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A female advisor who specializes in working with women as her chosen niche.
Industry Trends

Niche Markets for Financial Advisors

One of the pieces of advice new advisors may hear is to choose a niche. A niche reflects your ideal client audience; it’s who you market your services to, based on your skill set, experience and who you’re uniquely equipped to service. When discussing the best niche markets for financial advisors, there’s no single winner.… read more…

An advisor sitting down with new clients.
Firm Management

How to Coach Advisor Clients on the Empty Nest Transition

Advising clients who are entering the empty nest phase requires an approach that’s both strategic and tactful. Clients may experience a range of emotions surrounding this change, which could make it more difficult for them to focus on their financial plan. Successfully coaching clients through the empty nest transition begins with validating those emotions, and… read more…

A model house and gavel.
Trusts

Can You Put a Mortgaged House Into a Trust? Pros, Cons and Steps

Putting a home into a trust can be part of an estate plan and may help transfer the property to heirs with fewer delays. A mortgage does not always need to be paid off first. In many cases, a mortgaged home can be placed into a trust without affecting the loan, as long as legal… read more…

Filing taxes in retirement may be simpler than during your working years, but the mix of Social Security, withdrawals and investments still requires planning to avoid extra taxes and missed deductions.
Retirement Taxes

Do Seniors Over 80 Have to Pay Income Tax?

Reaching your 80s doesn’t automatically mean saying goodbye to income taxes. Many retirees live on fixed incomes and may owe little or nothing to the IRS. However, others with pensions, investment income or retirement withdrawals may still face tax obligations. The key to understanding your tax situation in your later years lies in knowing which… read more…

Editor's Picks

A couple determining whether they need a CFA vs. CFP®.
Certifications & Licenses

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…

Clients meeting with an advisor from a wealth management firm.
Brokerage

5 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…

A fee-only financial planner doesn't earn commissions for recommending certain products.
Advisor Fees & Costs

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…

Investment Property
Real Estate Investing

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

Colorful children's tables and chairs in a learning center.
Travel, Education & More

Federal Childcare Subsidies by State – 2026 Study

With recent fraud investigations ongoing in Minnesota and beyond – often allegedly centered on childcare businesses and other programs for needy children – followed by a new announcement of free daycares from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, taxpayers may be eager to understand where their tax dollars go. According to the latest data from… read more…

Hospital staff assist patients at front desk.
Cost of Living & Taxes

ACA Health Insurance: Prevalence, Premiums and Subsidies by State – 2025 Study

The Affordable Care Act, ACA – commonly known as Obamacare – offers federally backed health insurance for millions of Americans. Certain tax credits act as monthly premium subsidies for the insured, generally bringing the costs down by thousands of dollars per year. However, the funding for these subsidies are set to expire at the end… read more…

Couple holding newborn.
Demographics & Migration

States That Will Benefit Most From Trump Accounts – 2025 Study

American babies are now eligible to receive a $1,000 initial investment in a “Trump account” per new tax legislation. The money – which will be tied to the stock market, can be added to and cannot be used until the child turns 18 – gives each child some capability to fund certain activities as they… read more…

Friends making a toast together at a home party.
Quality of Life

Where Alcohol Is Most and Least Popular – 2025 Study

Last year, Americans spent $228 billion on alcoholic beverages for private consumption, with the average adult spending $898 each. But cultural, social, geographic, demographic, and economic differences all contribute to the divergence of popularity of alcohol in each state. This may have resounding impacts on local communities, ranging all the way from contributions to their… read more…

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