In the corporate environment, there are sometimes circumstances which lead employers to offer certain employees early retirement packages. But how do you know if the seemingly attractive offer you’ve received is a good one? Start by evaluating it carefully to...
read moreIf you care about what happens to your money, home, and other property after you pass, then it is time to do some estate planning. There are many tools you can use to achieve your estate planning goals, but a will is probably the most vital. Even if you’re young...
read moreThe major budget package enacted by Congress in December included a subdivision called “SECURE Act 2.0.” The 1.0 version of this package of legislative changes for qualified retirement plans was the “Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019.”...
read moreDo you ever wonder where your money goes each month? Does it seem like you’re never able to get ahead? If so, you may want to establish a budget to help you keep track of how you spend your money and help you reach your financial goals. The new year can be a...
read moreWhen it comes to financial planning resolutions, creating an action-oriented plan includes figuring out where you are, what you want, and what you need to get there. These may seem like big, overarching questions, but they can be broken down into a few smaller...
read moreSocial Security benefits are a major source of retirement income for most people. Your Social Security retirement benefit is based on the number of years you’ve been working and the amount of money you’ve earned. When you choose to begin taking Social...
read moreCongress enacted the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act in 2019, generally known as the “SECURE Act.” Key elements of the law included new incentives for employers to establish qualified retirement plans, lifting the age for Required Minimum...
read moreWhy did you purchase life insurance? If you’re like most people who buy life insurance, you’re looking to provide a source of income for someone, such as a spouse, parent, or child, after you pass. Buying the policy was the first step. Now you’ll...
read moreWhat is conducting a periodic review of your estate plan? With your estate plan successfully implemented, one final, but critical, step remains–carrying out a periodic review and update. Everyone has different life events and changes, both planned and unplanned, which...
read moreThere are moments when we may wish we could go back in time and tell ourselves what the future holds. If only we knew, we could avoid regrettable decisions and embrace an even better future. Although, as far as we know, we can’t go back in time and messages can’t be...
read moreYou know how important it is to plan for retirement, but where do you begin? One of your first steps should be to estimate how much income you’ll need to fund your retirement. That’s not as easy as it sounds, because retirement planning is not an exact...
read moreIf your employment situation changes, you may wonder what to do with your retirement savings at your previous employer. In fact, you have a variety of options when it comes to taking distributions from your employer-sponsored retirement savings plan. This may be a...
read moreWith the major stock market indices in bear market territory, this may be a good time to evaluate the potential benefits of realizing some capital losses in the investment portfolio. No one enjoys admitting defeat by selling an asset that has gone down in value, but...
read moreExperience may be the best teacher, but that doesn’t mean we are all the best students. Many times, there are lessons we only grasp later in life once we’ve made the same mistakes over and over again. It has been said if you want your kids to learn about taxes, you...
read moreA successful investor maximizes gain and minimizes loss. Though there can be no guarantee that any investment strategy will be successful, and all investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal, here are six basic principles, which may help you...
read moreThe Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra has received a boost in funding thanks to a $5,000 donation from the Arvest Foundation. Arvest Wealth Management senior client advisor Terri Taylor presented the check to John Jenkins, Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra executive...
read moreBecoming a do-it-yourselfer is easier than ever, thanks to the internet and YouTube. Skills and knowledge, once available only from professionals, are now accessible to anyone with the patience to watch instructional videos. For example, a person could diagnose a...
read moreIt can be burdensome to wonder what will happen to your estate upon your passing. However, there are plans you can put in place, with the help of professionals, to alleviate some of that weight. Estate planning is a process designed to help you manage and preserve...
read moreYour life insurance needs change as your life changes. When you are young, you may not have a need for life insurance. However, as you take on more responsibility and your family grows, your life insurance needs increase. Your needs may then decrease after your...
read moreGo out into your yard and dig a big hole. Every month throw $50 into it but do not take any money out until you are ready to buy a house, send your child to college, or retire. It sounds a little crazy, right? This is what investing without setting clear-cut goals is...
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