Family often shapes who we are and what we become. For me, I grew up as the youngest of four brothers. My dad was a farmer, and my mom was a homemaker (a full-time job with four boys). While we did not live on the farm, I spent most summers helping wherever needed. On a farm, there is always something that needs to be done - mowing, weed whacking, cleaning out containers - the list goes on. These were just some of the jobs that needed to be done during the “off-season”.

You're beginning to accumulate substantial wealth, but you worry about protecting it from future potential creditors. Whether your concern is for your personal assets or your business, various tools exist to keep your property safe from tax collectors, accident victims, health-care providers, credit card issuers, business creditors, and creditors of others.

The youngest members of the family might seem the most informed on today’s tech – but that’s not always the case. Preparing the next generation for everything, even deterring cybercriminals or tracking down lost devices, is still the responsibility of older generations. These tips can help shield young people from online danger.

You know how important it is to plan for your retirement, but where do you begin? One of your first steps should be to estimate how much income you'll need to fund your retirement. That's not as easy as it sounds, because retirement planning is not an exact science. Your specific needs depend on your goals and many other factors.

Oh, those precious memories of childhood! Everyone has them, and some are more precious than others. I was the middle child, but before you feel sorry for me, let me tell you: I was the only girl with an older and younger brother. Some might say I was a daddy’s girl, and they wouldn’t be wrong. Growing up, I lived on a dead-end street in Elk Township, New Jersey. We rode bikes and motorcycles, swung from Tarzan swings, swam in our pool, and played under the streetlight when the sun went down.

If 2023 has been financially challenging, why not take a moment to reflect on the progress you've made and the setbacks you've faced? Getting into the habit of reviewing your finances midyear may help you keep your financial plan on track while there's still plenty of time left in the year to make adjustments.

Combining finances can be complicated for any couple, but the challenges become more complex the second time around, especially when children are involved. Here are some ideas to consider if you are already part of a blended family or looking forward to combining households sometime soon.

This year, about 65 million Americans will receive over one trillion dollars in Social Security benefits. If you’re planning to join that total and claim your benefits, timing, strategy and sound decisions can all help you maximize the outcome for your household. When and how you claim, your marital status, your health, and even whether you have dependents can all affect what benefits you receive.

It's heartbreaking to hear stories of people losing money (even their life savings) as a result of fraud or financial exploitation, especially if they are older and financially vulnerable. In fact, it's quite common. You know your parents could be at risk, and you want to protect them, but how?

529 plans can be a great way to save for college, but they're not the only way. When you're investing for a major goal like education, it makes sense to be familiar with all of your options.