In the late Fall of 2021, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at below 3% offered cheap financing for borrowers looking to purchase, or refinance, a home. However, while the cheap financing seemed like a blessing, the acceleration in home prices was the devil in disguise. Fast forward just a few months, and we see 30-year fixed-rate […]
The Alabama Accountability Act has been helping disadvantaged young students receive a better education since 2013. Thousands of kids have benefited from this act, and now positive changes are being made to further help students get the education they deserve. The Alabama Accountability Act (AAA) – Here is what is new: Under prior law, AAA […]
By Marshall Clay JD, CFP® How does one choose a career path? For many, the decision involves the excitement of future opportunities, benefits, or flexibility—but for me it was simple: I wanted a career where I could merge my passion for finance with my legal and military experience to have a significant impact on people’s […]
A few weeks ago, we discussed conversations you should have with your spouse when you ‘marry again‘, particularly after age fifty. It included discussions about who should pay what expenses and particularly decisions about who would provide and pay for long-term care. In addition to these conversations, here is a checklist for couples entering into […]
Over the past several weeks, we have seen financial media flood televisions and the internet with ways people can save/limit consumption to combat the adverse effects of inflation. While this is certainly a worthwhile exercise to make an immediate impact, I want to offer longer-term advice to help people maintain their quality of life and […]
Online hacking/phishing scams are becoming more prevalent by the day. In addition to the volume of these scams, the hackers themselves are becoming more brazen and sophisticated in their methods, which requires a heightened sense of alert. Everyone should have their guard up, especially the elderly and those who are not experienced with technology. Follow […]
Second marriages can be complicated, especially if children from a previous marriage are involved. Open discussions about financial matters followed by agreed-upon decisions and actions will go a long way in improving the relationship. For weekly insights, follow The Welch Group every Tuesday morning on WBRC Fox 6 for the Money Tuesday segment. […]
The annual tax return ritual is not something people look forward to. In fact, I would argue that unless you anticipate a tax refund, there are very few people who enjoy the process. It can be time-consuming, expensive, and financially painful if you owe the government large amounts of money. While I share in this […]
There is a saying: “The only guarantees in life are death and taxes!” While the timing of taxes is well known, death often happens without warning and can put a real financial burden on one’s family, especially spouse. Therefore, married couples need to take certain financial measures to ensure an unexpected death does not result […]
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has exacerbated an already jittery stock market. It wasn’t too long ago when the Dow peaked at 36,799.65 on Jan 4th, 2022, and has since fallen more than 8%. Likewise, the S&P peaked at 4,796.56 and has fallen more than 10% during that same time. Commentary on Russia’s invasion has run […]