Advisors

Vladimir Vladimirov | E+ | Getty Images Giving to charity is about to pay off a little more — that is, if the latest Covid relief bill becomes law. The $908 billion pandemic relief bill features $600 stimulus checks, $300 unemployment supplement payments and a second round of forgivable loans for small businesses. It also

nd3000 | iStock | Getty Images Start young. Look away from your 401(k) when the market freaks out. Don’t sell. A lot of the investment advice you hear probably has to do with saving for retirement. Yet many people need to use the market’s returns to achieve other goals, too. Often it also makes sense

Natnan Srisuwan | Moment | Getty Images Assets managed with environmental, social and governance considerations continue to surge. And while still largely driven by institutional investors, the retail side is growing dramatically. In fact, money managers who use ESG factors in their investment analysis say climate change continues to be their top concern and the

Angela Weiss | AFP | Getty Images At some point — whether this week or in coming weeks — at least a couple of people are going to suddenly find themselves a whole lot richer. The Mega Millions jackpot has reached an estimated $330 million for Tuesday night’s drawing. Powerball’s top prize isn’t far behind

Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images The coronavirus relief bill passed by Congress toughens rules around use of a common heat-trapping chemical and funnels billions of dollars into renewable energy. The measures, attached to a year-end government funding bill, were hailed by some lawmakers as among the most significant Congress has approved to combat climate

Nipitphon Na Chiangmai / EyeEm | EyeEm | Getty Images As we near the end of 2020, it’s time to review and evaluate your overall financial outlook for the coming year, including any charitable, estate or general tax planning for 2021 and beyond. While direct giving has an immediate impact, some individuals may be considering

Karol Serewis/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Financial advisors recommend various uses for this extra cash, depending on individual and family circumstances. Unemployed workers may need the money for basic living expenses. Some who have fallen behind on bills such as rent, utilities or mortgage payments should consider paying down some or all those arrears, advisors

After months of failed negotiations, lawmakers have finally agreed to a new $900 billion coronavirus relief package.  Congressional leaders have not yet released text of the more than $2 trillion legislation — which will include broader government spending measures — but the pandemic recovery bill was set to include direct payments of up to $600

jayk7 | Moment | Getty Images This has been the year of unpredictability. The pandemic, including self-quarantining for months, is top of mind for people around the globe. The many other surprises this year include the fastest bear market in history, civil unrest, quite a unique U.S. presidential election, the speedy creation of a coronavirus

sturti | E+ | Getty Images A new stimulus check is in the works for millions of Americans. If you’re eligible for a payment, it may feel either like a life raft or a sudden windfall, depending on how Covid-19 has affected you and your family. The payments are said to be around $600 per

Climate change and low-carbon solutions are impacting investors’ portfolios. Mitch Diamond | Getty Images For some advisors, embracing environmental, social, and good governance principles means more than just investing sustainably; it also means expressing their values through their practices’ corporate structures and activities. For example, BSW Wealth Partners in Boulder, Colorado, recently converted to a

Investors are increasingly interested in companies that are environmentally and socially conscious, and the world’s largest asset manager is no exception. In an annual letter to CEOs earlier this year, BlackRock Chairman and CEO Larry Fink said “climate change has become a defining factor in companies’ long-term prospects … But awareness is rapidly changing, and I believe

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell prepares for a House Financial Services Committee hearing on “Oversight of the Treasury Department’s and Federal Reserve’s Pandemic Response” in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 2, 2020. Jim Lo Scalzo | Reuters The Federal Reserve has made a move that cements its nod to the

Halfpoint Images | Moment | Getty Images This year, doing good for the planet can also help you trim your tax bill. That’s because a basket of provisions in the tax code reward individuals and businesses for taking steps toward energy efficiency. Whether you added a few solar panels to your roof, bought a hybrid

Nitat Termmee | Moment | Getty Images At the end of every year, there’s an opportunity to make smart financial moves to reduce taxes, increase net investment income and decrease portfolio risk. Some of these financial moves are especially timely. They’re enabled by federal legislation and temporary changes in tax rules aimed at easing pandemic-related

Fuse | Corbis | Getty Images Are you one of the 4.7 million individuals who moved out of state last year? Whether you’ve already made the move or are considering an upcoming relocation, you likely created a checklist that includes updating your address, obtaining a new driver’s license and finding new physicians. Unfortunately, many people

Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images Investors are pouring money into funds that aim to do environmental and social good. But one of America’s biggest pots of wealth — 401(k) plans — are stunting their growth. The popular savings plans and similar workplace retirement plans held $9 trillion as of last year — almost a

The Airbnb logo is displayed on the Nasdaq digital billboard in Times Square in New York on December 10, 2020. Kena Betancur | AFP | Getty Images Even amid a pandemic, many popular companies have gone public, giving investors an opportunity to purchase their stock. But getting in early might not be the best strategy.

Courtney Keating | E+ | Getty Images Talk to anyone who’s gone through divorce and they’d likely say the experience was no walk in the park. Yet the notion may be weighing on more spouses during the pandemic, some research shows. For instance, based on Loanry.com’s internal data, there’s been a 62% increase in loan

Whether workers get a windfall from Uncle Sam or wind up owing taxes mostly comes down to filling out one form correctly – and few people are doing it. In fact, 45% of the people polled by the American Institute of CPAs said they don’t know when they last reviewed the amount of tax withheld