While many outlets have reported on the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and more news will continue to trickle in, it is our understanding that these episodes do not reflect the systemic risks experienced during the financial crisis of ’08-’09. The Treasury and the Federal Reserve are providing full backing for customers’ deposits in banks of all sizes. Affected customers are being made whole from a pool of emergency cash that receives its funding from a 2010-era banking legislation (Dodd-Frank) that mandated special fees on banks.

No one likes to think about falling victim to a scam or suffering a medical emergency, but the sobering truth is that these situations do occur. If this type of trouble arises, you may need someone to advocate for you or serve as your liaison. Having a trusted contact is extremely important when it pertains to the management and protection of your finances. 

Here’s how to begin the process of adding a trusted contact to your financial advisor account to prevent any disconnect.

Storing important documents, like financial statements from your financial advisor, isn’t just a matter of organization: It’s key to keeping your information safe and limiting the risk of identity theft. Here’s everything you need to know about storing important documents at home or online.

When you’re looking at your overall financial picture, the role of trustee is an important position that comes with a lot of responsibility, but what exactly does the position entail?

Fifty years ago, a woman couldn’t open a credit card without her husband co-signing. While we’ve come a long way since then, women still face certain financial challenges. Financial planning for women must account for these challenges in order to avoid the issues they might create. Here are three of the biggest pitfalls women must consider when creating their financial plan and tips for how to avoid them.

Recently, the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA) performed a comprehensive survey about employees’ participation in financial wellnessplans through their employers. Perceptions about such plans may be helpful to sponsors who have a financial wellness plan in place for their employees, or to those who are considering implementing them. The survey was conducted online from October 22 to November 3, 2021 and collected responses from 3,000+ Americans ages 18 and older on a broad range of financial management issues and topics.

Results from the survey indicate varying definitions of “financial wellness” from employees. Responses included:

• Having the means to take care of your family and others (53 percent).
• Not worrying about money or debts (51 percent).
• Feeling protected financially from life’s unexpected events (51 percent).
• Retirement financial security (36 percent).

When asked about their current priorities for securing financial wellness, their responses included:

• Having a reliable source of income (38 percent).
• The ability to pay monthly bills without difficulty (38 percent).
• Being on track with retirement savings (16 percent).

A financial plan is a personalized roadmap to help you meet your financial goals. While there’s a long list of reasons why a financial plan is so important these are the top five.

A study from the National Institute of Retirement Security found that 66 percent of millennials haven’t saved any money for retirement – and 66 percent haven’t started saving. With living expenses, student debt, rent or house payments and other daily expenses, saving for retirement is typically not a priority for younger people. But that will make it considerably more difficult for them to have a secure retirement later in life.

The biggest obstacle for millennials’ retirement savings is time itself. Compounding interest allows funds to grow and allows those with even modest savings to establish a large nest egg for later use. If you saved $50 each month in a retirement account that earns 6.5% annually and compounded monthly, you would generate a savings of $226,781 over 50 years. Alternatively, a millennial who starts saving the same amount 30 years later (which would have only 20 years’ worth of compound growth) would net only $24,525. Compounding plays a critical role in retirement savings. Even a little savings every month, like $50, can make a considerable impact.

Wherever you are on your financial journey, there are certain times you may want to meet with a financial advisor for their professional insight and recommendations. Working with a trusted fiduciary advisor can help you plan your future, manage investments and provide guidance on tax preparation, retirement planning, estate planning, insurance, and other important matters. See when and why you should meet with a financial advisor — and how to get started today.

Planning your finances doesn’t have to be overwhelming or stressful. Sure, there are a lot of key factors to consider, like saving for retirement and planning estimated budgets, but there are plenty of free financial planning tools that you can use as resources to feel more prepared. Here are just eight helpful tools and three financial apps you can access for free: