Local Acquisitions
Published December 3, 2015 6706 Views
In the world of business there is always possibility that a company may purchase or merge with another. This week Five Star Bank's parent company, Financial Institutions Inc., announced the purchase of Courier Capital for $9 million. Courier Capital is an advisory and wealth management firm with loc...
Life Insurance: How much do you really need?
Published November 16, 2015 6398 Views
If something were to happen to you, would your family have enough life insurance to continue living the way they do today? Some experts say many families need 70%-90% of their current gross income1 if something were to happen to the breadwinner. While a sobering topic, it is very important and can h...
How to Monetize Your Heirlooms
Published November 3, 2015 6489 Views
What are you going to do with all your "stuff" when you retire? Years of furniture, souvenirs, great deals, and collections add up over time.As you get closer to retirement, it is smart and efficient to develop a strategy for your belongings. Whether you're planning to downsize, want to see your chi...
When a Loved One Dies
Published October 29, 2015 6622 Views
Many of us have seen families, maybe our own, go through transitions where you may be caring for your children as well as your aging parents. This burden not only impacts the family emotionally but also financially. Many adult children are faced with challenging situations of affording and organizin...
Do You Have Aging Parents? It's Time to Talk
Published October 13, 2015 6524 Views
You are not alone if the thought of asking your aging parents about the way they handle their household finances--or how they'd feel about moving to a nursing home fills you with anxiety. However, you can't afford to delay this conversation. As your parents get older, it's important to sit down with...
Investing vs. Paying Off Debt: Which one is right?
Published October 6, 2015 6856 Views
Looking at the numbers, the process for eliminating debt is anything but an easy-to-solve financial equation. Yet, many people wonder if they should pay off their debt as quickly as possible or invest their money, letting debt payments run their course. Theories about balancing investing with debt vary widely.
Should you really look at a new Medicare plan?
Published September 30, 2015 6414 Views
Most of us are really intelligent people, but not exactly experts when it comes to Medicare, and it can be an extremely frustrating and overwhelming task to review so many Medicare plans.
Next week, Medicare eligible persons will be getting their annual notice of change from the current plan as w...
Claiming Social Security: What's right for you?
Published September 29, 2015 6607 Views
Let's face it, when Social Security is discussed most people either A.) Doubt if it will be around for them; B.) Find it confusing to figure out how and when to take it; or C.) Avoid the topic because it's all together too confusing.Yet, Social Security is an important cornerstone of many retirement...
A $258+ Billion Dollar Savings Option
Published September 16, 2015 6874 Views
According to the College Savings Plan Network, as of this June, assets in 529 Plans had grown 5.6% from last year reaching a record level of approximately $258 billion. While the growth is impressive what does this mean to you?When preparing to send children to college it is important to consider th...
Lean In
Published September 9, 2015 6659 Views
Today we're publishing an article written last week by Brennan Redmond, CFA; a Senior Vice President of Brighton Securities. Brennan's piece is particularly timely given the market's volatility, though his opinions should not be taken as personalized investment advice for you. We always advise consu...