Blog posts
The Prosperity People
529 Plans: The Ins and Outs of Contributions ...

529 plans can be powerful college savings tools, but you need to understand how your plan works before you can take full advantage of it. Among other things, this means becoming familiar with the finer points of contributions and withdrawals.

529 Plans: The Ins and Outs of Contributions and Withdrawals
Blog posts
Kelley C. Long
Your Mid-Year Financial Check-In: Time to ...

Believe it or not, we are halfway through 2025 already. Take a moment to review your goals for the year and check in on progress - we created this 4-step guide to help you stay on track.

Your Mid-Year Financial Check-In: Time to Pause, Reflect, and Recalibrate
Blog posts
The Prosperity People
How to Help Your Child Establish a Line of ...

As parents, one of the most valuable lessons we can pass on to our children is how to manage money wisely. While saving and budgeting are foundational, understanding and building credit is often overlooked — yet it's key to long-term financial success. Helping your child establish a line of credit early (and responsibly) can give them a powerful head start when it comes to qualifying for loans, renting apartments, or even landing certain jobs.

How to Help Your Child Establish a Line of Credit for a Strong Financial Start
Blog posts
Kelley C. Long
Staying in Your Power When the World Feels ...

Feeling powerless in the face of daily chaos? You’re not alone and you’re not powerless! Your financial choices can be daily acts of both resistance and hope. Here's how to turn anxiety into empowered action.

Staying in Your Power When the World Feels Powerless: Practical Financial Steps That Matter
Blog posts
The Prosperity People
Drowning in Negativity? Here's How to Tune Out ...

Let’s be honest — it’s tough out there. Open any news site, scroll through social media, or even walk past a TV at the gym, and you’ll be hit with a wave of negativity: economic uncertainty, political division, climate disasters, crime reports, social injustice. It's not your imagination — the world feels louder, angrier, and more overwhelming than ever.

Drowning in Negativity? Here's How to Tune Out the Bad News and Find Your Peace

1st Quarter Economic Update | May 2018

1st Quarter Economic Update | May 2018

Our economic indicators continue to run positive for the first quarter of 2018.  Consumer spending, business investments and residential fixed investments rose at a 4.6% annual rate.  Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a broad measure of the nation’s overall economic activity has shown consistent growth over the past three quarters; up 3.2% in 2017’s 3rd quarter, 2.9% in the 4th quarter and 2% in the 1st quarter of 2018.

While the economic news is positive, there is now a concern the economy is potential overheating.  The period of easy money has come to an end.  The Fed is raising interest rates, albeit slowly.  However, there are growing employment pressures which have impelled economists and market watchers to voice concern over the potential for rapid inflation.   In addition to this, global trade rhetoric and the risk of political gridlock, have marked the return of stock market volatility.

The Eurozone economy finished 2017 with a bang showing growth at the fastest pace since 2007.  Year-over-year, GDP in the region grew at a 2.6% pace with Germany and Italy having picked up the pace.  The German economy rose 0.8% on the quarter while France, the 2nd largest economy, and Italy both grew at 0.5% on the quarter and 2.2% annualized.  However, the economic machine has throttled back to neutral.  The tariff debate and other political concerns are primarily to blame.  Whether or not this is a passing condition remains to be seen.

Rediscover the Simple Things in Life

Rediscover the Simple Things in Life

Sometimes keeping up with the Jones’ can be exhausting.  It is human nature to often fall into the same traps as our friends and neighbors.  If they go on exotic vacations, I must go on an exotic vacation.  If they join the country club down the street, I must join.  Truth is there are many kinds of fun that don’t cost money–a lot of the things that people did years ago before the advent of 3D movies, gourmet restaurants, traveling soccer teams and endless consumerism.

Matt's Money Must-Do's | April 2018

Matt's Money Must-Do's | April 2018

April is Financial Literacy month in the United States.  In 2003, Congress finally supported the idea of financial literacy month.  Because it was officially recognized by Congress, a big push was made from various non-profits and government agencies (National Financial Educators Council, Financial Literacy and Education Commission, and National Endowment for Financial Education) generated tools and courses for families to utilize to improve your financial situation.

Tune Out Volatility & Achieve Success Even in the Worst of Times

Tune Out Volatility & Achieve Success Even in the Worst of Times

Investment markets have reared their ugly head since early February.  After a time of prolonged quiet in the markets, investors are back to reacting to the news of the day.  The week of March 18th yielded good economic news, a positive outlook by the Federal Reserve, yet a 5.9% retreat in the S&P 500 due to the talk of tariffs.  Let’s look at an example to see if we should truly fear the day-to-day, or if we can achieve success even when we truly do have economic fears to be concerned about.

Beware - New Scam!

Beware - New Scam!

There’s a new scam going around we want you to be aware of. If you receive a call from someone who says they are from the IRS, and you need to pay a tax bill with a credit card immediately or go to jail, it’s a scam! It may sound obvious to you, but unfortunately, thousands of people have lost millions of dollars and their personal information to tax scams.

As always, don’t give any personal information on the phone. Be aware that calls of this nature are not legitimate, no matter how official they sound. The IRS will never call you about taxes due; they send official notices only by U.S. mail. Additionally, they will never threaten you with law enforcement or demand payment without the opportunity to ask questions or appeal the amount owed.

Correction Time: The Market Takes a Hit

Correction Time: The Market Takes a Hit

After reaching all-time highs on January 26, 2018, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 went into a two-week slide that saw both stock indexes drop by more than 10%, a decline that is typically considered a market correction.1

Analysts have been saying for several years that the long, booming bull market was overvalued and due for a correction, so the drop was not a surprise in the big picture.2 And even after the 10% plunge, the Dow was up 19% over the previous 12 months, and the S&P 500 was up 12.5%.3

It's natural to be concerned about this kind of shift, but more important to maintain perspective and focus on your long-term goals. It may be helpful to consider some of the reasons behind the surge of market volatility.

4th Quarter Economic Update | January 2018

4th Quarter Economic Update | January 2018

Once again, the economic metrics we follow indicate growth is strong around the world.   The ultra-loose monetary policies that were implemented due to the financial crises a decade ago have led to an expanding global economy resulting in many countries continuing to see strong GDP growth.  Labor markets are solid, global trade is healthy and commodity prices are higher.  All of which have led to the best global growth in over seven years.

The U.S. economy is benefiting from a job market that continues to improve.  Unemployment is at a historical low of 4.1% and wages are slowly rising – and should continue to do so at an accelerating rate in 2018.  Housing is often the greatest indicator of how the consumer feels about the economy.  Construction continues to be strong as existing home sales hit an annual rate of 5.81 million homes in November 2017, the highest level since 2006.  This is still well below the levels seen in 2005 during the construction boom times.  And, U.S. GDP has been revised upward to 3.2% for 2018.