Personal Finance

(Marcel Dupre) - There are many opportunities that this financial crisis has opened for us. Here are a few things you can do or we can do for you at this time:

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(Eric Hutchinson) - There are a wide range of options with which to build a financial plan that is right for you. Starting to plan today can help put you on the road to a lifetime of financial security.

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(Anthony Williams) - Wherever you are in your financial life cycle, starting a career, getting married, buying a home, raising a family, funding a child’s education or planning for a comfortable retirement, to be successful, you need to develop and maintain a disciplined approach to saving. Once a regular savings routine has been established, the next step is to decide how to invest the money you are saving. This decision will depend on many factors, including the intended use for the money, the time frame for when you’ll need the money and your comfort level with investment risk.

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(Steven Zeller) - Life, and the joy of life, is stored in our memories, hopefully, until our last day on earth. The memories, great experiences and lessons of our past, we are so fond of and, within us, carry deep meaning and relevance. Many times, it would be to our wishes that we shared these things with our loved ones well into the future. The wonderful times we shared with our family members and our friends, the things we learned and the things and values that we so dearly hold, we would like to pass onto future generations.

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(Money Manager) - Wealth management – what exactly does that phrase mean? How does it differ from financial planning and investing? While it may sound like just another buzzword, wealth management actually is an approach used by financial advisors to manage the wealth of their top tier clients who have more money than the average investor. There is no hard and fast rule as to the amount of financial assets a person must have to be included in the wealth management category, but when a person accumulates over $1 million in assets, he and his financial advisor should consider shifting their focus from typical financial planning to the idea of wealth management.

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(Money Manager) - The word "bankruptcy" has a bad connotation, and for good reason. However, is it a bad thing for everyone? The answer varies depending on your situation but it is worth taking the time to read this and other articles, and possibly to discuss with an attorney.

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(Money Manager) - Preparing a savings plan is much like planning a trip. You are at point “A” and you want to get to point “B”. Maybe you'll wish to visit points “C” and “D” also. Before you set out, you select a route or routes that will get you there either most quickly, usually sacrificing comfort for speed, or the best way for your style of travel. A savings plan is very similar. You can devise a plan that will get you there the most quickly and usually with the greatest sacrifice, or you can prepare a savings plan that will eventually get to the same point but allow you to give up less.

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(Money Manager) - Life insurance is something a parent will tell you is a must. Try paying a doctor visit, not to mention an emergency-room visit, without health insurance. The law requires auto insurance, which is a good thing given the number of accidents per year. Insurance is a staple, but how much we pay for it is another question.

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(Money Manager) - Identity Theft takes place when someone steals any of your personal information and uses it to perform a financial transaction or conduct an activity. It is the fastest growing crime in the country, with the estimated annual cost to businesses and individual victims exceeding 50 billion.

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(Money Manager) - What is it that keeps us all from building or optimizing wealth? The answer is 'debt' and Merriam Webster defines it as "the common-law action for the recovery of money held to be due." To most of us, it means "paying bills over time." Imagine a life with no mortgage, car payments, credit card bills, or other loan payments. What portion of your income would you need to make ends meet without those obligations? How dependant would you be on your job? How much could you invest towards retirement?

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