Clients often ask if we can hold a one-time meeting for their young adult children/relatives to go over the basics of personal finance. The answer is YES!
Proactive Long-Term Care Planning: Our Approach to Balancing Finances, Health, and Values
Long-term care planning is a critical yet complex process that intersects finances, family, health, values, and emotions. Understanding the nuances of long-term care costs, funding options, and non-financial considerations ensures that clients are prepared for future needs and maintaining peace of mind.
Tip of the Month: Enhancing Your Travel Experience
Preparing for Sabbatical: Financial Considerations for Academics
Choosing Wisely: Navigating Health Plans for University of Illinois Employees
Next month is open enrollment for University of Illinois health plans, and employees will have an opportunity to reevaluate which plan is best for them and their families. The goal is to strike a balance between managing out-of-pocket costs and optimizing financial benefits. How do you do that? We give you some factors to consider.
Tip of the Month: Schwab’s Website
As accounts have transitioned from TD Ameritrade to Schwab, familiarizing yourself with Schwab's website can make your monitoring easier. Here are some tips to maximize the features now available through Schwab's platform.
Customize Your View
If the standard account names are causing confusion, you can easily change them. Navigate to the Account Groups section by clicking on the Profile icon and selecting it from the dropdown menu. Here, you can add and edit account nicknames and group accounts together for better organization.
Schwab App
Download the app for quick and easy access to view your accounts. Our favorite feature? The app makes it easy to deposit checks without running to the bank or Bluestem’s office with the mobile deposit feature.
Granting Account Access
Want to give your spouse access to your Schwab accounts through their login? It’s simple! Click on the Profile icon and select Account Access from the dropdown menu. This will take you to the Account Access page where you can initiate the process by clicking on the green button. If you encounter any difficulties, reach out to us, and we can prepare a form for you to sign instead.
Go Paperless
Missed an email from us to sign account paperwork? Most documents requiring a signature or approval can be accessed conveniently in the Message Center. Look for this icon on the Schwab website:
Reduce clutter and environmental impact by going paperless. Whether through the app or website, it's easy to update your preferences. Simply click on the Profile icon, select the paperless option from the dropdown menu, and make the switch.
Tax Tales: From Quirks to Quandaries
Guest Post: The Village - Wellness for Women in Academia
Say hello to our neighbors!
The Village: Mental Health Support for Parents just opened their first physical location next-door to us last year! In this guest blog post, Ann Ambrose, facilitator at The Village illustrates the inspiration behind their mission to support parents in the community and women in academia.
Finding Appropriate Tax and Accounting Help
Many industries in the last few years have had their services or products impacted by supply-chain issues or labor shortage issues. The world of public accounting, tax preparation, and CPA services have been no different. Don’t wait until the last minute to come up with a plan to find help with tax preparation!
Defending Your Castle: Insights into Property Fraud
Rising Tides: A Review of Our Bond Philosophy in a Rising Interest Rate Environment
Tip of the Month: Retirement Plan Contributions
Tip of the Month: Safeguarding Your Digital Legacy
Annuities for Academics: TIAA Traditional Demystified
Cybersecurity Tip of the Month: Watch Out for Phone Spoofing and AI Scams
Tip of the Month: How to Make the Most of Your Spending
Tip of the Month: Preventing Check Washing
Disability Insurance: Covering the Underestimated Scenario
Regardless of your employer, remember that it is all too common to underestimate the possibility of an extended illness or other event that would make full-time employment impossible. Take a closer look at the disability benefits offered through your employer and consider if additional long-term disability insurance would protect the financial health of your family.
