Time for a Financial Cleanup: Organizing Your Financial Records

by Julie Long | Jul 2, 2026 | Financial Organization, Financial Planning, Financial Wellness, General

  An integral part of managing your personal finances involves properly maintaining your financial records. This is especially important in the event of a crisis or emergency so that you can quickly locate something if needed. That’s why you should make a...

A Midyear Tax Checkup May Help Manage Unwanted Tax Consequences

by Julie Long | Jun 25, 2026 | Financial Planning, General, Tax, Tax Planning, Tax Strategy

 With the tax season a distant memory and summer already here, you have probably stopped thinking about taxes and are busy planning your annual vacation; however, midyear is also a good time for a tax checkup. With time left before 2026 ends, you still have a window...

Is It Time to Declare Your Financial Independence?

by Julie Long | Jun 18, 2026 | Financial Planning, General, Investment, Retirement, Retirement Planning, Retirement Savings, Retirement Strategy

No matter how much money you have or which life stage you’re in, becoming financially independent starts with a dream. Maybe you want to finally pay off the mountain of debt you’ve accumulated or stop relying on someone else for financial support. Or...

Investing as a Couple: Getting to Yes

by Julie Long | Jun 11, 2026 | Financial Planning, General, Investment, Investment Management, Retirement, Retirement Planning

  In a perfect world, both halves of a couple share the same investment goals and agree on the best way to try to reach them. It doesn’t always work that way, though; disagreements about money are often a source of friction between couples. You may be risk...

What Are the Tax Implications of a Spouse’s Death?

by Julie Long | May 28, 2026 | 401K Planning, Estate Planning, Financial Planning, General, Retirement, Retirement Planning, Retirement Strategy, Tax Planning

  Losing a spouse is an emotionally distressing time, and not surprisingly, tax-related concerns may not be a priority for a surviving spouse. However, failure to take appropriate steps can lead to a survivor paying more in tax than necessary. Here is an overview...

Roth IRAs

by Julie Long | May 21, 2026 | Financial Planning, General, IRA Contributions, Retirement, Retirement Savings, Retirement Strategy

What is it?A Roth individual retirement account (IRA) is a personal savings plan that offers certain tax benefits to encourage retirement savings. Contributions to a Roth IRA are never tax deductible on your federal income tax return, which means that you can...