Latest Posts

What Are Your Planned Giving Options?

by Ali Elnajjar on Oct 22, 2019

Education

Most nonprofit organizations today offer a variety of planned giving options that supporters can take advantage of. If you’re committed to supporting an organization into perpetuity, planned giving provides you with the option to do so.

While consulting with your tax or financial advisor is recommended before making any planned giving decisions, it can be helpful to gain some understand about the various options that are available, and which of these options are more likely to suit your own particular financial needs and personal philanthropic philosophy.

Why Financial Literacy is Important

by Ali Elnajjar on Oct 22, 2019

Education, Finance

Being financially literate in today’s economic climate is more important than ever. Understanding finances can help you make better money management decisions, budget your money properly, adequately save for college, and be financially prepared for retirement. While it may sound daunting, financial literacy starts with a budget. Today, only one third of Americans have a budget that they actively use when making financial decisions, although 75% of Americans believe you should have a budget.

How to Create a Financial Plan

by Ali Elnajjar on Oct 22, 2019

Finance

Creating a financial plan may seem overwhelming to those that have never completed one, but taking the first steps to creating a plan is much easier than you may think. Even if you plan on hiring a professional financial planner down the road, creating a rudimentary plan can go a long way towards sharpening your goals, making your meeting with a financial planner much more useful when it does occur.

If you’re not sure where to start, just follow these easy steps.

All Gain with no Pain? What You Need to Know About Indexed Annuities

by Ali Elnajjar on Jul 29, 2019

Investments

The annuity industry must have studied the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears because, after recognizing that investors weren’t very keen on low fixed yields or the vicious volatility of the stock market, they came up with a product, that for most people, would seem to be just right – Indexed Annuities.

How to Protect Your Personal Data Online

by Ali Elnajjar on Jul 29, 2019

Privacy, Technology

Data breaches, once a fairly rare occurrence, have become more frequent as hackers become more skilled in their ability to extract personal data from popular social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. And while we commonly hear about breaches from these large, global organizations, it’s important to remember that small businesses are just as likely to experience a data breach, meaning your information that is stored at your CPA’s office, your attorney’s office, or your local medical center can be vulnerable to a breach at any time.

Social Security History and Benefits

by Ali Elnajjar on May 3, 2019

Retirement
Created as a result of the Great Depression, The Social Security Act was signed into law by President Roosevelt in 1935; mainly due to the rise in poverty of the nation’s elderly population. The act was designed to provide retired workers ages 65 and older with a continuing income after retirement. The first Social Security card was created in November of 1936, with the numbers assigned by geographic region. To date, more than 450 million Social Security numbers have been issued since the program started.

January 1, 1937, the U.S.

Benefits and Risks of Purchasing Investment Property

by Ali Elnajjar on May 3, 2019

Property
If you’re currently considering purchasing investment property, there are an equal measure of risks and rewards. Like any investment, risk can be managed, but you want to be aware of the risks prior to investing in property. And like any investment, there can be rewards, some quite large.

The following is a breakdown of both the risks and the rewards of purchasing investment property:

Risks:

Planned Giving Goes Further

by Ali Elnajjar on May 3, 2019

Finance, Tax Planning
Before giving a gift, take some time to familiarize yourself with the different giving options available. If you do have significant assets you wish to give, it’s always best to consult with your accountant or financial planner prior to making a final decision.

There are three types of planned gifts that you can typically make. These are:

5 Things to Teach Your Kids About Finances

by Ali Elnajjar on Mar 18, 2019

Education, Family, Savings
If you’ve spent more than five minutes on a kid’s television network, you’ve seen just how inundated young kids are with commercials for everything from the latest gadget, to some dreadful snack that features something gooey and/or messy. It’s also safe to bet that many of these kids run to their parents, wanting to buy some or all of these items.

It’s difficult, if not impossible for younger kids in particular to understand the dynamics of finances. But instead of cursing those television networks, use them as a way to teach your kids some elementary money management principles.