by Eric Nager on Jun 23, 2025
Technology has changed nearly everything about the way we live, work, and connect including how scammers operate.
Once upon a time, scams came in the form of clunky emails riddled with typos or too-good-to-be-true lottery wins. These days? The tactics are smoother, the impersonations more believable, and the emotional pressure far more calculated.
Why the shift?
Two letters: AI.
by Eric Nager on May 8, 2025
Tax season might not spark joy, but a refund sure can.
In 2025, the IRS estimates the average federal income tax refund will top $3,170.1 That means a lot of folks are suddenly asking the same question: What should I do with it?
Splurge? Save? Invest?
The good news: there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But there are a few options that tend to deliver more peace of mind and long-term upside.
Here are five smart ways to use your tax refund in 2025, plus practical tips to help you make your money work harder (and smarter).
by Eric Nager on Apr 15, 2025
Market volatility can feel like a rollercoaster. Thrilling on the way up, stomach-churning on the way down. Even seasoned investors get a little uneasy when the market takes a dive.
But here’s the thing: While market fluctuations are inevitable, maintaining a disciplined investment approach has historically helped investors stay on track toward their financial goals.
If market swings make you nervous, don’t worry. You’re not alone. We’re going to walk through some key strategies to stay invested with confidence when markets get choppy.
by Eric Nager on Mar 3, 2025
What financial habits have helped you most in life?
Which ones have held you back?
No matter how you answer those questions, your money habits have a lot to do with how you grew up.1
They also can be shaped by when you grew up.
That’s because each generation can have a distinct perspective and different experiences shaping their approach to money and financial choices.
With that, every generation can bring its own strengths and vulnerabilities to the table when it comes to both personal finance and generational wealth building.
by Eric Nager on Feb 13, 2025
When are you going to retire?
How did you make that decision?
Many of us look at finances and health when we’re deciding when to retire.
Whether or not we realize it, we’re also considering our emotions and what we imagine for the future — we compare how we feel in our current circumstances to how we expect to feel in our anticipated retirement.1
With that, we tend to overestimate our future emotions, thinking we’ll be a lot happier as retirees.1
by Eric Nager on Jan 7, 2025
How many of your financial choices are based purely on logic?
It could be fewer than you think.
That’s because most of us make money decisions with our emotions in play.1
With that, certain biases can follow. When they do, those biases can lead even the smartest, best-intentioned investors astray.
Here’s how to recognize three common biases - hindsight bias, fear of missing out (FOMO), and survivorship bias - and avoid their traps.
by Eric Nager on Dec 6, 2024
What’s the first thing you think of when it comes to money?
Are your thoughts more positive or negative?
Whatever’s natural to you can speak to your money mindset.1
And that money mindset can shape your financial views and habits. It can also reveal more about your values and beliefs, not just about finance but about life in general.1
With that, understanding your money mindset can start to highlight where it may be weaker — and what you may be able to do to improve it and leverage it better.
by Eric Nager on Sep 20, 2024
How much do you really know about retirement benefits?
If you’re like most Americans, it’s not that much. In fact, most of us have fairly poor “retirement literacy,” especially when it comes to the finer points of retirement benefits.1
That may not seem like a big deal, but it can give rise to all sorts of landmines in the future, possibly derailing your retirement plans and goals. It could also impact your quality of life and your opportunities to live your best life in retirement.2
by Alisa Foster on Sep 1, 2024
It is often reported that Einstein may have referred to compound interest as “the most powerful force in the universe” and “the eighth wonder of the world.” And who can argue with him?
by Eric Nager on Aug 30, 2024
Surprisingly, this frequently made mistake might already be on your doorstep. A staggering number of people haven’t yet started an estate plan. It’s a critical oversight that can have far-reaching implications, but this isn’t the only pitfall that can disrupt your planning efforts.
Here’s a breakdown of 4 estate planning missteps and how to fix them:
