Reaching a $100,000 balance in your brokerage account is a significant milestone! Here's what you might consider doing next: 1. Reassess Your Goals Review your financial goals: Are you saving for retirement, buying a home, or building wealth for financial independence? Adjust your investment strategy to align with your goals and risk tolerance. 2. Diversify Your Portfolio Ensure your portfolio is diversified across asset classes (stocks, bonds, real estate, etc.), sectors, and regions. Consider adding alternative investments (e.g., REITs, ETFs focused on emerging markets) if they align with your goals. 3. Evaluate Your Asset Allocation Check if your asset allocation aligns with your risk tolerance and investment horizon. Rebalance your portfolio periodically to maintain your desired allocation. 4. Tax Optimization Maximize tax-advantaged accounts (e.g., IRAs, 401(k)s) if applicable. Use tax-loss harvesting to offset gains if you have taxable accounts. Consider municipal bonds or ot...

Many of us are familiar with the expression, “failing to plan is planning to fail.” —when it comes to financial goals and objectives—this old adage still rings true. In fact, it may be more relevant than ever. It isn’t always easy for some americans to make financial headway. With pensions in decline and interest rates near historic lows, it usually takes persistence and sound planning in order to get ahead. Not sure how to begin? That’s okay—it’s easy to become overwhelmed if you think about all your needs at once. Instead, try taking it one step at a time, starting with the basics: Build an emergency fund— No matter where you are in life, it’s important to set aside 8-10 months of living expenses. You don’t have to do it all at once, but every dollar you save today is a dollar you won’t have to borrow if something unexpected happens. Protect your home and family— Most of us have people who depend on us to keep a roof over their heads and food on their plates. Th...

According to Pew Research, Americans are getting married later than ever. In fact, the fastest growing age group for new marriages in the U.S. consists of people ages 35 and older. 1 Whether marrying later is good or bad is hard to say, but it can make things more complicated. Older couples have had more time to accumulate assets, build ties to their community, and become deeply entrenched in their careers. Some may even have children from previous relationships. If you and your future spouse find yourselves in that situation, there are several financial questions you may want to ask before merging your lives and finances: What do we do with “old” money? You may want to keep premarital assets separate—especially if you have children from a previous relationship or family property that you want them to inherit. A trust officer or estate attorney can help. What do we do with “new” money? Since marriage is a partnership, it’s probably best to pool any funds you...