Tapping home equity: How, when and why it makes sense
As a mortgage is paid down, the difference between what the home is worth and what is still owed — the equity — grows. This equity increases further if the value of the home continues…
Tips for making a successful offer
There is one crucial milestone that stands between finding the perfect home and getting it before someone else does — a successful offer. In a competitive market sellers have choices and are less inclined to…
A guide to charitable giving strategies
The state of public health and the economy over the past year and a half led large numbers of people to turn to charities for help. These same forces created both challenges and opportunities for…
Refinancing and divorce
Divorce involves complicated financial matters. Topping that list is jointly owned real estate. If you get the house, what happens next? Are you buying out your partner? What happens to shared earned equity? How will…
Managing credit ratings
Credit ratings are an important measure of a person’s financial wellness. Think of them as a report card for your finances. Lenders review credit ratings to determine the risk associated with the requested loan. The…
Planning your retirement paycheck
Planning for retirement often focuses on things that happen before you retire. That’s perfectly fine if you still have several years to go. But as many people near retirement, focus shifts from accumulation to distribution,…