The recent announcement by the Department of Labor (DoL) establishing a Fiduciary Standard for retirement accounts is a watershed moment for consumers and professional advisors.  The rule is a principles-based standard requiring advisors advising on retirement accounts (such as 401(k)s, 403(b)s  and IRAs) to work in the best interests of their clients as opposed to […]

Choosing the right age to start Social Security benefits is one of the most important decisions in your financial life.  Unfortunately, most people are tempted to claim as soon as they become eligible at age 62.  This strategy results in reduced lifetime benefits for you and your spouse and may have a lasting impact on […]

Currently, the financial advisory industry is in the midst of numerous regulatory changes with the most important issue involving the definition of “financial planner” and “financial advisor” and whether these titles require professionals to have a legal responsibility to put their clients’ interests first.  As the law stands now, only advisors registered with the SEC […]

Everyone has heard the stories of a famous person or family member that passed away without a will or without ever informing his spouse or adult children about his financial affairs.  Often, this places a huge financial and emotional burden on grieving loved ones and causes a lot of stress.  Whether it involves tracking down […]