Financial Articles

Articles

Enjoy our archive of financial tips and insights on the questions you already have.

Danielle Hunter Danielle Hunter

How to Appeal Your Property Taxes

Between 30 percent and 60 percent of taxable property has an inflated assessment, which may lead to higher property tax bills. For homeowners who think their local government may have assessed their property's value too high, there are ways to appeal and potentially win a lower assessment, which may save hundreds or even thousands of dollars annually in future taxes.

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Danielle Hunter Danielle Hunter

Retirement Seen Through Your Eyes

How do you picture your future? Some see retirement as a time to start a new career. Others see it as a time to travel. Still others plan to spend more time with family and friends. With that in mind, here are some things to consider.

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Danielle Hunter Danielle Hunter

Where Will Your Retirement Money Come From?

What workers anticipate in terms of retirement income sources may differ considerably from what retirees actually experience. For many people, retirement income may come from a variety of sources.

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Danielle Hunter Danielle Hunter

Navigating Retirement Pitfalls

Much is written about the classic financial mistakes that plague start-ups, family businesses, corporations, and charities. Some classic financial missteps have been known to plague retirees, too.

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Danielle Hunter Danielle Hunter

Are Subscriptions Draining Your Bank Account?

When you open your bank statement, do you notice a string of small charges you barely remember signing up for—a streaming service you signed up for during the pandemic, the meditation app you downloaded during a stressful week, and a digital magazine subscription you haven’t read in months?

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Danielle Hunter Danielle Hunter

Digital Legacy Planning: Protecting Your Online Assets

Over the years, you’ve carefully managed your finances online—whether it’s checking your bank accounts, making investments, or paying bills. Your cloud storage holds important tax documents, and your email is filled with financial correspondence. But have you ever stopped to consider what would happen to these accounts?

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Danielle Hunter Danielle Hunter

Important Birthdays Over 50

Most children stop being “and-a-half” somewhere around age 12. Kids add “and-a-half“ to make sure everyone knows they’re closer to the next age than the last. When you are older, “and-a-half” birthdays start making a comeback in terms of retirement income.

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Danielle Hunter Danielle Hunter

Inventorying Your Possessions

Only 47% of Americans have completed home inventory, despite the fact that more than 3 million Americans were displaced by natural disasters in 2023.

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Danielle Hunter Danielle Hunter

Medicare Advantage 101

Medicare Advantage, sometimes known as “Part C,” is something of a catch-all choice for those who are ready to sign up for Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurers in conjunction with the Medicare program, and can provide you with additional health insurance coverage.

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Danielle Hunter Danielle Hunter

Joint or Separate? Navigating Bank Accounts in Marriage

You’ve booked the venue, picked out the flowers, and sent the invites. But have you talked about who’ll pay the electric bill after the wedding? Managing finances can feel like a difficult aspect of marriage, but it’s actually an opportunity for collaboration.

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Danielle Hunter Danielle Hunter

Understanding Extended Care

Addressing the potential risks of extended-term care expenses may be one of the biggest financial challenges for individuals who are developing a retirement strategy.

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Danielle Hunter Danielle Hunter

Inflation & Your Money

"If the current annual inflation rate is 3 percent, why do my bills seem like they're 10 percent higher than last year?"

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Danielle Hunter Danielle Hunter

Should You Borrow from Your 401(k)?

The average household with revolving credit card debt had a balance of $21,083 as of March 2024. With the average credit card annual percentage rate sitting at 27.65%, it represents an expensive way to fund spending.

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Danielle Hunter Danielle Hunter

5 Financial Habits for Long-Term Success

In the world of personal finance, it’s not just about how much you earn; it’s about how you manage what you have. Whether you’re fresh out of college, eyeing retirement, or somewhere in between, developing strong financial habits is critical for long-term success.

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Danielle Hunter Danielle Hunter

Does Your Credit Score Affect Your Insurance Rates?

While the vast majority of insurance companies use credit-based insurance scores to help determine the price of insurance, it is banned in the states of Massachusetts, Michigan, Hawaii, and California. Some states only allow it as a factor for property insurance like auto and homeowners insurance. Other states allow it to be used with any type of insurance.1

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Danielle Hunter Danielle Hunter

How to Create Stronger Passwords and Protect Your Accounts

From email accounts to bank accounts, online shopping to online stock trading, you have many passwords to create and remember. Life would be easier if they were all the same. Or if they all came to mind quickly—like your child’s name or birthday. But just as those are simple for you to remember, they’re fairly simple for a scammer to figure out and use to drain your savings or steal your identity.

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