The SECURE Act changes a wide variety of rules and several items could be relevant to younger families and professionals.

The investment markets have dropped significantly this week on the news of the spread of coronavirus cases and impacts in new countries. Prudent investors absolutely should be reviewing their financial plan and investment approach, but it is as important as ever not to panic.

The SECURE Act doesn’t have a particularly cohesive theme but contains a plethora of changes intended to provide more access to retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs, add some protections for investors, and give you more flexibility (for the most part).

David Wise and Ben Yeager summarize Hilltop’s updates on the economy and markets from our latest quarterly investment review. With no shortage of trends to review, we discuss ongoing economic growth, trade tensions, coronavirus, Brexit, political uncertainty and more.

Many of us are thinking about our New Year’s Resolutions as we celebrate the start of the 2020s. While most resolutions are related to physical health, we’ve put together some suggestions for financial health resolutions, particularly for retirement accounts provided by your employer (401(k), 403(b), TSP, etc.).

When it comes to the “food” category of my budget, I’ve noticed that it’s easy for expenses to add up way faster than planned. To counteract that, I've implemented some strategies within the past year that have helped me cut down on my dining and grocery expenses while wasting less food and still getting to eat at my favorite restaurants.

Chris Hostetler and Brittany Mollica summarize Hilltop’s updates on the economy and the markets from our latest quarterly investment review. We discuss slowing global growth, the chances of a coming recession and more.

We’ve all heard the saying: “Money doesn’t buy happiness,” but what if using it wisely could bring you more satisfaction? That’s what Happy Money by Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton (2014) explores.

With a little planning, there are still ways to benefit from a charitable deduction. One particularly useful strategy gaining popularity under the new tax law is gifting through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF).

Chris Hostetler and David Wise summarize Hilltop’s updates on the economy and the markets from our latest quarterly investment review. We discuss recent market volatility, the trade war, and more.

For most people, dying is a more visceral fear, so we tend to focus our anxiety and worry on the possibility of death. But facing a period of disability without the proper insurance in place is a serious risk. If you lose income because you’re too sick or injured to work, the financial cost to you and your family can be devastating.

Rusty Eriksen and David Wise summarize Hilltop's updates on the equity and income markets, including thoughts on recent conversations with clients.

If you want to build a legacy that includes more than your personal and financial assets, the good news is you can easily send the right messages using an ethical will. Sometimes also called a “legacy letter”, an ethical will is any message that shares your personal values with your loved ones after you are gone.

You’ve mastered the basic differences between a Traditional and a Roth IRA (by reading part one of this post) and you’re ready to start saving. Now, it’s game time: which type of account should you use? There’s no right or wrong answer, but there are a few items you should think through before making your decision.

You’re a saver, and you’ve heard that contributing to a Traditional or Roth IRA is a good tax move. But you may be bewildered about the difference and trying to decide which one is for you. We’re here to help! This post is part one of two and will discuss the rules of Traditional and Roth IRAs.

An inverted yield curve has a high correlation as a leading indicator for recessions. So far, the inversion lasted for only a few days; it could be just a blip, relatively meaningless. In fact, 10-year Treasuries have begun offering a higher yield already this week on optimism over a possible trade deal between the US and China.

Budgeting does not have to be difficult or time-consuming. It can actually be comforting to know that you have a plan for your money, especially if that includes a regular Starbucks run!

Chris Hostetler and Ben Yeager summarize Hilltop's updates on the equity and income markets, including thoughts on US economic strength, Brexit negotiations, US-China trade negotiations, the Fed's interest rate policy and more.

If you’re a business owner, Congress has already prepared an exciting ‘gift’ for you, as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017: a shiny new business tax deduction. For those who qualify, properly taking advantage of these new tax rules may result in substantial tax savings.

Happiness comes more from a grateful heart than it does from having all the things you want, because when you get those things you’ll only want more. It’s one thing to say you should feel thankful, but the amazing thing about gratitude is that you can train yourself to do it. And if you train yourself to be grateful, you’re going to make the world a better place for yourself and everybody around you.