Am I liable for unauthorized transactions on my debit card?
April 21, 2015  | By Kevin Smith

It depends. Federal law provides consumers with protection against most unauthorized credit- and debit-card transactions. Under federal law, consumer liability for unauthorized credit-card transactions is limited to $50. However, many banks and credit-card companies offer even more protection for credit…Read More

What is this new chip-card technology I have been hearing about in the news?
April 21, 2015  | By Kevin Smith

In recent years, data breaches at major retailers have increased across the United States. As a way to counteract these data breaches, many U.S. credit-card companies have started implementing a more secure chip-card technology called EMV (which is short for…Read More

Should I be worried about a Federal Reserve interest rate hike?
February 11, 2015  | By Kevin Smith

After years of record-low interest rates, at some point this year the Federal Reserve is expected to begin raising its target federal funds interest rate (the rate at which banks lend to one another funds they’ve deposited at the Fed)….Read More

10 Financial Terms Everyone Should Know
February 11, 2015  | By Kevin Smith

Understanding financial matters can be difficult if you don’t understand the jargon. Becoming familiar with these 10 financial terms may help make things clearer. 1. Time value of money The time value of money is the concept that money on…Read More

Key Numbers for 2015
February 11, 2015  | By Kevin Smith

Every year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announces cost-of-living adjustments that affect contribution limits for retirement plans, thresholds for deductions and credits, and standard deduction and personal exemption amounts. Here are a few of the key adjustments for 2015. Retirement…Read More

Easy Math: 1.00% > 0.05% Interest on Cash
January 29, 2015  | By Kevin Smith

As of today, 01/29/15, interest rates paid for online savings accounts are in the 1.00% range and very close to the rates 12 month CDs are paying. We encourage clients with excess cash to consider these online savings accounts to…Read More

Share Class Conversions for Lower Investment Costs
January 22, 2015  | By Kevin Smith

Part of our job as financial advisors is to seek out the best investment service relative to fees for our clients. One of the many benefits of moving your accounts to TD Ameritrade is access to lower cost mutual fund…Read More

When do I need to submit college financial aid forms?
January 13, 2015  | By Kevin Smith

It depends on the form you’re filling out and whether your child is a new college student or a returning student. College deadlines for the federal government’s financial aid form, the FAFSA, might be anywhere from February 1 to April…Read More

No Matter What Your Age, Your Social Security Statement Matters
January 13, 2015  | By Kevin Smith

Fifteen years ago, the Social Security Administration (SSA) launched the Social Security Statement, a tool to help Americans understand the features and benefits that Social Security offers. Since then, millions of Americans have reviewed their personalized statements to see a…Read More

All About IPOs
January 13, 2015  | By Kevin Smith

Maybe you’ve heard someone talking about investing in “a hot new IPO” and wondered what all the fuss was about. Or maybe you’ve heard about a company “going public” and thought about whether you should invest in it. If you’re…Read More