As we approach the year's final quarter, it’s the perfect time for a retirement plan check-up. Even if you set your 401(k) contributions months ago, life has a way of shifting the numbers — salary increases, bonuses, or payroll changes can all affect how much you are actually putting away.
As we embark on a new year, there's no better time to take control of your financial future by thoroughly reviewing your cash flow. If having a vision and establishing goals is the touchstone for a financial plan, this essential financial practice sets the foundation for achieving your goals and ensuring long-term financial stability.
Anyone who has gone through a divorce knows how emotionally challenging and financially complex it can be. While attorneys handle the legal aspects, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® focuses specifically on the financial implications of divorce. This specialized designation equips professionals with the expertise to guide clients through the intricate financial aspects of divorce proceedings, ensuring better outcomes for their financial future.
Anna Marie Mock, a fee-only certified financial planner at Highland Financial Advisors, discusses the dynamic interplay between art and science in financial planning. Drawing inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci's philosophy that "everything connects to everything else," she emphasizes that financial planning is an art involving subjective goal-setting and a science-driven by objective analysis tools. In this video, Anna explains how the scientific method can be applied to financial planning, using equity compensation as a concrete example.
What are your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about money? What about your partner, and do they differ from your own? Sometimes, the conflict we experience around money in our personal lives can be attributed to incongruent money scripts with those with whom we share finances. Let’s dive into the term money script and how understanding it can help us achieve our financial goals.
As we enter the transformative period of 2025 and 2026, retirement planning strategies—especially Roth IRA conversions—deserve renewed attention. The recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (OBBBA) has reshaped the U.S. tax landscape. While much of the new law extended or clarified existing provisions, the ripple effects on Roth conversions are significant.
Many people begin their charitable journey with spontaneous acts of generosity—supporting a friend’s fundraiser or responding to a heartfelt appeal from a local nonprofit. While these gifts are meaningful, as your wealth grows and your desire to make a lasting difference deepens, it becomes essential to approach giving with greater intention and clarity.
If you're enrolled in the federal SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) student loan plan, significant changes have occurred, and more are coming. As of August 1, 2025, interest again accrues on federal loans held under the SAVE plan, marking a significant shift from the previous 0% interest period many borrowers have relied on since the pandemic.
For residents living in New Jersey, three major property tax relief programs are designed to help homeowners and renters manage their property tax burden. Understanding these programs and their income requirements is crucial for maximizing tax savings. Below is an overview of New Jersey's three major property tax relief programs and what you need to know to take advantage of them:
An emergency fund is one of the simplest – and most essential – parts of a sound financial plan. No matter where you are in life, whether that's starting your career or enjoying retirement, an emergency fund can shield you from financial chaos. Life is unpredictable, and with the second half of the year underway, now is a great time to take action, whether you're building your fund from scratch or giving it a much-needed boost.
I’ve been asked numerous times throughout my career about the importance of diversification in a portfolio. After all, why not just buy the “hottest stocks” or the hottest sector, as evidenced most recently by the “Magnificent 7” (Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla)? This portfolio would have had a 1,3-, and 5-year annualized return of 20.9%, 46.22% and 37.98%, respectively.
On July 3, Congress passed a major tax-and-spending bill that Republicans call the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), and President Trump signed the bill into law on July 4. While this legislation doesn't radically change the tax landscape like the 2017 overhaul, it does bring new planning opportunities and potential pitfalls depending on your income level.
As we cross the halfway mark of 2025, the coming months present a crucial window for strategic financial decisions. While many focus on summer plans, forward-thinking investors are laying the groundwork for sustained growth. Here are five key investment areas we consistently address with HIGHLAND clients.
