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This is an archive of our past articles.

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Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Why Is This Conversation So Important Right Now? The U.S. is in the middle of a sustained demographic shift. More than 61 million adults are aged 65 and older as of 2025, and that number is projected to reach approximately 82 million...

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Social Security decisions are often framed as a single question: “When should I start drawing benefits?” That question matters, but it can also be limiting. The better question is: how does Social Security fit into my overall...

Thursday, April 2, 2026

If you are a parent of a teen or young adult, how do you teach them to make confident money decisions before the stakes are high? Teaching teens and young adults about money is less about formal instruction and more about repeated...

Monday, March 23, 2026

Key TakeawaysHere are some questions this blog aims to answer:How can parents or grandparents help with a down payment for adult children?What are ways to gift a down payment, and how do the annual gift tax exclusion and lifetime...

Monday, March 2, 2026

Key TakeawaysHow much wealth are women on track to control in the next decade, and why does that matter?What does the life expectancy gap between women and men mean for how long money needs to last?How common is it for women to be...

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Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Key TakeawaysTreat tax strategy as a continuous process, not a once-a-year filing exercise.Coordinate with financial and tax professionals throughout the year to identify opportunities for efficiency.Review contribution limits,...

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Key TakeawaysEmotions and biases might influence financial choices more often than most people realize.Behavioral patterns, such as loss aversion, familiarity bias, and herd mentality, can impact long-term results.Recognizing emotional...

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Artificial intelligence (AI) may be the most revolutionary technology of our time, with industries scrambling to embrace its possibilities. AI’s early influence seems similar to the positive disruptions brought about by past...

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

As we begin a new year and consider the opportunities ahead, reflecting on the past year helps put today’s financial landscape into perspective and informs the strategies that can move us closer to our goals. 2025 was a year marked by...

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Your ability to work alongside Artificial Intelligence will be a great asset A recent surge in interest around the term "generative AI" has been observed, reaching a peak search interest of 100, according to Google, in the week of...

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

More than two-thirds of parents are concerned about how to pay for their child’s college education, and business owners are no exception.1 You may worry about being able to manage college expenses while also having concerns about...

Monday, January 1, 2024

Use this 2023 2024 Quick View Tax Guide to prepare for this year's tax season. 

Thursday, December 14, 2023

In 2024, we believe markets will make a definitive turn to a more recognizable place. Where the last two years had investors focused on inflation, market volatility, and striving for a sense of economic balance, we expect to see some...

Friday, December 1, 2023

Life today is expensive, and contributing to a retirement plan is more beneficial than ever. Recently, the IRS announced it was raising the contribution limit for 401(k)s to $23,000 for 2024, up from $22,500. In a world where pensions...

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Is that investment an innovation or an improvement on an existing product? As Christmas sales loom, we face an endless array of sparkly, shiny and occasionally innovative items. As an investor, you run into a similar phenomenon that...

Thursday, November 2, 2023

Generational wealth involves proactive financial planning, especially when parents or grandparents pass on their wealth to loved ones after they die. Entrusting family members with receiving an inheritance is more than just getting a...

Thursday, November 2, 2023

The vast majority of Americans need long-term care. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 70% of people over age 65 may need some long-term care during their lives.1 Unfortunately, planning for long-term care...

Thursday, October 5, 2023

Financial planning is an important part of securing your current lifestyle as well as preparing yourself for what you wish to do in your eventual retirement. And while this importance may look different during each stage of your life,...

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Long-term care refers to the ongoing services and support needed by people who have chronic health conditions or disabilities. There are three levels of long-term care: Skilled care: Generally...

Monday, October 2, 2023

Many of you already have estate documents, probably executed many years ago. You need an estate attorney to look over your documents every 10 years or so. Here are a dozen points to review.

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

When you’re caught in an emergency situation, you won’t have much time to retrieve information. Organizing contact phone numbers, financial records, medical and property insurance policies, and personal identification...

Friday, September 8, 2023

When people think of life insurance, what usually comes to mind is settling the deceased's final expenses and providing financial support for their beneficiaries. Although these are the most common uses of life insurance, cash value,...

Thursday, September 7, 2023

You're about to receive a distribution from your 401(k) plan, and you're considering a rollover to a traditional IRA. While these transactions are normally straightforward and trouble-free, there are some pitfalls you'll want to avoid....

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Golfing and investing may not seem to share much common ground at first glance. But the more you think about it, a successful golfer and a successful investor share a number of traits such as patience, perseverance, attention to detail...

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Normal retirement age used to be 65, but things are way different today. You might be thinking about retiring, but how do you know when you are really ready for it, mentally and financially? For decades, the normal retirement age was...

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Artificial Intelligence-powered tools, such as ChatGPT, have the potential to revolutionize the efficiency, effectiveness and speed of the work humans do.And this is true in financial markets as much as in sectors like health care,...

Friday, July 21, 2023

Over the last 20 years, the median-age for Americans (the median age is the point where exactly half the population is older and the other half is younger)...

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Managing your tax liability can literally save you thousands of dollars.Tax season can be a stressful time for many people, especially if you're not fully prepared. However, with some advance planning and preparation, you can take...

Monday, May 22, 2023

No. 10's a ShockerGen Zers can help themselves over the long term by avoiding several key errors. As a wealth adviser by trade, and more importantly, as someone actually of this generation who has personally gone toe to toe with many...

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

The SECURE 2.0 Act, passed as part of an omnibus spending bill in December 2022, added new exceptions to the 10% federal income tax penalty for early withdrawals from tax-advantaged retirement accounts. The Act also expanded an...

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

You may already be aware of the importance of having enough life insurance coverage to handle financial matters that could affect your family in the event of your death. However, determining the appropriate amount of coverage for your...

Monday, April 24, 2023

A Roth IRA conversion involves repositioning traditional IRA or qualified employer-sponsored retirement plan assets into a Roth IRA. One reason people convert traditional IRAs or other retirement accounts into Roth IRAs is so they...

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Get more security & convenience with your financial statementsI wanted to let you know you have the option to go paperless with your documents inside the Account View portal.

Monday, April 17, 2023

Keeping your cool can be hard to do when the market goes on one of its periodic roller-coaster rides. It's useful to have strategies in place that prepare you both financially and psychologically to handle market volatility. Here are...

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Planning for retirement is exciting, but it may come with a bit of stress. If you worked hard all your life, now might be the time to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor. One of the things that you may need to consider is when it...

Monday, April 10, 2023

The term "COBRA" is commonly used to refer to certain provisions of Title X of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986. This law provides an opportunity for employees and their dependents who have been...

Monday, April 10, 2023

By definition, a crisis is a turning point, a time when you have to make crucial decisions (often suddenly) that will affect your future. Although smart planning is the key to effectively dealing with periods of crisis, you...

Friday, March 17, 2023

Because just like making it to the tournament, saving for college isn’t an impossible dream — it just takes the right plan. Our men’s and women’s tournament brackets show how much each school in the college...

Friday, March 10, 2023

Seven reasons that the Roth IRA is the ultimate investment account If you ask me what to do to get ahead financially, I have a laundry list: create a budget, start investing now, be smart about your taxes and so on. If I absolutely...

Monday, March 6, 2023

A qualified charitable distribution, or QCD, allows you to distribute funds from your IRA to an eligible charity (a 501(c)(3) organization) as long as you’re 70 1/2 years of age or older. Since the gift will go directly to the...

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Could you be losing money because of simple monetary mistakes? Avoid these money-wasting habits in 2023 to have more cash when you need it—or save it for a rainy day.

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

As a business owner, you may assume you do not need professional financial advice until you hit certain milestones such as $1 million in sales, having ten employees, or some other tangible measure. However, financial professionals may...

Monday, February 6, 2023

Your retirement planning needs to incorporate more than just investments. Your open heart and your relatives can combine to threaten your retirement savings – savings you soon may need. Learn the true cost to your future before...

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Congress passed SECURE 2.0 as part of the fiscal 2023 spending package. This bipartisan retirement security legislation could present opportunities for your retirement savings strategy.

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Each year, many of us focus on our financial health by resetting goals and checking off items on our financial to-do list. Attempting to implement everything at once can be overwhelming but a month-by-month approach may help you plan...

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

As an investor, you may be impacted by capital gains if you sell your investment – whether at a gain or loss. Understanding capital gains may help with your overall investment strategy and the potential to preserve your wealth....

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

As inflation soars, you can now save a lot more for your retirement. Last year, on October 21st, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that the amount individuals can contribute to their 401(k) plans in 2023 has increased...

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Download and print this guide to help you this tax season.

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Most investors would like to put 2022 behind them. Before we close the book on the year, we’ve assembled 10 charts that defined the year—the year in pictures. Not surprisingly, most of the charts remind us of how difficult...

Monday, December 12, 2022

 Through all the challenges, newfound opportunities, and every high and low we’ve experienced during the last couple of years, it’s no surprise why we might be striving for more balance. Whether it’s about the...

Saturday, December 10, 2022

At the end of the year, it is necessary to reflect on your financial picture, review the last 12 months, and plan for the future. With all that is involved, it can seem overwhelming. Consider breaking up the responsibilities over...

Thursday, November 17, 2022

The average U.S. income tax rate stands at just over 13%—and if you're like many taxpayers, you're always looking for new tips and tricks to help reduce this percentage. There are a number of different tax planning moves you can...

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Inflation swindles almost everybody – stock investors, bond investors…We’ve all heard about Warren Buffett, the 91-year-old multibillionaire known for his friendly demeanor, modest style of living in Omaha, and...

Thursday, November 3, 2022

Year-end is approaching and being prepared is the best way to make this tax season your easiest yet. Following are important information and tools to help you get ready. As always, meeting with us early and often will ensure your...

Thursday, October 6, 2022

With a few simple actions, you can ensure your estate planning is effective.Whether your estate plan is simple or complex, there are many details, which are often overlooked, that can undermine your plan’s effectiveness. Are you...

Thursday, October 6, 2022

High Net-Worth Individuals: Are You Missing Opportunities in Your Financial Planning?High Net-Worth executives and those that have been self-employed, can experience common problems in their financial planning journey. Often, they have...

Friday, September 23, 2022

When market volatility takes investors on a wild ride, fear and panic are common responses to this stock market roller coaster. Acknowledging these emotions may be a good first step, but acting upon them could result in impulsive...

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

You may already be aware of the importance of having enough life insurance coverage to handle financial matters that could affect your family in the event of your death. However, determining the appropriate amount of coverage for your...

Thursday, August 11, 2022

In golf, as in finances, there are a few rules of thumb that may improve your game: keep a level head, avoid traps, practice before trying something new and stay the course. Applying lessons from the golf course to your financial life...

Thursday, August 4, 2022

Small business owners are different from the average hourly employee in a lot of ways. One often-overlooked difference is how they plan for retirement. Although small business owners may offer a classic 401(k) for their workers along...

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Markets are always forward looking, so it’s important to remain focused on what lies ahead. There will most certainly be challenges, but there are also some tailwinds from a strong job market, still resilient businesses, and the...

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Dear Valued Investor,A bear market is officially here thanks largely to stubbornly high inflation. For many of us, it has probably felt like a bear market for a while now, but the S&P 500 Index didn’t close more than 20% below...

Monday, June 6, 2022

Know what to do if you inherit an IRA from a spouse or someone elseAs we get older, it is likely that we might inherit an IRA from mom or dad – or we need to counsel mom or dad as they inherit an IRA after one of them dies. The...

Monday, May 30, 2022

If you are wondering what in the world a “backdoor Roth IRA” is, you're not alone! In short, if you've been frustrated by the contribution limits associated with Roth IRAs, then read on - this article describes a...

Monday, May 9, 2022

Taxes are a great grown-up subject for every teen to start learning about   For teens and young adults who will be taking on summer jobs this year, it will be a time to gain experience, earn some cash and learn a bit about...

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Social Security Retirement benefits are one thing that people know of, but often what they know isn't always accurate. First, the Social Security Trust Fund was created in 1939 as part of Old Age and Survivors Insurance by the Social...

Monday, April 18, 2022

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...

Monday, April 4, 2022

Market timing is a “strategy” of deciding when to buy and sell stocks by attempting to predict which way and when stocks will move. Let’s look at an example and the data to determine why market timing is unwise....

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

When people are leaving their employer, one of the decisions they need to make is what to do with their 401(k). A retirement plan participant typically has four options (and may engage in a combination of these options), each choice...

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

When you invest in the stock market, you want to see growth, but unfortunately, in most cases, investments do not grow all the time. Inevitably, the market goes up and down, and to safeguard your potential for long-term growth, you...

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Stocks have gotten off to a very rocky start in 2022, with the potential for Federal Reserve rate hikes coming and the geopolitical worries over Russia and Ukraine only adding to the uncertainty. We don’t want to minimize the...

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

When saving for retirement, it often makes sense to contribute to employer-sponsored retirement plans to take advantage of any available employer match opportunities. However, not everyone has access to an employer-sponsored plan. Even...

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

RMD Tables are changing to keep up with The SECURE Act of 2019. Under The SECURE Act, if you turned age 70 1/2 in 2019, you would've been required to take your first RMD by April 1, 2020. If you turned age 70 1/2 in 2020 or later, you...

Friday, January 7, 2022

Regardless of whether you prepare your taxes yourself or use a professional's services, it's a good idea to gather the information and documentation you need well in advance of your actual tax filing date. Below, we've listed some key...

Tuesday, January 4, 2022

With inflation on the rise, the IRS increased the 2022 contribution limits for some retirement accounts. Although a 2021 Congressional report found that only about 8.5% of defined benefit plan participants and 4.7% of individual...

Saturday, December 11, 2021

Our resurgent economy grew at over a 6% pace in the first half of the year and is on track for over 5% growth for the year when 2021 draws to a close. The current economic recovery, which started in May 2020, has benefited from...

Wednesday, December 1, 2021

For some, 2021 has flown by—and as we approach the end of the year, it's a good time to begin planning for the next one. Year-end planning is especially important for retirees and those hoping to retire in 2021 or 2022. There are...

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

It may be easy to forget we're nearing the end of the year. Even during the busy end of year rush, it's a good time to reevaluate your 2021 finances and turn an eye toward 2022. What can you do now to potentially improve and streamline...

Monday, November 1, 2021

Over the next 50 years, the age 85 and older population is expected to be the fastest growing segment of society. Unfortunately, along with aging, the chances of needing long-term care (LTC) increase. The primary reason for this is...

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Thoughts on establishing a trust and tips for avoiding inheritance squabbles. Reasons to Consider a Trust Should you set up a trust? Maybe you've been to a seminar where they scare the life out of you, convincing you to start one....

Monday, October 4, 2021

Implementing a 401(k) plan for your employees is good business. It means you're thinking strategically, that you care for your employees, and are focused on the long-term health of your company. Implementing a retirement plan: Can help...

Friday, September 10, 2021

A Primer Although we all know that “time flies,” it seems to move particularly fast as we watch our children grow. Yet, in considering a college future for a newborn, it is understandable that parents might procrastinate,...

Monday, September 6, 2021

In 2018, around one in every five new home purchasers got at least part of their down payment from a relative—and of the parents who have contributed to this down payment assistance, the average gift is $39,000.1 With the housing...

Thursday, January 2, 2020

2019 has come to an end and new goals are on the horizon for 2020. Etiquette Financial Partners has been a team for over a year now, added team members, moved to our own location, and had a great year with our clients. Going into 2020...

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

As we move into the 4th Quarter, persistent concerns about US Economic growth have led to a fight-to-quality trade in the US Treasury market. Whether it’s fear about the ongoing US/China Trade dispute, Brexit, slowing growth in...

Friday, September 20, 2019

A Life Insurance Policy That Meets Your Needs Ms. Etiquette was referred to our financial advising firm in Oak Brook and was interested in doing some financial planning. She was a professional in her field and one of her concerns was...

Monday, July 15, 2019

Estate Planning & Financial Planning For a Recent Widow Mrs. Etiquette has been widowed almost 5 years and was referred to our practice to discuss estate planning and financial planning. She was so overwhelmed and grief-stricken due...

Friday, June 14, 2019

Financial Gift Giving Etiquette The amount of invitations for graduation parties or birthday parties this summer can make your to-do list a mile long. Take some stress off yourself and the host by simplifying the gift giving process....

Monday, May 13, 2019

5 Financial Tips from Mom April showers bring May flowers and May brings a plethora of end of school year activities, beginning of Spring sport season, and summer within reach. One day in May we all slow down to honor someone very...

Monday, April 1, 2019

It's no April Fool's joke! Your financial advisors Eric Degnan, Lindsey Driscoll, and Christopher James have re-branded their business in 2019 and are now Etiquette Financial Partners located in Oak Brook, IL. What can you expect? In...