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Advisors can assist with fiduciary fund planning and oversight.
Advisor Basics

What Are Fiduciary Funds?

Fiduciary funds are assets that one party manages on behalf of another under a legal obligation to act in the beneficiary’s best interest. These arrangements are common in estate planning, retirement accounts, employee benefit plans and situations involving minors or incapacitated individuals. Because fiduciary fund management involves strict duties and oversight, these arrangements can affect… read more…

HELOC interest is not always deductible, even when borrowing seems practical.
Financial Planning

Is HELOC Interest Tax Deductible? IRS Rules and Limits

Tapping into your home’s equity can feel like a smart financial move, especially when interest rates on other types of debt are higher. However, when tax season rolls around, many homeowners are surprised to learn that HELOC interest isn’t always deductible. Knowing these rules can help you avoid incorrect assumptions and plan borrowing more carefully.… read more…

An advisor showing a client their portfolio.
Professional Development

How to Become a Wealth Manager: Career Development, Requirements and Timeline

Specializing in wealth management can elevate your career prospects and add more high-net-worth clients to your book of business. In terms of how to become a wealth manager, the process is similar to what’s required for portfolio management. You’ll need relevant education and experience, and many wealth managers choose to earn one or more professional… read more…

Inherited 401(k)s follow beneficiary and distribution rules that affect access and taxes.
Inheritance

What Happens to Your 401(k) When You Die? Beneficiary Rules and Taxes

A 401(k) can be one of the largest assets in an estate, but its treatment after death is governed by specific rules. Beneficiary designations determine who receives the account, while federal distribution rules affect how quickly inherited funds must be withdrawn and how they are taxed. Knowing these rules ahead of time can help you… 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

Aerial of Palm Springs North, an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States.
Demographics & Migration

Where Most People Are About to Retire – 2026 Study

Many individuals aged 55 to 64 are at the peak of their earning, contributing to local taxes and sometimes with plenty of discretionary income to spare on local businesses. On average, 11.0% of the population in large cities, and an estimated 17.1% of households in this age bracket make $200,000 or more, earning the “high… read more…

Wedding rings on a spread of cash.
Quality of Life

Where Most People Are Single or Married – 2026 Study

One of the most important decisions in someone’s financial life and beyond can be whom they choose as a partner. On average, 40.1% of adults in large cities have found their partner, while another 42.5% have yet to make that decision and remain single. The balance may be inherently off, with an average of 107… read more…

Detached houses in a new residential district. Stonington, CT.
Income

Cities Adding the Most High-Income Households – 2026 Study

The number of high income households in a community can have a large impact on local economics. High income households – defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as those earning $200,000 or more per year – generally contribute more dollars to the local and state tax bases, and to surrounding businesses. At the same… read more…

People shovel out their cars after a snowstorm.
Travel, Education & More

Snowfall Records by County – 2026 Study

This week, a massive winter storm swept across much of the United States, blanketing regions from Texas to the Northeast with heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain, and ice, often exceeding 12 inches of precipitation. High snowfall can cause a variety of productivity disruptions, from the closing of schools and workplaces to costly interventions to clear… read more…

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