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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Locked Out? How to Break Into Today’s Housing Market
Homeownership can still be an attainable goal, but it may take more planning, flexibility, and creativity than it did in the past.
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HOT TOPIC: The Fed Lowers Rates in an Economic Balancing Act
This article looks at the Fed’s dilemma in setting monetary policy to address slowing employment with rising inflation, and the potential effects of lower rates on businesses and consumers.
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HOT TOPIC: AI Expectations Underpin the Economic Outlook for 2026
This article discusses economic forecasts for 2026 and the trends that are influencing them, including surging AI investment.
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Variable Annuities: Strategies to Help Counter Retirement Risks
Unlike retirement accounts, there are no federal contribution limits for variable annuities, and the investment gains won’t be taxed until they are withdrawn.
Calculators
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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.
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Lifetime Earnings
This calculator is designed to help you attach a dollar figure to your life’s work.
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Tax-Deferred Savings
Compare the potential future value of tax-deferred investments to that of taxable investments.
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Home Affordability
Estimate of the maximum amount of financing you can expect to get when you begin house hunting.