.2%

Investors worried about inflation should consider tilting their portfolios toward areas of the market that tend to do well when prices pick up, according to Gargi Pal Chaudhuri, head of iShares investment strategy, Americas at BlackRock. “So looking at commodity producers, looking at financials — more recently, looking at infrastructure — that has been an

Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty Images Interest in socially responsible investing skyrocketed during the Covid-19 pandemic. To that point, environmental, social and corporate governance funds captured $51.1 billion of net new money from investors in 2020 — a record and more than double the net inflows in 2019, according to Morningstar research. So, who is

Maskot | Maskot | Getty Images It is easy to feel pessimistic — even apocalyptic — about the looming challenge of long-term care for the nearly 71 million baby boomers heading into their golden years. Consider a few numbers: There are currently 14 million people receiving some form of long-term care. That number will double

MoMo Productions | Getty Images When the Covid-19 pandemic first erupted last year, Janel Abrahami quit a job she had been in for less than a year — without anything else lined up. To many, such a move may sound risky. The decision left Abrahami, who lives in the New York metro area, searching for

nd3000 | iStock | Getty Images There’s a growing number of unmarried couples buying homes together, and without proper planning the move may create future problems. Indeed, 9% of home buyers were unmarried in 2020, according to the National Association of Realtors. While younger millennials, ages 22 to 30 years old, represent 20% of unmarried purchasers,

vitapix | E+ | Getty Images It can be tricky figuring out how much income your retirement savings actually could deliver in your golden years. That may now become easier. As mandated in the 2019 Secure Act, 401(k) plan administrators will start providing illustrations on quarterly or annual statements showing an estimate of how much

Hispanolistic | E+ | Getty Images Remarrying can come with a renewed sense of joy — as well as financial baggage that wasn’t there the first time around. Whether your previous relationship ended due to divorce or death of your spouse, there’s a good chance you or your new partner — if not both of

vgajic | E+ | Getty Images Women get paid less than men. In fact, it’s been well documented that, worldwide, women make only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. Less well-known, and partially a result of that very pay gap, is the pension gulf between men and women. The gender gap in pensions

Tetra Images | Tetra images | Getty Images In a time of record mergers-and-acquisitions activity for financial advisory firms, designing and implementing a succession plan has become a critical element for success. This volume and breadth of M&A activity has increased the pressure on, and options for, firm owners. The median registered investment advisor firm

zimmytws | iStock | Getty Images  A Social Security reform bill popular with House Democrats is getting reintroduced in Congress. This time, it features some changes aimed at attracting more support from Republicans across the aisle. The bill, known as the Social Security 2100 Act, is being brought forward by Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., who

Luis Alvarez | DigitalVision | Getty Images After some 18 months of remote work, more and more companies are bringing their employees back into the office. Many workers have mixed and complicated feelings about the change. “Returning back to the office may feel like culture shock,” said Debra Kaplan, a therapist in Tucson, Arizona. Adding

XiFotos | E+ | Getty Images After the Social Security Administration announced a record-high cost-of-living adjustment for 2022, many beneficiaries are asking, “How much bigger will my monthly checks be?” People who receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, benefits will get a 5.9% boost to their payments next year. That is that

Thomas Barwick Buying a first home is always a huge decision. It’s even bigger when the market has been as hot as it has in the last two years. Financial advisors say this could be the worst market for home buyers we’ve ever seen, and caution clients to perhaps wait. Certified financial planner Rick Kahler,

Shoppers at a New York supermarket on Aug. 11, 2021. Wang Ying | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images One looming question for the U.S. economy is how long inflation is here to stay. Based on recent government data, there is good reason for asking. The Consumer Price Index, which measures the average change over

Getty Images There’s a growing emphasis on psychology in financial planning — merging traditional advice with elements of behavioral finance — as advisors explore ways to strengthen client relationships. But it’s always been important, according to firms on CNBC’s annual FA 100 list. Many advisors say there’s a demand for psychology in financial planning expertise,

AJ_Watt | E+ | Getty Images There are a lot of “firsts” for new parents — and measures to shore up household finances are among them. Expenses for a new baby are often higher than parents expect, according to financial advisors. The average middle-income married couple spends $12,350 to $13,900 a year to raise a

MoMo Productions | DigitalVision | Getty Images Exchange-traded funds are often associated with passive strategies. But money has also poured into the actively managed version of ETFs, as investors crave more precision, experts say. While passively managed ETFs aim to replicate an index, such as the S&P 500, active managers are more hands-on, trying to

Paul Taylor | Getty Images It’s maybe the most human question there is: What’s going to happen next? We all want to know where we’re going, what bad will befall us, what good turns our lives may take. When it comes to our money, these questions feel especially high-stakes. What if that investment decision backfires?

Ariel Skelley | DigitalVision | Getty Images If you’re remodeling your kitchen, you probably turn to a licensed contractor. Planning an expensive European vacation or Hawaiian honeymoon? You may very well have a travel agent handle the booking. So, why, when planning your financial future, wouldn’t you seek out professional help? It’s common sense. Yet

Hinterhaus Productions Women gave birth to fewer children during the Covid-19 pandemic. If these low U.S. birth rates continue, it could have a lasting economic impact, including retirement and Social Security benefits. The total fertility rate has been declining for years. In 1964, women of childbearing age had an average of 3.2 children. By 1974,

seksan Mongkhonkhamsao | Moment | Getty Images It’s a question millions of Americans would love the chance to ask: What should I do after my student loans are canceled? The Biden administration has already given more than 450,000 borrowers reason to think about that, after forgiving the debt for certain disabled borrowers and others who

The pandemic has been a financial wake-up call for many and it has caused them to rethink their plans around work and retirement.  In a recent report, 36%, of Americans said that they will never have enough money to be able to retire. Even more — roughly 41% — said their ability to be financially secure in