The Social Security Fairness Act was signed into law in January 2025. It repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which had previously reduced Social Security benefits for public sector workers receiving pensions from non-Social Security-covered employment. Beginning in April 2025, public servants (teachers, firefighters, police officers) will begin seeing an increase in their monthly benefit payments. Learn more about the possible tax implications of the Social Security Fairness Act.

Warren Buffett once said, “Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” However, that tree didn’t just grow in the perfect place on its own. That kind of foresight requires careful planning.

Estate planning is crucial for securing your legacy and ensuring that your wishes are carried out regarding the distribution of your assets. Establishing a trust can be a key component of an effective estate plan. Trusts provide powerful tools for managing and distributing assets during and after your lifetime. What different roles can a trust play in your estate plan?

Whether you’re excited about diving into Bitcoin or exploring the vast range of altcoins, understanding the essentials of buying, storing, and protecting your digital assets is crucial. Here we break down the steps to safely purchase your first cryptocurrency, explore the different options for securely storing it, and provide you with practical tips on how to keep your crypto safe from theft or loss.

In the 2000 film, Meet the Parents, actor Robert De Niro played Jack Byrnes, a retired CIA officer and father to Pam Byrnes, the girlfriend of character Greg Fokker, played by actor Ben Stiller. In the film, Jack Byrnes describes to his potential son-in-law, Greg, the importance of being part of the family’s “Circle of Trust.”

Much like in the movie, we are continually assessing which investments qualify for our “Circle of Trust.” 2024 saw investments related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) as trusted members of that circle. AI investments in semiconductors and software joined power suppliers (think utilities) and power management companies as winners in 2024 as the artificial intelligence theme saw robust investor interest in what is perceived as the next great frontier of investment opportunity. Learn more.

As we say goodbye to 2024 and welcome 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on where we’ve been and set the stage for where we want to go. The beginning of the year is all about starting strong. This is your chance to set priorities, take decisive action, and create momentum for the months ahead. Here are five actions we recommend to help you start 2025 with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Cryptocurrency has garnered significant attention in recent years, becoming a hot topic of discussion in both financial circles and politics. But what exactly is it? And how does it work? Learn more about this digital currency and why it matters in today's financial landscape.

Generally-speaking, any asset with a directly named beneficiary is excluded from the probate process, such as 401(k)s, IRAs, life insurance policies, investment accounts with a transfer-on-death (TOD) registration, and bank accounts with a payable-on-death (POD) registration. In the event one of these account-types fails to name a beneficiary, that account would be transferred through the probate process. There are also key advantages to using a trust to avoid probate. Learn more.

More and more women are becoming proactive when it comes to their financial futures, whether they find themselves suddenly without “a ring on it” or simply choose to maintain their independent lifestyle. Whatever the case, financial planning for a single woman differs from couples in a variety of ways due to income dynamics, financial responsibilities, and life goals. It’s important for single women to be aware and to understand these factors that affect their financial plan and future retirement. Learn more.

This was an emotionally charged election season, wasn’t it? Whether you are elated or depressed with the election results, now is an especially important time to make sure you are making investment decisions based on facts rather than emotions.

U.S. presidential elections can cause ripples, and even waves, in the stock market. Like any other event that produces market volatility, changing your investment strategy in response to the political news of the day or the market’s short- term ups and downs have shown to do more harm then good. Here’s a look at how elections impact the market and how
to stay invested for the long-term in spite of short-term volatility.