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NING trusts leverage Nevada’s advantageous tax codes and trust-friendly laws, enabling residents of high-income-tax states to shield certain assets from those taxes.
Estate Planning

What Is a NING Trust?

The Nevada incomplete gift non-grantor (NING) trust is a tool designed to provide affluent individuals with a legal avenue for asset protection and tax optimization. These specialized trusts leverage Nevada’s advantageous tax codes and trust-friendly laws, enabling residents of high-income-tax states to shield certain assets from those taxes. If you need help protecting your assets… read more…

A financial advisor works on developing an ideal client avatar for his practice.
Advisor Resources

How Financial Advisors Can Create an Ideal Client Avatar

An ideal client avatar (ICA) is more than just a marketing buzzword – it’s a strategic blueprint that guides financial advisors in customizing their services and marketing efforts to meet the specific needs of their most desirable clients. By crafting a detailed profile that encompasses the demographics, psychographics, financial goals and challenges of their ideal… read more…

A couple considering different factors before buying an annuity.
Retirement

6 Questions to Ask Before Buying an Annuity

Annuities can offer financial stability through a steady stream of income, but they can also impact your long-term financial health. Therefore, you should consider the fees that can erode your investment to the payout rates and the trustworthiness of the issuing company, which can all play a pivotal role in determining the suitability of an… read more…

Financial planners researching SEO strategies to improve the ranking of their website on search.
Advisor Resources

6 SEO Strategies for Financial Planners That Work

Effective SEO strategies are instrumental for financial planners who wish to capture the attention of high-quality leads actively seeking their expertise. The process starts with keyword optimization which involves meticulous research and integration of terms and phrases that potential clients are likely to use when searching for financial advice. This ensures that a financial planner’s… read more…

Editor's Picks

CFA vs. CFP: Which Is Right for You?
Financial Advisor

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…

Wealth Management Firm
Investing

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…

What Is a Fee-Only Financial Planner?
Financial Advisor

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
Mortgage

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

Data Studies

Counties at Greatest Risk for Wildfire Damage – 2024 Study

Wildfires have become more prevalent in the U.S. over the last few decades. Like many other climate events, they can have a devastating effect on communities, destroying buildings and homes, closing businesses, damaging agriculture and changing the local ecology. Ultimately, with the increase in wildfires, some insurance companies have pulled their services out of specific… read more…

Data Studies

Cities Where Rent Increased Most – 2024 Study

Rent is a top expense for many Americans, so increases may disproportionately affect their budget. Between February 2023 and 2024, inflation as a whole went up by 3.15%. While the average rent increase in U.S. major cities was at parity with inflation, some cities saw rent increase as high as 8.0% – and others actually… read more…

Data Studies

Where Americans Are Happiest – 2024 Study

Money can’t always buy happiness. However, quality of life can influence your financial decisions and outcomes. Depending where you live, certain quality of life factors, including metrics like life expectancy, infrastructure and the rate of marriage, can ultimately impact your happiness. To find where Americans are happiest, SmartAsset evaluated 90 of the largest U.S. cities… read more…

Data Studies

Here’s the Income It Takes to Live Comfortably in Each U.S. State – 2024 Study

Outside of the big cities, life can be cheaper for many Americans. Though, after years of high inflation, cost increases have affected almost everyone. If you aspire to maintain a comfortable lifestyle, the 50/30/20 budget rule recommends spending approximately 50% of your income on basic needs like food and housing, 30% on wants and putting… read more…

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