Valerie Schmitz, CEPA, CPFA President
Welcome to our Web site, where you’ll find a wealth of information in the form of newsletter articles, calculators, and research reports.
We hope your visit will help you understand the opportunities and potential rewards that are available when you take a proactive approach to your personal financial situation. We have created this Web site to help you gain a better understanding of the financial concepts behind insurance, investing, retirement, estate planning, and wealth preservation. Most importantly, we hope you see the value of working with skilled professionals to pursue your financial goals.
We’re here to help educate you about the basic concepts of financial management; to help you learn more about who we are; and to give you fast, easy access to market performance data. We hope you take advantage of this resource and visit us often. Be sure to add our site to your list of "favorites" in your Internet browser. We frequently update our information, and we wouldn’t want you to miss any developments in the area of personal finance.
Newsletters
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Cash Balance Plans Help Some Business Owners Supersize Retirement Savings
These plans have generous contribution limits that increase with age, which may allow high-income business owners to catch up on retirement savings and significantly reduce their taxable incomes.
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Location, Location, Location: The Premium Parents Pay for Top Schools
Homes in neighborhoods with access to top schools tend to cost significantly more than a typical home in the surrounding area.
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HOT TOPIC: Geopolitics and the U.S. Financial Markets
This article looks at market reactions to previous global conflicts and emphasizes that long-term market movements are generally driven by corporate earnings, interest rates, and the broader economy.
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HOT TOPIC: Pressure at the Pump: Will High Gas Prices Shake the U.S. Economy?
This article looks at why gas is so expensive, what it might take to stop the upward trend, and the potential effect of high gas prices on consumers and the broader economy.
Calculators
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Car Affordability
How much can you afford to pay for a car?
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Mortgage Refinancing
Determine whether you should consider refinancing your mortgage.
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Home Affordability
Estimate of the maximum amount of financing you can expect to get when you begin house hunting.
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Impact of Inflation
Estimate the future cost of an item based on today’s prices and the rate of inflation you expect.