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In the world of investing, the "holiday effect," as it is often referred to, is a phenomenon where stock prices see an increase right before a major holiday. There are many theories on why this may occur. It could be from trading volume being down due to investors taking a vacation or maybe because investors are becoming more averse to risk during the holiday season and off-loading their riskier investments. No matter the cause of this uptick, it is essential to be prepared for it and follow simple dos and don'ts when investing during a holiday.1 Do Focus on Long-Term Wealth Building Investing and risk come hand in hand, so while it is essential to only risk within your comfort level, you need to weather some short-term fluctuations that come with the holiday to stay on the path toward more considerable future gains. Riding out the "holiday effect" and sticking to your long-term wealth-building plan is the ideal course of action to keep you on track to work toward your future financial goals.1 Don't Attempt to Time the Market Since the holiday season is often considered a more volatile time in the stock market and a time when your mind is focused on other issues, you don't want to attempt to anticipate how your stocks may perform during this time. Trying to do so may result in heavier losses as the seasonal effects are likely temporary. Avoid the impulse to suddenly change your portfolio unless it was already planned as part of your long-term investing goals.1 Don't Base Your Risk on Daily Volatility Your portfolio should be set up to weather certain periods of volatility. That being said, risk tolerance may change over time, and you may find your portfolio riskier than you are currently comfortable with. While there are easy ways to lower the risk of your portfolio, it is essential to consider how you define your risk. If you measure risk based on daily volatility, you may play it too safe to work toward your long-term financial goals. The holiday swing may produce greater volatility than you are used to, which may cause you to make moves that may hurt your financial future when the better course of action may have been to stay put where you are.2 Do Plan a Reassessment After the Holidays After the "holiday effect" has subsided and the effects of trading volume or risk aversion have lessened, it is a good idea to reassess your portfolio and make sure that it still involves the amount of risk you are comfortable with, the mix you want to have, and the potential return to help you with your long-term financial goals. It is the perfect New Year's resolution and will help you stay on track with your goals.2 Important Disclosures: The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal. No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee return or eliminate risk in all market environments. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This article was prepared by WriterAccess. LPL Tracking #490820-05 Footnotes: 1 How the stock market behaves during the holiday season, Fortune https://fortune.com/recommends/investing/how-the-stock-market-behaves-during-the-holiday-season/ 2 8 Do's and Don'ts During Market Volatility, US News Money, https://money.usnews.com/investing/buy-and-hold-strategy/slideshows/8-investing-dos-and-donts-during-market-volatility

Giving Tuesday is a day to extend the goodwill that the holiday season may bring to help others. With so many in need, the holiday season is a reminder to help those less fortunate. Whether you want to donate your time or contribute funds to your favorite cause, there are many ways to celebrate the day. Here are some ways to mark the occasion. Donate to a Food Bank or Shelter Food banks are always in need of donations. Give your pantry a once over to see items you could donate, or go to the store and take advantage of any holiday sales to find things to donate. You may also consider items that local shelters need, such as clothing and personal care items. If you don't have items to donate, consider offering a few hours of your time volunteering. Give Blood Hospitals and blood banks are always in need of donations. The winter months tend to make the need even more pronounced. Contact your local American Red Cross or area hospital to inquire how to get started or when the next blood drive is. Pay it Forward Giving Tuesday is the perfect chance to pay it forward to others. If you are in line at the drive-thru, you might pick up the cost of the next person's order. You could also pay for someone's meal when you are out to eat or donate money to pay off some school lunch debt. If you know of someone struggling, contact the utility company to pay one of their bills. These anonymous and random acts of kindness go a long way to brightening someone's day and showing them that someone cares. Build a Donation Station Create a donation station to place in your front yard. Stock it with items you think that people in the neighborhood may need. Items may include winter clothing, canned goods, books, and even cleaning products. Let people know it is free to all, and those looking to donate anonymously may leave items as well. Get into the spirit of giving this holiday season by celebrating Giving Tuesday with one or more of these ideas. LPL Tracking # 1-05187459 Sources: It's 'Giving Tuesday Now.' Here's how to make a difference — even if you don't have any money, NBC News, https://www.nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/it-s-giving-tuesday-now-here-s-how-make-difference-ncna1199681 How to Participate in GivingTuesday, Giving Tuesday, https://www.givingtuesday.org/united-states/ideas/

Thanksgiving is a holiday for spending time with loved ones, being grateful, and perhaps enjoying a bit of overindulgence. There are many financial lessons to be had in planning, preparing, and celebrating this annual feast.1 Here are four Thanksgiving lessons that might help your household's financial plan year-round. Planning is the Key to Preparation You cannot expect to whip together a flawless Thanksgiving meal if you do not begin planning and preparing at least a few days in advance. Similarly, you cannot put together a strong budget and financial plan if you do not know where your money is going or if you do not plan for expenses before they occur. Track your expenses for a few months using a budgeting app or even the old-fashioned method of using a pen and paper to see what you are working with. Balance and Moderation are Crucial Just as overindulging in turkey, ham, or heavy side dishes may leave you feeling groggy and lethargic for the rest of the day, overindulging in spending might leave your budget in a mess. One way to cut your monthly outflow with little impact is to go through your budget with a fine-toothed comb and eliminate any expenses not currently adding significant value to your life. Could you put a monthly subscription on pause? Do you really need an extended warranty on a high-quality item? By rigorously evaluating what your regular expenses contribute to your life, you may make cuts of nonessential items and then be able to indulge where it matters. Plan for More Than You Need When planning a Thanksgiving meal, preparing more food than you think you might need is probably a good idea. Not only may this help ensure you have enough for any extra guests who might show up, but this method also allows you to send leftovers home with guests. In the budget context, building in some extra wiggle room when estimating expenses may help prevent falling short at the end of the month. Money is Important, But Not the Most Important As the saying goes, "Money isn't everything,"—and this is never truer than at Thanksgiving, when time spent with loved ones is paramount. Even if you have ample financial resources and a healthy budget, if you do not have those human connections, you may still struggle to identify a sense of purpose. While you are working on your financial plan, be sure to work on your relationships as well. Enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday with friends and family by using these tips and then take a hard look at your financial plans. It may help to work with a financial professional when reviewing your assets, expenses, retirement plans, and other financial goals to have a balanced approach to budgeting and expenditures. Always be grateful for what you have and take good care of yourself. Important Disclosures The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This article was prepared by WriterAccess. LPL Tracking #1-05377994 Footnotes 1 Put Thanksgiving Lessons to Work in Your Financial Plans https://tulsaworld.com/put-thanksgiving-lessons-to-work-in-your-financial-plans/article_9aa3dff1-6a5b-5dc5-ac2a-164a9c02a6e7.html

Charitable giving is an excellent way for businesses to help others while taking advantage of additional tax breaks. Billions of dollars are given each year in the U.S. to a wide range of charities providing valuable community services. While large corporations may be responsible for a large portion of the donated funds, small businesses also make a large impact with their contributions. 3 Ways Small Businesses Can Donate to Charities While cash donations are one of the most common ways to give to charities, small businesses may also provide support in other ways. 1. Volunteering Instead of donating money, your business will be able to make an impact by donating their time to a local charity, such as a soup kitchen or homeless shelter.1 2. Host a Charity Drive If you see a need in their local community, consider helping by starting a drive to collect needed items, such as a holiday toy drive or canned food drive.1 3. Take Advantage of Local Sponsorship Opportunities Local youth organizations and groups are often looking for sponsorship. Consider sponsoring a sports team or local community event. You will also get a little advertising and community goodwill out of your involvement.1 Tips for Small Business Giving While there are no set rules on how or how much you should give to charity, below are a few helpful tips to help your business get started. Find a Cause That is Meaningful to Your Company or Employees All types of charities are looking for support, which means it is easy to find one that resonates with your business culture and employees. This way, you will be more personally connected to your contribution, which will mean something to you and your employees.2 Research Charities You Are Interested In Take some time to learn about the different charities you may wish to contribute to. Through some research, you will be able to find out how much of the contributions go into their programming, what kind of services they provide to the community, and the impact your donation may have. This will give you a clearer picture of how you are helping through your contribution.2 Build a Relationship With Your Chosen Charities Even if you only contribute to your charity once a year, you want to stay connected and find out other ways you are able to assist throughout the year. This is a great way to stay connected with your community, network, and build relationships with other businesses.2 Get Your Employees Involved Have your employees volunteer with the charity or offer contribution matching for employees who donate independently. This will help your employees connect with the charity and provide the charity with much-needed assistance throughout the year.2 It is important to remember that every dollar counts for charities, so even if your business only contributes a small amount, it will still be making a huge impact on the community. Important Disclosures: The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This article was prepared by WriterAccess. LPL Tracking #1-05377994 Footnotes: 1 “Small Business Guide to Charitable Giving and Tax Deductions,” Business News Daily, https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/10470-small-business-guide-charity-donations.html 2 “Six Best Practices For Small Businesses To Give Charitably,” Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/sites/krisputnamwalkerly/2018/12/17/6-best-practices-for-small-businesses-to-give-charitably/?sh=60dcdffa2c98

As we approach the last quarter of each year, it is a good time to plan for the next one. Year-end planning is especially important for existing retirees and those hoping to retire in the next few years. There are tax and income strategies you might consider regarding your financial assets. Here are three steps you may take when planning the end of the tax year and preparing for the next one. Consider Tax Loss Harvesting Suppose you hold equities, with unrealized losses, in an account subject to tax. In that case, you may be able to sell these equities and harvest the tax loss to balance out any realized gains made from other stocks. Harvesting only works when the procedure is completed within a single tax year. For example, if you are sitting on a loss in one stock, you may sell it and also sell a better-performing stock with the same amount in long-term gains without triggering a tax event. This technique may lower your tax liability by using these two assets to offset each other instead of just paying taxes on the one with a gain. Be aware of the wash-sale rule that prevents the deduction of certain capital losses from an investor’s capital gains. The wash-sale rule applies when an investor sells equities at a loss and within 30 days before or after the sale date, bought or buys another equity that is substantially the same. A wash-sale occurs if a person’s spouse or a substantially controlled company buys an equivalent security.3 After enough time passes, you may avoid the wash sale rule. Then, you may buy back into the lower-performing stock if you like.2 Unless that stock had a massive recovery during the time that you did not own it; you may be able to enjoy any long-term appreciation in its future value by starting over again at a lower cost basis. Rebalance Your Asset Allocation In retirement, it may be helpful to review both your risk tolerance and your asset allocation. As some assets increase in value while others remain stagnant or drop, your actual asset allocation may begin to stray from the goals for your portfolio. This circumstance may require some rebalancing, such as selling overperforming funds and buying back underperforming ones. Also, evaluate the future of these sectors with your investments to see whether other investments may be a better fit for your needs. Update Your Income, Health Care, and Emergency Expense Plans A low-stress retirement may hinge on having access to a stable source of income, such as an annuity, a pension, or rental or other passive income. Without this, you may be at risk of major market fluctuations occurring just when you need to withdraw some cash. The end of the tax year may be a great time to revisit your income plan for the next year. Consider whether to set aside additional funds for healthcare-related expenses and evaluate how you would pay for an emergency. By having a plan in hand, you may be able to weather whatever the next year may bring. Important Disclosures: The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor. Asset allocation does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. Rebalancing a portfolio may cause investors to incur tax liabilities and/or transaction costs and does not assure a profit or protect against a loss. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. 1 https://www.morningstar.com/articles/1045559/q2-2021-market-performance-in-7-charts 2 https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/tax-loss-harvesting/# 3 https://www.investopedia.com/terms/w/washsalerule.asp This article was prepared by WriterAccess. LPL Tracking #1-05218932

Loss aversion, or the phenomenon of experiencing losses much more severely than gains, can lead to unwise investment decisions. Whether you're hanging on to a loser of a stock for longer than you should or are afraid to invest at all for fear of purchasing at a high point, making emotion-based investment decisions could mean leaving money on the table. Below, we discuss how fear and anxiety can negatively impact your investing decisions, as well as some steps you can take to minimize this impact and reduce the stress of investing. How Loss Aversion and Other Fears Can Impact Investing Fear of losing your hard-earned money may lead to irrational behavior and bad decisions. In behavioral psychology, loss aversion is incredibly common; this means that most people will be more upset about losing $100 than they would be happy to find $100. For investors, this means you could find yourself hanging onto an investment you've lost money on, despite the opportunity cost of having that money tied up, just because you don't want to cash out and realize the loss. This not only risks a further decline in the investment, but it can also prevent you from allocating these funds in a wiser way. Loss aversion also comes into play during recessions, depressions, or other volatile markets. No one wants to lose money on an investment, so the temptation to cash out when the market is on a downswing can be overwhelming. However, this also may mean that you may be equally reluctant to re-enter the market when it's back on an upswing. This approach has a double negative impact: instead of buying low and selling high, you're selling low and buying high. How to Manage Emotional Investing Investing with your heart instead of your mind could result in losing money. Instead of letting emotions drive your investment decisions, try the following strategies: Review asset allocation. If the way your funds are invested no longer meshes with your risk tolerance and investment timeline, rebalancing your funds could help avoid making snap decisions. Consider a buy-and-hold or "set it and forget it" approach. The more closely you monitor your investment balances, the more tempted you may be to take action. By checking investments periodically to ensure they still fit into your desired asset allocation, then consciously leaving them alone until the next scheduled checkup, you should be able to reduce a great deal of financial stress. Work with a financial professional. Having a financial professional on your team can make investing less scary and provide an appropriate check on your decision-making process. A financial professional can help talk you through investing decisions to make sure they make logical sense and fit into your overall wealth-building strategy. By focusing on rational, prudent trading strategies, you can mitigate many of the most common traps that can arise when loss aversion and other psychological phenomena may impact your judgment. Important Disclosures: The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial professional prior to investing. Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal. No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee return or eliminate risk in all market environments. Asset allocation does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. Rebalancing a portfolio may cause investors to incur tax liabilities and/or transaction costs and does not assure a profit or protect against a loss. This article was prepared by WriterAccess. LPL Tracking #1-05376140

Basketball fans are eager for October when the NBA season kicks off. It is a new beginning, a fresh chance for teams to showcase their unique talent and strategies for staying at the top of the leaderboard in a wholly unpredictable sport. One day you are winning, everything is going great, and the next, you are in a slump, wondering if you will ever get out of it. As with NBA basketball, the financial world can be complicated and overwhelming. Both involve numerous moving parts, including salaries, setbacks, and logistics, making any attempts to comprehend every last detail a formidable challenge for fans and analysts. Moreover, basketball and finance aren’t just comparable in terms of their complexities. The strategy and skills employed in the NBA also share some surprising similarities with those in the financial world. Here are five similarities that a basketball fan might recognize and be able to apply to their financial journey. 1. You have to have offensive and defensive strategies There has to be a balance of well-designed offensive and defensive strategies. Creating these strategies requires knowledge, being flexible in an unpredictable environment, having open and honest lines of communication, and understanding your risk tolerance. You want to be offensive, but not so much that you risk your financial condition. You want to be defensive regarding your finances but not so scared that you keep your money in accounts with little growth opportunity. There has to be a balance. 2. Set achievable goals Having achievable goals can make a journey much more meaningful. It allows you to stay focused when day-to-day life can often seem mundane, and the temptation of procrastination is hard to ignore. 3. You have to be willing to evolve Basketball is a sport that is particularly susceptible to changes, with players and coaches switching teams annually and, winning streaks suddenly becoming losing spells. In contrast, players and coaches keep trying new plays to determine what will work. Being flexible allows you to stay on top of an ever-changing world and market. 4. Preparation Being prepared means taking steps, often years in advance, to pursue a specific goal or set of plans. When it comes to financial independence or winning championships in sports, making critical decisions when it matters, staying disciplined, and effectively visualizing where you hope to be can help set the stage for your future. 5. You need competent coaching Whether you are an NBA player or someone interested in designing a financial strategy, having a competent coach that understands the current environment and what you are trying to accomplish changes the game's stakes. Any plan of action involves risks; however, receiving guidance from an experienced coach in sports or a financial professional in the financial world provides you with a chance to potentially manage some of the risk and to recognize problems before they have an opportunity to knock you off course. Consider consulting a financial professional to review your financial strategy and condition and determine if any modifications need to be made. An experienced financial professional, like a basketball coach, can recognize issues or areas that need adjustment as you develop a confident financial game plan. Important Disclosures The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee return or eliminate risk in all market environments. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This article was prepared by LPL Marketing Solutions Sources: Associative Learning - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics LPL Tracking # 1-05377602

You have probably heard about financial planning and its potential benefits, but you are unsure how to apply the principles to your life. A financial plan is a collection of steps that help you to evaluate your financial condition and determine how to prepare for your financial future. A financial plan may impact every aspect of your life, from your credit score to your savings, investments, spending habits, and retirement. This guide will discuss some steps to help you get a foothold to begin that climb toward possible financial wellness. Help from a financial professional is also highly recommended to navigate some of the more complex nuances of financial planning. STEP 1: Cleaning Up Debt One of the first things you want to consider dealing with when putting together a financial plan is working to eliminate your debts. It is no secret that having debt, primarily high-yield debts, is a barrier to wealth preservation and accumulation. Settling any debts needs to be taken care of sooner rather than later. There are ways you can tackle debt that can potentially help you if you are disciplined and patient. For most people, debt is not cleared up overnight. It takes time, but you may start to see results by following one or more techniques. Here are a few common debt management strategies: Debt Avalanche Method – You make the minimum payment on each account where you owe money but pay as much as possible to the one with the highest interest rate until it gets paid off. Then you apply this method with the second highest interest rate, and so on. Debt Snowball Method – You pay off the smallest balance first and then work up to the largest. When you have extra money after your bills and necessities get paid, put it toward your debt. [i] Debt Review – It can seem suffocating when a person struggles to repay debts. With a debt review, a debt counselor will intervene and contact the creditors to make more manageable payment arrangements. This might seem like a saving grace for some people, but it must be carefully considered. Be aware of the stipulations that come with debt review. Your credit may plummet until creditors agree to a payment schedule and you begin making those payments. This could be a few months before everything is in place. You cannot apply for new credit while in a debt review program. You cannot leave the program until all debts get settled. STEP 2: Keeping Your Credit In Check Having strong credit can help you maintain your financial wellness. One way to measure this is through a credit utilization ratio check. How to Check Your Credit Utilization Ratio – You take the sum of all the credit card balances and divide that number by the credit limits of each card. Say you have two credit cards, in this hypothetical, one with a $1,000 limit and the other $500. You owe $750 on one card and $200 on the other. Divide $950 ($750 plus $200) into $1500 ($1,000 plus $500). Your credit ratio is 63.3 percent. This ratio would not be good. (This is a hypothetical example and is not representative of any specific situation. Your results will vary.) You generally don’t want your credit ratio to exceed 30 percent. [ii] If you’re looking to improve your credit score, keeping your credit utilization ratio in mind can help you manage your spending and monitor your credit card use. Try to Make Regular Credit Card Payments Make sure not to overspend and then open up new cards because you may find yourself living above your means. You do not want to get in too deep where the minimum payment is more than you can afford and you end up with past due charges. STEP 3: Consider A College Savings Plan In this day and age where competition for jobs is as stiff as ever, and it might be just as much in the future or worse, it is critical that children pursue an education. But along with the accessibility of college today, graduates often have to contend with the immense debt that comes with acquiring an education. Parents and grandparents can help with this through a college savings plan. Choosing a College Savings Plan – There are a few options when deciding on a college savings plan, including a 529 plan, Prepaid Tuition, Custodial Accounts, and other methods. Using a college savings plan can potentially benefit your child or grandchild’s future. For example, let’s look at the pros and cons of the 529 Plan. [iii] Pros: Tax-free growth of your money. Tax-free if withdrawn to pay for college. Flexibility in how the funds can be used. You can easily transfer money from one child to another. Parents have control of the plan. Cons: There are upfront costs. Contributions are not deductible. Your child’s financial aid could be reduced. Penalties may occur for withdrawals that are not for educational purposes. There are also penalties for ill-timed withdrawals. If you have questions about college savings plans, consider working with a financial professional to help you determine which option is appropriate for you and your family. STEP 4: Diversifying And Rebalancing Your Portfolio Understanding how your wealth is distributed amongst asset classes is essential to financial planning and preparations for the future. A bit of guidance from a knowledgeable source, like an experienced financial professional, can go a long way as asset allocation and portfolio rebalancing go hand-in-hand and can become rather complex. Here’s a quick rundown of these two strategies: Asset Allocation – Depending on where you are in your life and your career, your risk tolerance can help determine how to allocate your assets among different asset classes, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and cash. First, determine your time horizon. This is the amount of time required (months or years) that you are aiming to see your goals through. Then work with a financial professional to help you determine where to allocate your wealth and how much to put into each separate account. Portfolio Rebalancing – After completing an asset allocation, you may find that the weighting of each asset has changed. This fluctuation in price is normal and it means the market value is earning a different return. Depending on your risk level, you may want to make some modifications to your portfolio. Rebalancing is essentially buying or selling assets to get portfolio diversification. Everyone has unique circumstances, goals, and levels of risk that apply to them. Before you move forward with selling a bunch of assets, consider the tax implications of these sales. [iv] STEP 5: Tax Planning Taxes are just a part of life. You will have to deal with tax consequences if you work and generate income. Knowing how the tax laws affect you may help mitigate the burden you will face both now and in the future. Addressing Tax Planning Needs – When it comes to tax legislation, everybody’s tax situation is different. You may find yourself in a maze of regulations, layers of rules, and complexity that a seasoned financial professional can walk you through. There is so much involved depending on your assets, so it is highly recommended to seek help. STEP 6: Making Preparations For Your Long-Term Health We all eventually grow old. As kids, we were bewildered by Peter Pan and how he could seemingly stay young forever. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case, and as we grow older, we have to understand the financial considerations of the aging process. Long-Term Care Insurance – Nobody ever wants to believe that when they grow older, there will be any reason to need long-term care. According to the Administration for Community Living, people 65 and older have almost a 70 percent chance of needing long-term care. That is a significant number and not one to brush off. In fact: Women need care longer (3.7 years) than men (2.2 years). Twenty percent of today’s 65-year-olds will need it for longer than five years. [v] STEP 7: Keeping Your Documents Organized And Secure Being organized does not just benefit you in terms of keeping a tidy house and knowing where your phone and keys are. It can also be beneficial when sorting through your financial documents. Organization of Financial Documents – If you have never been one to keep an organized file containing your financial documents, it could be a good idea to look into it. Doing so could help you monitor your finances much easier. You would have easy access to what you need, especially in case of an emergency or unexpected situation. You could save money by reviewing these documents periodically and looking for ways to update your financial positions. If you’re ready to whip your financial filing system into shape, give these simple organization tips a try: Organize your bills and financial statements in a monthly folder or by a specific account. Take care to keep documents that are hard to acquire separate and put them in a safe place. Some of these documents may include: Tax Returns Insurance Claims Proof of Identity Legal Contracts When it comes to this type of organization, chronological order is your friend. You can use this for tax returns, mortgage contracts, property appraisals, financial statements, and more. Hold onto store receipts, or print out a copy of your purchases from your banking app (if you have one), reconcile them, and ensure there are no unexplained expenditures. This can also help you to keep track of your spending habits. If you are tech-savvy, you can scan the documents and maintain digital folders. STEP 8: Preparing For The Unexpected One day everything is running smoothly, and the next, you’re neck-deep in a financial crisis. Are you prepared for this? Those that prepare for an emergency by having a financial emergency plan can at least stave off some of the burdens they might face. Updating Your Financial Emergency Plan – Having an updated emergency plan or fund is critical to your financial wellness. No matter how careful you are, life has the potential to throw you unexpected curveballs. It can be a financial nightmare for those unprepared for such an incident. To prevent this from happening, creating a financial emergency plan starting today can benefit you in the long term. [vi] Spending too much can potentially create problems regarding your financial well-being. Take a step back, evaluate where your money is going, and determine if there is anything you can do to modify your habits that can benefit you now and in the future. STEP 9: Modify Your Spending Reduce Expenditures – Look for ways to manage your expense burden. Sometimes you may not see it right away, but there are numerous ways to cut a percentage off of what you are spending on everything from bills to everyday expenditures. Here are a few ways you can cut back: Cut back on unnecessary, everyday expenses. Refinancing a mortgage. Rethinking your car insurance. Working with a financial professional to help you navigate ways to shave off expenses. [vii] Curbing energy costs. Funneling more money from a paycheck to an emergency savings account. STEP 10: Meet With A Financial Professional Whether this is your first venture into the world of financial planning or you already have a knack for the basics, it’s never too early or too late to seek guidance and ask questions. Are you ready to find focus with financial planning? Work with a financial professional to help you pursue your financial goals as you take these first ten steps towards a confident financial future. [i] Debt Avalanche vs. Debt Snowball: What's the Difference? (investopedia.com) [ii] Is 0% a Good Credit Utilization Ratio? (cnbc.com) [iii] The Top 9 Benefits of 529 Plans - Savingforcollege.com [iv] Rebalancing Your Portfolio | FINRA.org [v] How Much Care Will You Need? | ACL Administration for Community Living [vi] Financial Preparedness | Ready.gov [vii] 12 Easy Ways to Cut Expenses at Home (debt.org) Important Disclosures The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual security or Long Term Care Insurance. To determine which investment(s) or product(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial professional prior to investing or purchasing. Prior to investing in a 529 Plan investors should consider whether the investor's or designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other state benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors that are only available for investments in such state's qualified tuition program. Withdrawals used for qualified expenses are federally tax free. Tax treatment at the state level may vary. Please consult with your tax advisor before investing. There is no guarantee that a diversified portfolio will enhance overall returns or outperform a non-diversified portfolio. Diversification does not protect against market risk. Asset allocation does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. Rebalancing a portfolio may cause investors to incur tax liabilities and/or transaction costs and does not assure a profit or protect against a loss. This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This article was prepared by LPL Financial Marketing Solutions. LPL Tracking #1-05337522

Planning for your financial future and retirement looks much different now than in previous years. Some people must supplement their Social Security to have enough to maintain their desired lifestyle. This means financial planning is now a critical component of retirement. While having a financial professional on your side is vital to managing your financial future, so is visualizing what your future may include. Visualizing Helps You Determine How Much You Need in Retirement One of the most important reasons for visualizing your future is that it may help you understand how much money you might need to afford the retirement you want. Imagine what your retirement may look like for you. Might it include travel? Do you anticipate making significant purchases? Do you want to leave a large estate to family members? Consider what you want to have in the future and calculate how much money you may need to accomplish those desires.1 Visualizing Helps You Consider Aspects of Retirement That May Affect Your Financial Needs Visualizing your retirement may help you determine what steps need to be taken and how your retirement may be affected by certain aspects of your future. You may decide working longer is the ideal way to get to the future you visualize. You may also find that your plans could involve downsizing or upsizing your living situation, which may lead to adjustments in your financial plan.2 Part of Your Visualization Needs To Consider a Few Inescapable Factors Certain parts of the future, such as aging and retirement, are inescapable. To improve your visualization and planning, here are a few things that you might want to factor in: You may live longer than expected: With advancements in technology and better health care, people are living much longer than the average life span used to be, so you may need to manage your financial plan in order to provide you with enough money to get you through the remainder of your life. You may face major health care bills: For most people, getting older means more health concerns and higher medical bills. As medical costs continue to rise, this challenge is expected to get worse in the future. Inflation: The cost of living may continue to increase as you age. In some cases, the inflation cost may be significantly higher than expected. During your visualization, you must account for the fact that prices might increase from now through your retirement and make sure you plan accordingly. Planning for retirement involves trying to see into the future, so you may imagine how to cover your wants and needs. One of the easiest ways to start your plan is by visualizing what you want your financial future to look like. With the help of a financial professional, you might then come up with the necessary steps in your plan to help you get there. Important Disclosures: The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This article was prepared by WriterAccess. LPL Tracking #1-05376140 Footnotes 1 How To Prepare For Retirement Through Visualization https://www.businessinsider.com/prepare-for-retirement-through-visualization-2011-4 2 Visualize your way to a better retirement https://www.cbsnews.com/news/visualize-your-way-to-a-better-retirement/

You often hear people discuss "saving for retirement,” but in many cases, they're actually referring to their investing. The adage "you can't save your way to wealth" is simplistic, but has a kernel of truth; putting your money in a savings account often won't be enough to outpace the rate of inflation, which can erode the value of your savings over time. Below, we discuss some of the key differences between investing and saving and how to choose the most optimal course of option for you. Saving: A Low-Risk Way to Set Aside Funds for the Future Saving is just a method to set aside money for future use, whether you're putting it into a general "emergency fund" or earmarking it for a new vehicle, a home down payment, or medical expenses. You can keep savings in a checking account, a regular or high-yield savings account, a certificate of deposit (CD), or even certain types of government bonds. Investing: Putting Your Money to Work for You Investing, on the other hand, involves putting your money into financial instruments like stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and mutual funds. Investing is riskier than saving, but can also earn higher returns over the long term. Even accounting for recessions and depressions, the S&P 500 (composed of the U.S.'s 500 largest companies) has averaged just over 11 percent per year in returns since 1980.1 Investing can be one of the most efficient ways to reach your long-term financial goals like paying for a child's college education, purchasing a home, or retiring. For example, if you're saving $100 per week toward your retirement and keeping it in a savings account earning a minimal amount of interest, you'll have about $52,000 in 10 years. If you instead invested this money and achieved an average 10 percent annual rate of return, you'd have around $82,500 in a decade. This is more than a $30,000 increase in value over regular savings.2 Differences Between Saving and Investing One of the key differences between saving and investing is the security of your funds. Savings is low-risk and low-reward, meaning that over time, you won't earn enough in interest to overcome inflation, but you also won't risk losing your initial funds. With an investment, you have the opportunity to have a double-digit rate of return over time; but if you're investing in an individual stock and the company goes bankrupt, your funds are gone. This means it's a good idea to seek some degree of balance. You'll want to keep an emergency fund or any money you expect to use over the next couple of years in a low-risk account, like a savings account or CD. This will ensure the money is there and accessible whenever you need it. But for longer-term funds, like retirement funds, it can be helpful to try and get ahead of inflation by investing these funds in the stock market. You can invest in whatever you'd like, from conservative bond funds to an aggressive growth portfolio. A financial professional can work with you to assess the best investments based on your risk tolerance, desired asset allocation, and retirement timeline. Important Disclosures: The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial professional prior to investing. Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal. No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee return or eliminate risk in all market environments. All indexes are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. Investing in stock includes numerous specific risks including: the fluctuation of dividend, loss of principal and potential illiquidity of the investment in a falling market. An investment in Exchange Traded Funds (ETF), structured as a mutual fund or unit investment trust, involves the risk of losing money and should be considered as part of an overall program, not a complete investment program. An investment in ETFs involves additional risks such as not diversified, price volatility, competitive industry pressure, international political and economic developments, possible trading halts, and index tracking errors. Investing in mutual funds involves risk, including possible loss of principal. The funds value will fluctuate with market conditions and may not achieve its investment objective. Upon redemption, the value of fund shares may be worth more or less than their original cost. Bonds are subject to market and interest rate risk if sold prior to maturity. Bond values will decline as interest rates rise and bonds are subject to availability and change in price. CD’s are FDIC Insured and offer a fixed rate of return if held to maturity. S&P 500 Index: The Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 Index tracks the performance of 500 widely held, large-capitalization US stocks. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This article was prepared by WriterAccess. LPL Tracking #1-05376140 Sources: 1 “Stock Market S&P 500 Returns Since 1980,” https://www.officialdata.org/us/stocks/s-p-500/1980 2 “Compound Interest Calculator,” https://www.investor.gov/financial-tools-calculators/calculators/compound-interest-calculator

Every year, around 3 million Americans are required to evacuate their homes due to a natural disaster.1 What's more, this figure does not include the millions of other individuals who are temporarily displaced as a result of fire, flood, or other damage to their homes. Do you have the documents you need if you find yourself required to vacate your residence suddenly? Do you know how to get in touch with your financial providers? Do you know how to get a new driver's license? Do you have a way to access lines of credit? These and other questions may be answered by having a financial first-aid kit to use during an emergency. Here are five items you want to keep in a safe place as your financial first-aid kit. Contact Information for Financial Service Providers In a disaster, you may not have reliable internet access, which might make it tough to track down contact information for your bank, homeowner's or renter's insurance company, credit card companies, and other lenders. Without a way to easily get in touch with these providers, especially lenders, you may not be able to make your scheduled payments—putting you at risk of financial harm. Keep an updated list of contact information (including phone numbers and websites) for the financial service providers you interact with regularly. Originals (and Copies) of Identification Having your driver's license, passport, Social Security card, and birth certificate (even copies) in one spot is useful if you are required to prove your identity. Some disasters may require you to evacuate for months. If you need to apply for government aid, like FEMA, you need some way to show that you are who you say you are. Current Insurance Policy Information Having insurance information handy is invaluable if you need to make a claim—from damage to your home or auto after a natural disaster to hotel costs associated with an evacuation. By having your insurance company's contact information and copies of your policies handy, you are able to answer questions and assess your insurance coverage. Property Ownership Records Having your insurance information and property ownership records may make disaster claims easier for homeowners. Instead of relying on a government agency (which may also be in the natural disaster zone) to confirm ownership, you should be able to prove it yourself. Inventory and Appraisal Records for Personal Property If you have valuable personal property, it is a good idea to have this property itemized on a document in digital and printed format. This itemization may be as simple as a hand-written list of personal property or a series of photos; you could also create a video inventory by walking through your home, naming and pointing out certain items. Having this information on hand might make it easier to prove damages in an insurance claim and help get the appropriate value for your lost or damaged items. Important Disclosures: The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This article was prepared by WriterAccess. LPL Tracking #1-05374523 Footnotes 1 Disasters Displaced More Than 3 Million Americans in 2022 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/disasters-displaced-more-than-3-million-americans-in-2022/

During turbulent financial times, having a financial emergency plan might provide you with a proverbial life preserver. Whether it is an emergency fund to help you tackle an unplanned expense, insurance to cover an unexpected accident or disaster, or a "go bag" that contains all your most important records, organizing your finances may help you feel prepared to handle anything that might come your way. However, this financial preparedness does not come naturally. In fact, only about two-thirds of Americans could cover an unexpected $400 expense.1 Here are some of the most crucial steps you may take to work on financial preparedness. Create an Emergency Savings Account Having some cash set aside for emergencies or unplanned expenses may help you avoid going into debt when disaster strikes. If you do not think you have the ability to save, start with a small amount. Even as little as $10 per week may add up to more than $500 by year-end. Consider cost-saving strategies like canceling or downgrading subscription services, using coupons, or taking on a part-time gig—then banking your money earned as savings. Eliminate Debt Every dollar you pay toward interest on debt is a dollar you are not able to spend on something else—or add to your emergency savings account. If you have high-interest debt like credit card debt, payday loans, or auto title loans, and you are not in the position to afford to repay them immediately, investigate any lower-interest options that you may find. Those with moderate to good credit may qualify for a low-interest or no-interest balance transfer offer. This strategy may allow you to transfer a high-interest debt into a lower-interest debt, helping your payments go further toward paying off the principal balance. Review Your Insurance Coverage Even the most-wealthy households might have a challenge covering the cost of a life-changing emergency, such as a fire, flood, or natural disaster that destroys your house or an auto accident that results in severe injuries. It is important to have adequate insurance to manage risk and provide a source of funds if you are in a serious situation. Check your insurance policies regularly to determine if you have sufficient coverage for the unexpected. Secure Important Documents If your home caught fire today and you had to escape quickly, would you have the money and documentation in your possession to start rebuilding? Keep your most important documents—birth certificates, passports, Social Security cards, insurance policies, and financial statements—in a waterproof, fireproof container you may easily grab in an emergency. You may also want to keep some cash in a safe location in case of a power outage or other emergency when ATMs are not working. This information should make it easier to contact your insurance company, make any claims for disaster relief funds, or take the other steps you need to move forward. Important Disclosures: The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This article was prepared by WriterAccess. LPL Tracking #1-05374528 Footnotes: 1 Most Americans do not have a penny of emergency savings, survey finds — use these 5 techniques to build a safety net https://finance.yahoo.com/news/most-americans-dont-penny-emergency-110000942.html?