A Family Office Experience For Everyday Investors: Melissa Day’s Success Story
Melissa Day and her husband, Todd, took a leap of faith in 2023 when they launched the Independent Advisor Team in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. As a husband-and-wife duo under the Fortis Capital Advisors umbrella, they set out to build something personal and local, a boutique advisory practice that offers the “family office” experience to everyday… read more…
Where Home Prices Increased Most – 2026 Study
Home values can reflect cost of living trends in an area, giving hopeful homebuyers as well as existing homeowners a pulse on the momentum in their local market. Between 2025 and 2026, the typical home value in large U.S. cities actually declined by 1.04%, with values dropping in 70% of cities. But the full range… read more…
How Long Does It Take to Improve Your Credit Score?
Improving your credit score is rarely an overnight process. Still, understanding realistic timelines can help you set achievable goals and stay motivated. Whether you’re building credit from scratch, recovering from financial setbacks or simply trying to boost an already decent score, the time it takes depends on your starting point and the specific issues affecting… read more…
How Life Insurance Can Fund a Buy-Sell Agreement
If you co-own a business, here’s a question worth sitting with: What would happen to your company if one of the partners were to die tomorrow? Without a plan in place, the answer could involve legal battles, unwanted new partners or a forced sale. A buy-sell agreement addresses this risk head-on by establishing clear terms… read more…
Editor's Picks
CFA vs. CFP®: Which Do You Need?
Chartered financial analyst (CFA) and certified financial planner (CFP) are common certifications for individuals working in finance, namely financial advisors. These are designed to tell a client (or employer) that the holder has received education in certain types of financial… read more…
6 Tips for Choosing a Wealth Management Firm
Wealth management firms are all different, with their own specializations and services. As a result, the process for choosing a wealth manager is a very personal one. Wealth managers work closely together with their clients to identify financial goals and… read more…
What Is a Fee-Only Financial Planner?
If a financial planner, financial advisor or another type of financial professional is fee-only, that means they receive compensation solely from the fees clients pay for their services. They do not earn commissions for recommending certain products. A fee-only structure… read more…
Why First Homes Could Be Investment Properties
If you’re young and looking to purchase a new home to live in, you may want to consider turning it into an investment property. While most people wait until after they’ve bought their first or second home to begin investing in… read more…
Data Articles and Studies
Where Home Prices Increased Most – 2026 Study
Home values can reflect cost of living trends in an area, giving hopeful homebuyers as well as existing homeowners a pulse on the momentum in their local market. Between 2025 and 2026, the typical home value in large U.S. cities actually declined by 1.04%, with values dropping in 70% of cities. But the full range… read more…
What a Roommate Can Save You in 100 U.S. Cities – 2026 Study
New college grads, transplants from other cities, and others might find myriad advantages in including a roommate in their housing plan – one of those being cost savings. Particularly in high cost-of-living areas, extra cushion in the budget could make a big difference in discretionary spending, paying off debt, or investing for the future. Across… read more…
Gas Prices Hit Records in 2026: State by State Breakdown
With gas prices in the U.S. hitting several-year highs as a result of military operations in the Middle East and subsequent pressure on the Strait of Hormuz, many households may be feeling the squeeze of the cost of their commute lately. As of April 1st, the national average price of a regular gallon stands at… read more…
Where Rent Increased and Decreased Most – 2026 Study
Rent in 100 of the largest U.S. cities increased by an average 1.73% over the past year, going from $1,810 to $1,843. Meanwhile, general inflation – estimated to be at 2.41% nationally over the same time period – exceeded the rent increases, giving some households extra purchasing power of their biggest monthly expense. Still, many… read more…
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