The Signature Blog
Practical tips and resources on building your ideal life.
Choose a topic you need help with or scroll through the posts below and explore our approach to money and life.
January 2023 Market Update
Happy New year! I hope that your holidays were great and that 2023 is off to a great start for you. I just caught myself signing a document “2022,” so I think it’s going to take me a while to…
Read MoreHow does SECURE Act 2.0 change saving for retirement?
Washington Policy Analyst Ed Mills outlines key components of the new legislation. The year-end fiscal 2023 government funding bill contained legislation that makes the most significant changes to the U.S. retirement savings system in decades. The SECURE Act 2.0 legislation…
Read MoreDecember 2022 Market Update
We’re about to ring the final closing bell for 2022, and what a year it’s been. Given the number of drastically bad events this year, like the war in Europe and near-record inflation, we’re lucky that it wasn’t worse for…
Read MoreHomes smart enough to save you money
FAMILY & LIFESTYLE When it comes to smart home technologies, there is an abundance of options. Here are some we think are worthy investments. It’s been reported that Oprah Winfrey has a high-tech ski home in Telluride, Colorado, that boasts…
Read MoreNovember 2022 Market Update
As I write this on the morning after Election Day, the results are undetermined, as suspected. I think all of us want to make sure the final tally is correct, but I hope that the outcomes are determined soon. The…
Read MoreHelping a loved one buy a home? Review strategies and risks
FAMILY & LIFESTYLE Approaches range from offering a straightforward monetary gift to making the purchase yourself and becoming a landlord. Explore various strategies and their tradeoffs. Real estate has long been one of the foundational pieces for an investment portfolio.…
Read MoreOctober 2022 Market Update
In late September, we did breach the old low on the S&P 500 of 3636 (set in June), which leads me to believe that new money should be patient when buying stocks. I certainly would recommend dollar cost averaging, whereby…
Read MoreMaking the most of Medicare’s open enrollment period
RETIREMENT & LONGEVITY Ask yourself a few questions to make sure you’re getting the most from Medicare. Mark your calendar for Medicare’s open enrollment season: between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7, you are able to make changes to your Medicare…
Read MoreSeptember 2022 Market Update
As of mid-afternoon on September 23, the S&P 500 is re-testing the lows it hit in June. This isn’t unprecedented as the stock market has a history of re-testing lows. I wrote in August that I expected a pullback, although…
Read MoreThe Fed and the Housing Market
Chief Economist Eugenio J. Alemán discusses current economic conditions. The Federal Reserve Bank (Fed), the central bank of the United States, has a difficult task ahead. The most important objectives of the Fed are: “maximum employment, stable prices, and moderate…
Read MoreAugust 2022 Market Update
We’ve seen a big and welcomed, rally in stock prices since the end of June. Since then, the S&P 500 index is up nearly 13%, and some of the laggards from early in the year have become the leaders. While…
Read More7 Ways To Boost Your Savings
Discover smart options to grow your savings. Although saving more takes some effort, it may be easier than you think – there may even be “free” money available that can help. Here are some tips: Take advantage of an employer…
Read MoreJuly 2022 Market Update
As we head into the second half of 2022, I wanted to take a moment to look back on what we have come through. For starters, the first 6 months of 2022 were the worst January-June period for the stock…
Read MoreSocial Security Myths and Misconceptions
RETIREMENT & LONGEVITY Learn how to get the most from your hard-earned benefits. There’s no doubt about it. Filing for Social Security can be daunting. There’s a ton of information – and misinformation – to weed through, as well as…
Read MoreJune 2022 Market Update
As summer unofficially started last weekend with Memorial Day, so starts what are usually slow trading days in the stock market. Historically, summer has meant vacations for many on Wall Street, and that has led to lower volumes and markets…
Read MoreGet to Know Special Needs Trusts
ESTATE & GIVING Trust assets can be used for a variety of helpful and enriching benefits, all while not jeopardizing valuable government assistance. Caring for a family member or friend with a disability or special needs can be difficult to…
Read MoreMay 2022 Market Update
I’m not one to wish time away, but I’m glad that April is over, from a stock market standpoint (and also because tax season is over!). The S&P 500 lost 8.8% in April to finish off one of the worst…
Read MoreProtect your privacy on social media: How much is too much?
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION Follow these tips for protecting your privacy on social media. In 2020, there were 3.96 billion active users on social media and the number keeps growing. Whether it’s to find a place to eat, stay in touch…
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