As Socrates once said, “Awareness of ignorance is the beginning of wisdom.” If you recognize a lack of proficiency, don’t be afraid to educate yourself. Of course, we all know we can’t be experts on every topic, but gaining a basic understanding that will help you ask the right questions will benefit you in the long run.

Personal finance is no different. Dismiss the notion that "the world of finance is a guy’s thing” and become more proactive about learning the basics. It will truly benefit your personal financial freedom! Check out these basic Investing 101 terms.

More and more workers are taking hardship distributions from their 401(k) accounts, a recent report shows. At the same time, the New York Federal Reserve reported in August that credit card debt among U.S. households exceeded $1 trillion for the
first time ever, with an increase of $45 billion in Q2 alone. In this challenging environment, how can plan sponsors support participants who may be struggling with high debt and help them avoid raiding their retirement savings to stay afloat? Learn more.

Did you know nearly half of women ages 25 and older lack access to a tax-advantaged, employer-sponsored retirement plan? Even among those women who are eligible for workplace retirement plans, average account balances lag far behind those of men. What can employers do to help? Learn how addressing the gender gap in retirement savings can lead to many tangible benefits for your organization.

Interest rates (and interest income) are significantly higher than we've seen in many years. And many taxpayers may be surprised when they see their next tax bill due from interest income earned in their taxable accounts—whether from their investment portfolio, or their bank or credit union. Be prepared.

As a kid, I always enjoyed Halloween. I would dress up in some particularly fun costume, usually something scary. As I went from house to house gathering candy with my friends, I would often see someone’s carved pumpkin lying in the road, clearly a victim of some hooligan’s prank. It was a reminder that, even in good times, negative influences exist around us.

Today, as we approach the Halloween holiday, we wonder whether the rest of the year will find our meticulously carved pumpkin (stock and bond) portfolios smashed on Wall Street. Just as we see on Halloween, there are now many frightening and disturbing “tricks” in the economy today, and we’re hoping to safely make it home (the end of the year) to enjoy what “treats” we hope to have in our investment bags.

Fall always feels like a season of giving. What better time to be intentional about conversations with family to come up with ways to give back, pay forward, however you want to label it?

Be creative. Involve the littles, the tweens, the teens, your college students, and your adult children. Make it a fun and meaningful conversation about how blessed you are, and learn how each would give back if there were no limits. Remember, the most valuable contributions are often not monetary. Think outside the box to build your family philanthropy plan.

Women face unique financial challenges throughout their lives: the gender pay gap, taking time off work for caregiving, and having a longer life expectancy, to name a few. Each stage of life presents a different set of financial considerations and decisions — and getting them correct is important to living your "good life". Learn more.

If you're a young professional, did you know a Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) can help you build wealth and achieve your long-term financial goals? Find out more about investing in your future with a Roth IRA!

Transitions — life is FULL of them. They can be planned or unexpected, but they are always "side-steps" in your journey of life. Which means, the way you handle them dictates if a transition becomes a mere speed bump to navigate or, conversely, an abyss that will swallow you if you allow it. What's the best asset to have to ensure your success with transition? Find out!