Posts by Sarah Fisher
Retirement Planning
What Is a Nest Egg for Retirement?
A “nest egg” generally refers to retirement savings that you typically don’t touch until you retire. It’s the money you save for the future so that you have something to fall back on when you retire. Oftentimes, growing your nest… read more…
Financial Advisor
How to Invest $5 Million for Income
Investing a substantial sum like $5 million can be both exhilarating and daunting, especially when the primary goal is generating a steady income. Whether you’re planning for retirement, seeking financial independence or simply looking to diversify your portfolio, understanding how to strategically allocate this wealth is crucial. The key to success lies in balancing risk… read more…
Certifications & Licenses
Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
Certified Fraud Examiners are trained in fraud examination activities like forensic accounting. Certified Fraud Examiners (CFEs) have a variety of job options, such as forensic accountants, compliance officers, internal or external auditors, state or private investigators and law enforcement. CFEs… read more…
Financial Advisor
Commodity Trading Advisor (CTA)
A commodity trading advisor (CTA) has expertise in trading commodities and related instruments. Although a CTA can act much like a financial advisor, and some financial advisors may hold the designation, this designation is specific to advice related to commodities… read more…
Advisor Basics
What Is a Professional Risk Manager (PRM)?
Banks, brokerages, insurers and even some government agencies spend significant resources to identify, assess and mitigate financial risk. One of the top certifications for professionals in this line of work is the professional risk manager certification (PRM). Here’s what you… read more…
Financial Advisor
Kansas Coronavirus Relief Programs
Kansas hasn’t been hit as badly by COVID-19 as states like New York and California, but the pandemic has still affected the Sunflower State. As of mid-May, there were 7,468 reported cases and 164 deaths. On March 28, Gov. Laura Kelly announced a stay-at-home order. In the first week of April, more than 50,000 people… read more…
Financial Advisor
Arkansas Coronavirus Relief Programs
Even though Arkansas hasn’t been affected as much by COVID-19 as New York and California, the disease has still affected the Natural State. As of late April, there were more than 6,200 cases reported and 100 deaths. And there’s been a significant impact on the state economy, with more than 170,000 unemployment claims as of… read more…
Financial Advisor
Mississippi Coronavirus Relief Programs
Mississippi hasn’t been hit as hard by COVID-19 as California, New York, and neighboring states like Louisiana, but the disease has still impacted the Magnolia State. By the middle of May 2020, there were 10,483 cases of COVID-19 and 480 fatalities. More than 130,000 residents have filed for unemployment – a large number for a… read more…
Financial Advisor
Connecticut Coronavirus Relief Programs
Connecticut has one of the highest per capita infection rates for COVID-19 in the U.S. As April came to a close, the Constitution State had more than 17,000 cases and had suffered more than 1,000 deaths. Only New York, New Jersey, Louisiana and Massachusetts have been harder hit. The economy has also been hammered. Connecticut Gov. Ned… read more…
Financial Advisor
Iowa Coronavirus Relief Programs
Although Iowa hasn’t felt as much of an impact from coronavirus as higher-density states like California and New York, the virus has still affected many people in the Hawkeye State. On April 17, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that Iowa schools will not reopen for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, and non-essential businesses will be… read more…
Financial Advisor
Oklahoma Coronavirus Relief Programs
Although Oklahoma hasn’t been hit as hard by COVID-19 as California and New York, the disease has still affected the Sooner state. As of late April, there were 2,599 cases reported and 140 deaths. And there’s been significant economic fallout: Nearly 200,000 people have filed for unemployment in the state in the past four weeks, a big… read more…
Financial Advisor
How to Protect Yourself From Coronavirus Scams
Many tragedies bring out scammers looking to take advantage of fear and suffering. The coronavirus pandemic has been no exception, with a litany of scams targeting those living in fear of the virus or struggling with its economic impacts. A general rule of thumb is to never provide personal information to people contacting you who… read more…
Financial Advisor
What Does Coronavirus Treatment Cost?
While testing for coronavirus should be free under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, treatment for COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) could be pricey. Your costs will vary depending on how much treatment you require, whether or not you are insured and how much your deductible is, among other factors. Here’s what you need to know. Costs for… read more…
Financial Planning
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Coronavirus
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a 27-year-old federal law designed to protect the jobs of workers who need to take an unpaid leave of absence, for specified reasons, of up to 12 weeks. In March, 2020, Congress passed a law that expands those benefits for workers, provided the reason for taking a leave… read more…
Financial Planning
What is a Master of Public Administration (MPA)?
The public-sector equivalent of an MBA, the MPA degree, demonstrates expertise in the executive leadership of government entities. It is a master’s level degree in public affairs. It is designed for individuals who already possess leadership, economic and quantitative analysis… read more…
Tax & Legal
Wyoming Inheritance Laws: What You Should Know
Wyoming does not have a state inheritance tax or estate tax. However, the state has laws concerning intestate succession, probate, taxes, what makes a will valid and more. If you want professional guidance for your estate planning, or if you need… read more…
Financial Advisor
Inheritance Laws in Wisconsin
Wisconsin does not have a state inheritance or estate tax. However, like every other state, Wisconsin has its own inheritance laws, including what happens if the decedent dies without a valid will. We’ll discuss what Wisconsin has to say about that… read more…
Financial Planning
Vermont Inheritance Laws: What You Should Know
Vermont has no inheritance tax but it does have its own estate tax. In this article, we go into detail about that tax, and break down the state’s other inheritance laws: what happens if you die in the state without a valid… read more…
Tax & Legal
Kansas Inheritance Laws: What You Should Know
Kansas does not have an estate tax or inheritance tax, but there are other state inheritance laws of which you should be aware. In this detailed guide of the inheritance laws in the Sunflower State, we break down intestate succession, probate, taxes, what makes a will valid and more. If you want professional guidance for your estate plan, SmartAsset’s… read more…
Tax & Legal
Iowa Inheritance Laws: What You Should Know
Iowa does not levy its own estate tax or inheritance tax. In this article, we’ll break down Iowa’s inheritance laws, including the probate process, what happens if you die without a valid will and where you may stand if you’re not part of the decedent’s immediate family. If you want professional guidance for estate planning, SmartAsset’s… read more…
Tax & Legal
Idaho Inheritance Laws: What You Should Know
Idaho has no state inheritance or estate tax. However, the state has its own inheritance laws, including the ones that cover what happens if the decedent dies without a valid will. This article goes over topics that include probate, how… read more…
Financial Planning
A Guide to Connecticut Inheritance Laws
Connecticut has no inheritance tax but it does have its own estate tax. There may also be additional federal taxes that your estate must pay. In this article, we break down the Constitution State’s inheritance laws, including what happens if you die… read more…
Tax & Legal
Inheritance Laws in Arkansas
Arkansas does not have a state inheritance or estate tax. However, like any state, Arkansas has its own rules and laws surrounding inheritance, including what happens if the decedent dies without a valid will. This article covers probate, how to successfully create… read more…
Tax & Legal
Alaska Inheritance Laws: What You Should Know
Although Alaska levies no inheritance or estate tax, the federal estate tax may still apply, depending on the value of their estate. In this article, we break down Alaska’s inheritance laws, its probate process and what happens if you die in the state without… read more…
Tax & Legal
A Guide to West Virginia Inheritance Laws
Although West Virginia has neither an estate tax or nor an inheritance tax, the federal estate tax may still apply, depending on the value of the estate. And like every U.S. state, West Virginia has its own unique set of laws… read more…