One of my tennis buddies relayed a story where hackers had stolen virtually all his private information necessary to open accounts in his name. They proceeded to open bank accounts and credit card accounts across the country. It was a widespread scam attempt. Fortunately, he caught it before losing any money. Scammers constantly evolve tactics […]
By The Welch Group Banks play a vital role in the economy, providing individuals and businesses with access to cash, credit, and other financial services. Despite their importance, however, banks can fail. And when they do, the effects often cause panic in the wider economic environment. This past week, two major players in the banking […]
Recently, the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) failed without much warning in a matter of days leaving many bank depositors across the country wondering if their deposits were safe. The good news is that SVB was a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which means that deposits of up to $250,000 are protected. However, […]
Filing your taxes can be daunting, but it can also be an opportunity to save money if you know where to look. If you are 65 years old or older, it’s important to focus on certain tax areas that can help you reduce your future income tax liability and Medicare expenses. Here are some tax […]
Just one year ago, research from the Federal Reserve indicated that a record 68% of households had the cash to cover an emergency expense of $400. Fast forward to today, and a new study by Suze Orman suggests that statistic has reversed…2/3’s of households could not cover an unexpected $400 expense. What gives? Inflation and […]
It is estimated that millions of taxpayers will miss out on the Earned Income Tax Credit (EICT) in 2022, worth up to $6,935. Over 30 million workers in 2022 are eligible for the tax credit worth over $60 billion. Estimates indicate that up to 20% of eligible taxpayers are not aware of this tax credit. […]
One of the primary concerns for most, after saving for retirement, is education planning. Well, great news! The recently passed Secure Act 2.0 gives savers greater flexibility regarding how they allocate funds accumulated in 529 plans. We’ll review updates to Alabama’s CollegeCounts 529 Fund this week and follow up next week on increased options related […]
Last year was a challenging year for investors, to say the least. The overall stock was on the cusp of a bear market, declining close to 18%. Unfortunately, the bond market did not do much better and was down almost 13%. Good financial management demands that you periodically review and monitor both your portfolio performance […]
For most participating in a company 401(k) plan, it can be difficult to confidently create a portfolio that aligns with one’s financial goals and objectives. The challenges vary from the confusion around expenses to the limited menu of stock and bond mutual fund options; not to mention the illusion of diversification. So how do you […]
As Mayor for the City of Mountain Brook, I get calls and notices when we have the occasional home burglary. And as an owner of a financial advisory company, I see the monetary and emotional toll a home burglary has on the victim. As summer rolls in and we head into the vacation season, here […]