As inflation climbs, the Fed reacts.  Provided by Marc Aarons  At its June meeting, the Federal Reserve confirmed what many of us have suspected for some time: prices are rising. In fact, prices are climbing faster than many expected. In response, the Fed raised its inflation expectation to 3.4%, up from its March projection of […]

Learn about how legislative changes can help you finance your loved one’s education.  Provided by Marc Aarons  As a parent or grandparent, you know firsthand the challenges of funding a child’s education. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Act was passed at the end of 2020 and has changed some of the qualifications […]

Preliminary estimates call for a 4.7% cost-of-living increase.1  Provided by Marc Aarons If there is a “silver lining” to all the inflation talk, it may be that Social Security benefits are expected to see a larger-than-normal increase in 2022. Preliminary estimates call for a 4.7% cost-of-living increase (COLA) in Social Security benefits next year, which […]

In this age of marriage equality, there are new possibilities.  Provided by Marc Aarons The 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision streamlined tax and estate strategizing for married LGBTQ+ couples. If you are filing a joint tax return for this year or are considering updating your estate strategy, here are some important things to […]

There are compelling reasons to adopt a wait-and-see approach. Provided by Marc Aarons   Inflation can be a scary word for people who are retired. It’s code for “prices are going up, but my income may stay the same.” The most recent reading on consumer prices put inflation back into the conversation. The Consumer Price Index […]

Several women-dominated industries were hit hardest by the pandemic.  Provided by Marc Aarons  Since the 1980s, unemployment rates have trended higher amongst men than women during a recession. In previous periods of economic downturn, this made sense. Male-dominated industries, like construction and finance, were typically some of the most impacted by a recession.1 But with […]

Explore the different ways you can help finance the costs of higher education. Provided by Marc Aarons How can you help cover your child’s future college costs? Saving early (and often) may be key for most families. Here are some college savings vehicles to consider. 529 college savings plans. Offered by states and some educational […]

A deep dive into workers’ expectations in retirement versus actual income sources.  Provided by Marc Aarons  Will your retirement dreams match your reality? That’s perhaps the most critical question to ask people who are currently retired. Was your retirement what you expected, or was it something else? For more than 30 years, the Employee Benefit […]

A Look at Non-Fungible Tokens. Provided by Marc Aarons  Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, have been the recipient of the latest buzz. NFTs are digital files attached to blockchain codes. If you know anything about digital currencies, you’re probably aware that these blockchain codes are what identifies a digital “coin” and makes it tradeable to those […]

Many hopeful homebuyers are having issues securing a home.  Provided by Marc Aarons  Recently, you may have seen reports that a record-low number of homes are available for sale—roughly 1.03 million nationwide. If you compare that to the average number of homes for sale during the past 10 years, it’s no surprise that many hopeful […]