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Fewer things are more reliable than tax day, even if the deadline has shifted around a bit in recent years. This year, it's April 18th for most taxpayers, and recent legislation changes include substantial increases to standard deduction amounts and modifications to itemized deductions.

We wish you a happy new year! Despite a crazy year or perhaps because of it, many Americans will be making financial resolutions for 2021. If you would like to put some of this year's focus on financial goals but haven't identified yours, read further for ideas.

There are a few important differences between 401(k)s and IRAs. While both vehicles share some similarities such as tax-deferred retirement savings, IRA accounts have some benefits that 401(k) do not.

As the leaves fall and the sweaters come out, autumn is typically the time of year when many are feeling the financial effects of the previous ten months.

The pandemic has showcased how much we rely on the internet. It's possible to virtually work from home, shop, attend religious service and stay connected with family and friends. Here are a few ways you can protect yourself from hacks, scams, and malware.

Comedian Chris Rock once remarked, "You don't pay taxes; they take taxes." That applies not only to income, but also to capital gains. Learn more about how long- and short-term capital gains are taxed, and where losses fit in.

Diversification is an investment principle designed to manage risk. Learn more about how to add diversification to your investment portfolio.

It can feel overwhelming to make decisions about your investments, including your 401(k). However, almost any decision is better than no decision at all. Learn why it's important not to ignore your investments and what you can do to take action.

Social Security has been a fact of retirement life ever since it was established in 1935. We all think we know how it works, but how much do you really know? Here are nine facts that might surprise you.

Retirement can have many meanings. Regardless of whether you plan to travel, start a new job, or just relax, here are nine things about retirement that might surprise you.

Everyone procrastinates, and we know it's detrimental for any number of good reasons. Waiting to save for retirement can really hurt the future you, so read on to learn just how much.

Roth IRAs can be particularly beneficial for financial planning in the current tax and economic environment. Read on to see if this option might make sense for you.

Blogs on personal finance can help address your day-to-day and long-term financial life concerns and goals. Read on for a list of our favorites!

We know that as a society, we ALL must do better. Our team’s first small step is to share some of the videos, blog posts, podcasts, books, and websites we’ve been reviewing about racial injustice in order to find a way to move forward.

This is a great time of year to clean out your financial paperwork since you've filed (or will soon file) your 2019 tax returns. Here are some tips on what to keep, and for how long.

An ongoing study shows that women, on average, have lower retirement savings balances than men. One reason is the decision to stay home to raise children. Learn about how spousal IRAs can help to close this gap.

Here are key takeaways of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act that directly support families during the COVID-19 crisis.

Any unpredictable situation in life is likely to bring emotional challenges. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s definitely no shortage of them. Read on for tips on how to better cope.

Worried about your business or personal finances in the time of coronavirus? Schedule a no-cost financial coaching session with one of our financial advisors today!

Take steps today to get your financial house in order and take back control of your financial life! Here are five steps you can take today to feel better about your financial life in the time of coronavirus.

We often hear confusion from clients about not only why wills and trusts are important, but the difference between the two, and how to decide which option makes sense for your legacy.

The curve of overall COVID-19 infections continues to flatten, although there may be daily spikes and developments may be uneven by region. While the short-term news about the market is expected to be negative, longer term outlook remains more positive.

What does the coronavirus outbreak mean for the financial markets? While nobody knows for certain, it can be helpful to know how the market has reacted up to this point, and what may be ahead.

In honor of Valentine's Day, this post talks about the growing interest in sustainable, responsible, and impact (SRI) investing (also called socially responsible investing). Read on or contact our advisors for more information.

There's a new trend going around to take on a 30-day challenge to spend money only on necessities such as rent, utilities, and groceries. Read on to learn more about this novel approach to changing your spending habits.

Raising kids is hard enough (not to mention expensive), so why not make things easier for yourself when it comes to saving for college? Read on for information on the benefits and drawbacks of 529 plans.

It's the time of year we look back at the previous year. According to a recent survey, 76% of Americans reported having at least one financial regret. If this sounds like you, read on for solutions to help you move forward!

The year began with the government stymied by a shutdown and ended with articles of impeachment levied against the president. In between, a lot happened, both here and abroad. Read on for our 2019 market review.

Last year, college seniors graduated with a diploma, a well-paying job (hopefully), and an average student loan debt of a whopping $29,200. Read on for tips on how to pay down college (or other) debt more quickly to relieve the burden of seemingly never-ending monthly payments.

The financial challenges millennials face can be overwhelming. Between figuring out how to pay off college loans, save to buy a home or start a family, and sock away money for retirement., it can be easy to overlook life insurance. Read on to find out why this isn't a smart idea.

Hopefully you are lucky enough to have the opportunity to contribute to both a 401(k) and a health savings account (HSA) through your employer. If you're wondering how best to take advantage of them, read on for some tips about how best to take advantage of these two employer benefits.

Did you just get engaged? Do you have children? Are you buying a new home? Are you wondering when you can retire? Read on for tips on how to navigate these life transitions.

Keeping your cool can be hard to do when the market's on a roller-coaster ride. That's why useful to have strategies in place that prepare you both financially and psychologically to handle market volatility. Read on for 11 tips to help you put things into perspective.

There is no magic formula to determine how much you or your child should borrow for college. But there is such a thing as borrowing too much. How much is too much? Read on to find out.

It's almost the 4th of July, so we thought it apt to share some tips about how to work towards your own independence--financial independence, that is! No matter how much money you have or which life stage you're in, becoming financially independent starts with a dream. Read on to learn more.

If you were unpleasantly surprised by the amount of tax you owed or the amount of your tax refund when you filed your 2018 tax return, it may be time to check your withholding. Read on for some tips on what to look for.

As a business owner, you should be aware of some recent federal tax legislation changes. Many of the changes can affect the bottom line for the business as well as you as the business owner — some in a good way and some in a bad way. Read on to learn more.

Women can face unique challenges when planning for retirement. Read on for tips on how to overcome them.

As we recover from the holidays and get through some dark and cold winter days, most of us are getting prepared to file our taxes. Every year, the Internal Revenue Service announces cost-of-living adjustments that affect contribution limits for retirement plans and various tax deduction, exclusion, exemption, and threshold amounts.

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history ended after 35 days on January 25, 2019. Read on for a look at the estimated cost to the U.S. economy, as well as the effect on public safety and other government services.

There were certainly a lot of news headlines during the holidays about the market. This left some of us feeling like the Grinch disrupted our Christmas cheer! Since December, we've seen a lot of volatility in the stock market. Read on to hear how we feel about the market outlook in 2019--and why it's important to temper what you read in the headlines.

We've seen a good deal of market volatility this month. Does this mean that it's time to worry? What are some of the possible reasons for this pullback? And, is this to be expected this time of year? Read on to find out.

Getting your retirement strategy down on paper may help you define just what you need to do. Many people save and invest vaguely for the future. Don't let that be you! Consider working with a financial professional on a written financial plan.

Most Americans will receive Social Security and Medicare benefits at some point in their lives. A lengthy report produced each year by the Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds highlight some of the financial challenges facing these programs. Read on for a summary of the report findings.

While flat returns and increased market volatility may make some investors uncomfortable, we continue to see the overall economic outlook in a positive light and expect moderate growth through the end of the year. And as always, we feel staying the course is the best long-term strategy. Read on for details about the economic outlook for the remainder of 2018 and beyond.

Sometimes more money can mean more problems. Oftentimes, the more money people earn, the more money they tend to spend! Read on for tips on how avoid lifestyle creep!

Spring has sprung. You know what that means. Time to spring clean! Why not get your financial house in order, too? Read on for some tips on how to get your paperwork and finances in order!

While tranquil periods won't last forever, one can never try to time a peak or trough in the market. Corrections can come suddenly, surprising the most astute market observers.There is no one out there that can consistently call the tops and bottoms in the market, period. However, we can think about what may be ahead.

There are many different ways you can shelter your savings from taxes. It is a powerful incentive for us to save for retirement. We contrast the differences between traditional and Roth IRAs, and show why it might sense given the new tax code to convert to a Roth this year.

Need some ideas for paying off credit card debt? Nowadays, it's easier than ever to get caught up in the cycle of credit card debt. According to the Federal Reserve, total U.S. credit card payments reached 111.1 billion in 2016, up 7.4% from 2015. Make 2018 the year you pay off your credit cards!

Massive computer hacks and data breaches are now common occurrences and an unfortunate consequence of living in a digital world. Here are some steps you can take to protect your personal and financial information.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the standard monthly Part B premium in 2018, which is increase from 2017. Due to a provision in the Social Security Act called the "hold harmless" rule, Medicare premiums for existing beneficiaries can't increase faster than their Social Security benefits. Read on to learn more.

On December 22, 2017, President Trump signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a sweeping $1.5 trillion tax-cut package that fundamentally changes the individual and business tax landscape. While many of the provisions in the new legislation are permanent, others (including most of the tax cuts that apply to individuals) will expire in eight years. Some of the major changes included in the legislation that affect individuals are summarized below.

As we head into the final lap, 2017 has been a banner year for stocks not just in the U.S., but around the world. The U.S. economy grew at 3.3% in Q3. S&P 500 earnings are up a solid 8.4% versus a year ago. Strong gains in the market sometimes encourage investors to plow headfirst into stocks. Others openly wonder if it’s time to move to the sidelines. Let us tell you market timing is a game best left to gamblers.

Setting goals is an important part of financial planning. Before you invest your money, you should spend some time considering and setting your personal goals. For example, do you want to retire early? Do you need to pay for a child's college education? Would you like to buy or build a new house? In addition to these, there are several other considerations that can help you and your financial professional develop your plan.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our firm's longtime financial advisor and friend Eldon Laidig.

Millennials have overtaken Baby Boomers as the largest population. Learn the investment differences and similarities that exist between the two generations.

What is the Medicare open enrollment period? The Medicare open enrollment period is the time during which people with Medicare can make new choices and pick plans that work best for them. Each year, Medicare plans typically change what the plans cost and cover. In addition, your health-care needs may have changed over the past year. The open enrollment period is your opportunity to switch Medicare health and prescription drug plans to better suit your needs.

The election produced an unexpected outcome and caught the markets by surprise. When a Trump victory seemed likely late in the evening on election night, Global stock markets were volatile and Dow futures saw a significant drop.

A look at the market's reaction to the inauguration of our 45th President, and what we might expect going forward.

The Department of Labor (DOL) rule was created to introduce the concept of fiduciary duty to investors. At PBS Wealth Management, we have always worked as fiduciaries by putting our investors' interests first.

As the US and global economies expand, we are seeing inflation return. Many people are nervous that we are entering a period of hyperinflation. However, this inflation is long overdue and part of an overall cyclical trend. While it is not considered hyperinflation, it will most certainly affect the financial markets.

Since 1977, PBS Wealth Management Consultants has supported clients to meet their life goals through proper financial resource management-building trust and demonstrating commitment to investment education along the way. This milestone is a testament to the hard work, dedication and commitment of our associates.

On September 7, 2017, Equifax, one of the three main credit reporting agencies, announced a massive data security breach that exposed vital personal identification data. Here's what to do to protect yourself.

You know it's important to save for emergencies, your kid's college education, retirement. But why else is saving now so important? Compound interest. It's an easy way to increase what you're saving, and if you get started now, you can let compounding potentially grow your retirement savings. You'll start by earning interest on your investments, after which that interest will earn interest on itself, and so on through the years.