Author: Kelly Larson

Millennials working at coffee shop

Do Millennial’s Need Life Insurance?

Kelly Larson

The financial challenges millennials face can be overwhelming. Many young adults have to figure out how to pay off college loans, save to buy a home or start a family, and sock away money for retirement. Given these hurdles, it’s no wonder that life insurance as a financial asset gets little to no attention. But it should. There are many reasons to have life insurance at a relatively young age, but here are some common ones. Leaving your debts for…
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Taking Notes and Keeping Records

Five Retirement Lessons from Today’s Retirees

Kelly Larson

Each year for its Retirement Confidence Survey, the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI)surveys 1,000 workers and 1,000 retirees to assess how confident they are in their ability to afford a comfortable retirement. Once again, in 2019, retirees expressed stronger confidence than workers: 82% of retirees reported feeling “very” or “somewhat” confident, compared with 67% of workers. A closer look at some of the survey results reveals various lessons today’s workers can learn from current retirees. Current sources of retiree income…
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Tax documents

Financial Scams Targeting Older Individuals

Kelly Larson

If you or someone you know has been targeted by a scam artist who is trying to steal money or personal information, you are not alone. According to the Senate Special Committee on Aging, older Americans lose an estimated $2.9 billion annually to fraud and exploitation, a number that is probably substantially under-reported.* Most scams start with a call, an email, a text, or an official-looking letter that appears to be from a government agency or a legitimate company. Sometimes…
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Financial Independence

Is It Time to Declare Your Financial Independence?

Kelly Larson

No matter how much money you have or which life stage you’re in, becoming financially independent starts with a dream. Your dream might be to finally pay off the mountain of debt you’ve accumulated, or to stop relying on someone else for financial support. Or perhaps your dream is to retire early so you can spend more time with your family, travel the world, or open your own business. Financial independence, however you define it, is freedom from the financial…
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stock market chart

Time for a Mid-Year Investment Check

Kelly Larson

Many investors may be inclined to review their portfolios only when markets hit a rough patch, but careful planning is essential in all economic climates. So whether the markets are up or down, periodically reviewing your portfolio with your financial professional can be an excellent way to keep your investments on track, and midway through the year is a good time for a checkup. Here are three questions to consider. 1. How have my investments performed so far this year?…
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Graduation ceremony

Financial Advice for Recent College Graduates

Kelly Larson

You’ve put in the hard work as a college student and finally received your diploma. Now you’re ready to head out on your own. And though you may not have given much thought to your financial future when you were in college, you have new financial challenges and goals to consider. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to start on the right track with your personal finances. Set financial goals Setting goals is an important part of…
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Tax Documents

Tax Scams to Watch Out For

Kelly Larson

While tax scams are especially prevalent during tax season, they can take place any time during the year. As a result, it’s in your best interest to always be vigilant so you don’t end up becoming the victim of a fraudulent tax scheme. Here are some of the more common scams to watch out for. Phishing Phishing scams usually involve unsolicited emails or fake websites that pose as legitimate IRS sites to convince you to provide personal or financial information….
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Mature couple doing some paperwork and calculations at home

Four Reasons Your Parents Might Be in Financial Trouble

Kelly Larson

As your parents age, they will probably need more help from you. But it may be difficult to provide the help they need, especially if they’re experiencing financial trouble. Money can be a sensitive subject to discuss, but you’ll need to talk to your parents about it in order to get to the root of their problems and come up with a solution. Before you start the conversation, consider the following four scenarios as signs that your parents might be…
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tax documents and information.

Due Date Approaches for 2018 Federal Tax Returns

Kelly Larson

Tax filing season is here again. If you haven’t done so already, you’ll want to start pulling things together — that includes getting your hands on a copy of your 2017 tax return and gathering W-2s, 1099s, and deduction records. You’ll need these records whether you’re preparing your own return or paying someone else to prepare your tax return for you. Don’t procrastinate The filing deadline for most individuals is Monday, April 15, 2019. Residents of Maine and Massachusetts have…
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Packing travel bag for trip

Travel Insurance

Kelly Larson

Soon you’ll be on your way, taking that trip you’ve looked forward to for ages–but suppose something happens. If you get sick, lose your suitcase, or have to cut your trip short, will any of your existing insurance policies cover your expenses or reimburse you for your losses? If not, you might want to purchase travel insurance, which is available from insurance companies, travel agents, tour operators, and cruise lines. If you can’t make it after all or have to…
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