Austin Stagman, CIMA®

Are you hearing chatter about an upcoming economic recession? Economists use a variety of economic data to formulate their opinions but they are often confusing and meaningless to everyone else. Here are some of the more common economic indicator data points and their significance.

Currency exchange rates around the globe are always fluctuating, including our U.S. dollar. Right now the U.S. dollar is “strong.” That’s a good thing for your wallet and the economy, right? Not necessarily. Economists can make a valid argument either way. Take a look at what determines the strength of a currency and the impact it can have.

Investing in a Health Savings Account (HSA) can be a great way to potentially achieve long-term tax-free growth on your money. If your company’s HSA has an investment component to it, it’s important to ensure that the investments you’re choosing match your risk tolerance. To find out more, read on.

Retirement changes are on the horizon with the House’s passing of the SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act. The act is designed to encourage saving for retirement and promote long-term financial stability. Read on to see how the proposed changes might affect your retirement planning, and when the bill could go into effect if it passes the Senate.

Credit card balance transfers can be a useful tool in paying down credit card debt more quickly and with less money owed. But there’s more to it than just that. It’s important to understand if a balance transfer works with your unique financial plan. We’ve explored the details to help you make a smart decision.

Interest rates are on the rise! What does this mean for your money? Well, it could be good or bad news depending upon where you keep your cash holdings. We’ve outlined how rising interest rates could affect your loan rates, credit card rates, investment returns, and more. Read on to ensure you’re getting the most yield from your cash holdings while those rates continue to rise.

Chances are you’ve heard of target-date funds…but do you really know what they are and if they’re a good fit for your investment plan? We dive into the particulars so you don’t have to! Read on for more information on the pros of target-date funds, as well as their downside.

Buying a home for the first time can be an overwhelming process, but there are things you can do to help you through it. We walk you through the steps, from how to prepare yourself financially to what the purchase process typically looks like. When you’re ready to purchase your first home, be sure to take our tips into consideration – they just might help you be successful in your home-buying adventure!

It’s been just over a year since the Dow Jones reached 20,000 points. Since then, we’ve had a pretty easy ride without too much market volatility…until February. While it’s nearly impossible to predict the Dow Jones future, you can educate yourself on why there’s volatility in the market, as well as the best course of action to take when volatility strikes.

Wondering how future investing and tax strategies might be impacted by changes outlined in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act? What’s changed and what’s stayed the same? We have you covered - we’ve compiled a list of those changes that might be most pertinent to you, as you consider your investment and tax strategies.

Keeping your credit secure is more difficult than ever. Perhaps the safest course of action is to freeze your credit. Here’s what you need to know.

Are you a victim of the Equifax hack? Here’s what happened and what you should do if your information was compromised.