One of the questions you might have is, ‘What is the best way to prepare for my retirement?’

If there is one piece of advice I could give to you, it is to plan ahead.

Try Sears Wealth Management’s all-time favorite cinnamon roll recipe.

I am offering a complimentary copy of “The Value of an Independent Opinion”. In this free guide, you will learn the:

• Importance of timing your retirement

• Importance of income planning

• Benefits of objective guidance

Every day between now and 2030, 10,000 baby boomers are expected to turn age 65. If that includes you, you have less than 10 years to map out your retirement plan. Let’s get started!

It’s not often we experience a year like 2020. Pandemic. Recession. End of the bull market. Divisive election. Now it’s time for a year-end reset to prepare for 2021.

Holiday shopping is starting early this year, 47% of Americans began buying gifts online as early as August, mainly because they’re bored and stuck at home.

Source: New York Post. Sept. 23, 2020. “Why so many Americans have started their holiday shopping even earlier than usual.” https://nypost.com/2020/09/23/why-a-lot-of-americans-have-started-their-holiday-shopping-super-early-this-year/. Accessed Sept. 28, 2020.

Millennials can’t seem to catch a break. From their late teens through college, many saw their parents suffer from tremendous financial distress, job loss and, for some, even losing their family home. Many of these young adults graduated from college with overwhelming student loan debt as they entered a terrible job market. Now, having settled into career mode and gaining momentum, the home-buying market still remains out of reach for many millennials. 

Christmas came early this year. Well, sort of. In an effort to provide financial aid to millions of Americans in dire economic straits, President Trump declared a payroll tax holiday between September and the end of the year. Available to workers who earn $104,000 a year or less, this means that no FICA taxes will be taken out of paychecks by employers that opt into the program.1 This enables workers to take home more income.

Planning for retirement can be a tall order when you’re still juggling a mortgage, tuition and family vacations. But to get this right, you need to start now.

It’s not unusual to hear the Federal Reserve being bashed or praised — sometimes both in the same day. That’s because its ability to stimulate or stifle the economy is powerful but not always popular. Learn why.

When the coronavirus first began to reveal its ugly head in America,

people were concerned. Not just about their health, but about their

finances. Nearly nine out of 10 people (88%) surveyed by the National

Endowment for Financial Education said they were worried about their

financial situation.

Recent research has found that millions of Americans who lost their jobs during the early months of the pandemic have decided to call it quits and retire early.

Married or single, women are finding that taking an active role in their financial futures is critical. About 80% of married women outlive their husbands, and nearly half of all widows say they wish they’d been more involved in managing their finances when their spouse was alive.

If you find yourself in financial stress during this difficult time, there are a couple of ways we can help. First, we understand what you’re going through, so your problems are very real to us. Second, we have access to a variety of different financial vehicles that may help address your unique issues. Please contact us to learn more.

In April alone, the U.S. lost more than 20 million jobs — increasing the unemployment rate to 14.7%. Researchers say one of the demographics hit hardest during the pandemic is women workers.

Why purchase an annuity when the market is performing well? Remember the adage: What goes up must come down. If and when the market experiences a decline, your potential profit is reduced and your income may drop.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), enacted in late March, offered provisions related to distributions from tax-advantaged retirement accounts. Specifically, the goal is to enable Americans to have advantageous access to cash to help sustain them during periods they may not be able to work due to the coronavirus.