CertifiedFinancialProfessional Archives

Teaching Your Child about Money

November 13, 2025 by Julie Long

A family sitting together reviewing savings goals and money lessons for kids.

Ask your five-year old where money comes from, and the answer you’ll probably get is “From a machine!” Even though children don’t always understand where money really comes from, they realize at a young age that they can use it to buy the things they want. So as soon as your child becomes interested in money, start teaching him or her how to handle it wisely. The simple lessons you teach today will give your child a solid foundation for making a lifetime of financial decisions.

Choosing an Entity for Your Business

November 6, 2025 by Julie Long

Financial advisor guiding a small business owner through the process of choosing the right business structure.

Now that you’ve decided to start a new business or buy an existing one, you need to consider the form of business entity that’s appropriate for you. Basically, three separate categories of entities exist: partnerships, corporations, and limited liability companies. Each category has its own advantages, disadvantages, and special rules. It’s also possible to operate your business as a sole proprietorship without organizing as a separate business entity.

Employer Open Enrollment: Make Benefit Choices That Work for You

October 30, 2025 by Julie Long

Employee reviewing health insurance options during open enrollment at work.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average cost of health coverage for a family of four was $25,572 in 2024. While employers contributed the lion’s share, $6,296 of that amount was paid by employees. Employees have largely been spared from painful premium hikes over the last few years, but 2026 is likely to be a different story.1

New “No Tax on Tips” Deduction Explained

October 23, 2025 by Julie Long

A smiling restaurant server holding a tip jar, representing the new no-tax-on-tips deduction for service workers.

With the enactment of the OBBBA in July 2025, a new deduction for tips is effective for tax years 2025 through 2028. Here is a summary of the new provision and the occupations that will be affected.

Mandatory Roth Catch-Up Contributions Begin in 2026

October 16, 2025 by Julie Long

Team of financial professionals reviewing retirement strategies ahead of the 2026 start of Mandatory Roth Catch-Up Contributions.

For nearly a quarter century, employers have been able to offer their retirement savings plan participants age 50 and older a valuable opportunity — the chance to make additional catch-up contributions to their plan.1 Thanks to the SECURE 2.0 Act passed in 2022, that opportunity became even more valuable: Employers may now allow plan participants age 60 to 63 to contribute even more than their other catch-up eligible peers through “super catch-ups.”

The Fed Lowers Rates in an Economic Balancing Act

October 9, 2025 by Julie Long

Federal Reserve announces rate cut to balance inflation and employment in 2025

On September 17, 2025, the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) lowered the target range for the benchmark federal funds rate by one-quarter percentage point — the first rate cut in nine months. This brought the range to 4.0%–4.25% and resumed the process of lowering it from a high of 5.25%–5.5%, where it stood from July 2023 to September 2024.

Understanding the New Trump Accounts

October 2, 2025 by Julie Long

Guide to the 2025 Trump Accounts and how they support children’s financial security

ith the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July 2025, Congress introduced a new class of tax-advantaged savings vehicles for minors known as Trump accounts. Here’s a breakdown of the key features.

Planning for the Financial Impact of Children

September 18, 2025 by Julie Long

Children are a special blessing and their arrival brings boundless love and joy into our lives that you can’t put a price on. But adding a child to the household impacts the family budget in very measurable ways. Whether this is your first child or your fourth, here are some financial matters to think about and plan for before and after your child arrives.

Young Grads Bear the Brunt of Tightening Labor Market

September 11, 2025 by Julie Long

College graduates looking to join the workforce this year encountered the most discouraging labor market in recent memory. The class of 2025 saw the number of job postings on Handshake (a career platform used to recruit college graduates) decline 15% from the previous year. The number of applications per job increased by 30%.

Retirement Plan Considerations at Different Stages of Life

September 4, 2025 by Julie Long

Throughout your career, retirement planning will likely be one of the most important components of your overall financial plan. Whether you have just graduated and taken your first job, or are starting a family, enjoying your peak earning years, or preparing to retire, your employer-sponsored retirement plan can play a key role in your financial strategies.