Blog Articles

Long-term care is a vital but often overlooked part of retirement planning. Explore new, flexible solutions for securing your future care needs beyond Medicare and Medicaid.

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 first allowed taxpayers age 70½ or older to make tax-free charitable donations directly from their IRAs. Technically, these taxpayers were allowed to exclude from gross income otherwise taxable distributions from their IRA ("qualified charitable distributions," or QCDs), up to $105,000, that were paid directly to a qualified charity. These gifts are also known as "Charitable IRA rollovers... CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING

This Year End Financial Planning Checklist presentation will focus on key financial changes that may have happened over the past year. Explore eight essential areas of your financial lives as 2024 comes to a close and be prepared for the upcoming year.

Follow along to be best prepared when it comes to cybersecurity and protecting yourself and your small business from cyber threats.

In this presentation, we’ll explore one of the largest expenses you may face in retirement: healthcare. We’ll focus on the critical decisions involved in choosing your Medicare coverage helping you make the decision that is best for you!

Ready to buy your first home? Join our newest presentation for tips on financing, budgeting, and finding the right property. Start your journey to homeownership with the knowledge you need—your dream home is closer than you think!

College funding can be one of the biggest expenses you deal with in your lifetime.  Start planning for your family’s educational future in our latest presentation, Key College Funding Data 2024-2025.

Review Q2 of 2024 and how the market fared over the last quarter, gain some insight on investment ideas and principals, and how to be prepared for when the market gets volatile. 

"Setting goals is a very important part of life in general and in financial planning in particular. Before you actually invest your money, you should spend some time considering and setting your personal financial goals. For example, do you want to retire early? Would you like to start your own business soon? Do you need to pay for your children's college education? Would you like to buy or build a new house?Taking time to consider what you want to achieve as a result of your investment

Whether to invest a large amount all at once or over a short period of time (lump-sum investing), or to invest gradually over a longer period of time (periodic investing) is an investment strategy decision you'll have to face if you're fortunate enough to have a lump sum available to invest. Would it be better to put money into the market a little at a time or to invest it all at once? CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

"The debt service ratio and debt safety ratio are tools designed to gauge your ability to repay debt. Both the debt service ratio andthe debt safety ratio compare your loan obligation to your monthly income. Your debt service ratio compares your total monthlyloan payments to your gross monthly income, while your debt safety ratio compares your monthly consumer debt payments toyour monthly take-home pay. These are important calculations for two reasons..."

Let's make 2024 the year where we get in the best financial shape possible! We've made it our goal to help everyone we can attain a level of financial fitness that they are comfortable with and that works for them. So, we’re introducing a Financial Fitness Checkup program to clients and prospective clients in 2024.

Tune in while we reflect on the past year and look forward to the financial future of 2024.

Join Chris in our third episode of Clarity Group Chats as he covers the financial issues that new parents face.

When you were growing up, you may have heard your parents or grandparents say, "If you can't pay for it with cash, then you can't afford to buy it." That may have been sound advice 40 or even 20 years ago, but such attitudes about credit are outdated and unrealistic for most adults working and living in modern times.

Check out our latest presentation on key financial data for the New Year!

In 1964, Paul McCartney and John Lennon of the Beatles co-wrote the hit song “Money Can’t Buy Me Love” but, could it bring you happiness?

Elevate your financial game with our quick video presentation. Learn key strategies for year-end success and start the new year on a prosperous note. Also, download our comprehensive checklist.

Historically, the third quarter is the worst quarter of the year in equity markets. 2023’s third quarter followed that trend. September was very uncomfortable for investors as volatility increased during this last month of the quarter. Equities moved lower in late September as the Federal Reserve refrained from raising rates, but announced there is a possibility of another....

Welcoming a new addition to your family is a joyous occasion, but it also brings financial responsibilities. This article dives into the financial challenges that new parents encounter and offers valuable insights to help you navigate parenthood's financial landscape.

Join us for a comprehensive guide to fortify your smartphone's defenses. This video presentation reveals strategies and tactics to make your smartphone hacker-resistant.

Discover essential Year- End tax planning tips to optimize your tax situation and secure a stronger financial future. Click here to read about these crucial insights!

Dive into the essential college funding data that every student and parent should be aware of. Watch now to pave your way towards a brighter academic future!

The second quarter of 2023 tested even the most seasoned of investors. It was a quarter that included the U.S. reaching a debt ceiling agreement, the Federal Reserve pausing their aggressive interest rate hikes, and bank failure fears starting to subside.

Three important developments occurred recently in the world of federal student loans: the U.S. Supreme Court blocked an executive order offering loan cancellation to certain borrowers; Congress set an expiration date for the payment moratorium that has been in effect since March 2020; and new student loan interest rates have been set for the 2023–2024 school year. Here are the details.

Proper life insurance coverage should provide you with peace of mind, since you know that those you care about will be financially protected after you die.

Check out our video presentation to learn about the 10 Cybersecurity threats every person and business faces - and how to fight them now.

The first quarter of 2023 had investors sitting on the edge of their seats as the equity markets took them for a bumpy ride.

Check out this video where we discuss ways to manage your wealth in 2023 by utilizing proactive tax strategies.

When it comes to estate planning, women have unique concerns. The fact is that women live an average of 5.8 years longer than men.

At Clarity Group Midwest we believe starting to plan early on in life is a key to your financial success. Now let us tell you why. Please enjoy our second episode of Clarity Group Chats as we discuss the importance of investing early.

It’s probably a fair assumption to say that most investors are happy 2022 is in the books. After enjoying the longest bull market in history, from after the financial crisis in 2009 to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the bear finally officially rose from its slumber and dominated Wall Street.

Happy New Year and welcome to 2023! We hope that you and your family had an enjoyable holiday season. We look forward to what this new year has to offer.

Just what you need, right? One more time-consuming task to be taken care of between now and the end of the year.

Investors understand that markets go up and also go down. After being treated to better than average returns for over a decade, 2022 has been a year that has tested even the most seasoned of investors.

When you leave your employer, you have several options available to you for managing your retirement savings plan assets.

Like many other savers and investors, you may be worried that we are headed toward more challenging economic times. Successful savers and investors are usually more prepared to handle difficult financial periods because they understand some key foundational information. Check out this video to hear 8 key tips in being a successful investor.

You want to retire comfortably when the time comes. You also want to help your child go to college. So how do you juggle the two? The truth is.....

Please enjoy our Mid Year Economic presentation for 2022. If you have any questions regarding the material discussed, please give us a call

The longest bull market in history lasted almost 11 years before coronavirus fears and the realities of a seriously disrupted U.S. economy brought it to an end.

Your need for life insurance changes as your life changes. When you're young, you typically have less need for life insurance, but that changes as you take on more responsibility and your family grows.

Do you ever wonder where your money goes each month? Does it seem like you're never able to get ahead?

When it comes to investing there are many circumstances that can draw your attention. Focusing on factors you can control can help alleviate concern.

Children and money will always be intertwined. From birth to adolescence and from college graduation to having children of their own, children will always be linked to money and finances.

Retirement! Most Americans get excited about the day they no longer have to go to work to earn an income. No more bosses, no more meetings to attend, no more schedules to keep, no more stress that even the best of jobs can create.

After one of the most contentious presidential elections in recent history, as of November 6th, the election results are still not finalized and they might be contested for the foreseeable future. A new administration could bring changes ...

The last few days of February created confusing and turbulent times for investors. The rough stock market fluctuations created a rollercoaster-type of ride that has attracted almost every media outlet.

Retirement! Most Americans get excited about the day they no longer have to go to work to earn an income.

During volatile times, many investors get agitated and begin to question their fundamental investment decisions and choices. This is especially true for those investors who monitor their portfolios daily and can be tempted to pull out of the market and wait on the sidelines until it seems safe to dive back in.

Rebalancing your portfolio can be a good way to help keep your investment strategy on track towards meeting your goals.