Category Archives: Financial Independence

Women must inculcate the important skill-set of financial planning.

When it comes to money, women are believed to be wiser in handling matters related to it. It does not matter whether a woman is a homemaker or a working professional, she always appears to have an upper hand on knowing how to manage expenses within a budget. Still, there are times when a financial urgency can expose the limitations of all individuals, including women. For those unpredictable times, women must inculcate the important skill-set of financial planning. That apart, in general, financial independence is not a choice anymore for young women but a basic tool for empowerment that enables them to make their own decisions.

Here are 5 go-to tips on financial planning for women, which would help them manage their money matters better:

Tax planning: Effective tax planning is not just minimising taxes. It is also about maximising your savings after-tax returns. Three basic strategies for an effective tax planning are timing, income shifting and conversion. Educate yourself about the taxes you are paying. TDS affects the in-hand salary of working professionals.

Financial goals: It is important to set realistic financial goals for the future. But how do you do this? First, make sure your goals are attainable. If you have set a goal to save more money every month than your monthly income, you are bound to fail. Financial goals also need to be specific, not generic. Instead of saying Ill save more money, say I will save Rs 1,000 more per month. Another important aspect of setting up a goal is its deadline. Deadlines are always sacrosanct. Do not procrastinate.

Emergency fund: While setting up a long-term goal, create an additional emergency fund to attend to urgent needs and unexpected expenses that may arise along the way. Financial experts recommend at least three months' of living costs in an emergency fund. Even if you can't afford a large sum, build a pot of cash with small but regular savings.

Health allowance: The millennials believe in living today and spend heavily for that. Stop doing that. Start saving for healthcare, which should include critical illness and disability benefits in old age. Also, try to set aside a separate fund for family members.

Retirement planning: Once you have secured your and family's healthcare and other immediate needs, start planning for your retirement. Ideally, retirement planning should start in the thirties and invest in that fund should be for a lifetime.

With a good financial strategy, women can balance income against expenses and fulfil their goals like travelling, buying a house and preparing for an early retirement.

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For Women Investors, Here's A 5-Point Guide To Help Them Manage Their Finances Better - NDTV Profit

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: IRT) (IRT) today announced that its operating partnership, Independence Realty Operating Partnership, LP, closed on a new 5-year $200 million term loan. Proceeds from the term loan will be used to repay amounts outstanding on IRTs unsecured revolving credit facility.

The 5-year term loan will mature in May 2026 and bear interest at LIBOR plus 1.20% to 1.90% based on IRTs leverage ratio. At closing, the interest rate spread will be 1.25%.

Our new term loan strengthens our capital structure by effectively extending $200 million in debt maturities to May 2026 and freeing up liquidity on our unsecured revolving credit facility, said James J. Sebra, IRTs Chief Financial Officer. I thank our lenders for their continued partnership and commitment to IRT. We have increased our financial flexibility to support our ongoing operational and investment strategies to drive growth across the portfolio.

KeyBank National Association was the Administrative Agent and KeyBanc Capital Markets, Inc., Capital One, National Association and Regions Capital Markets were Joint Lead Arrangers.

About Independence Realty Trust, Inc.

Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: IRT) is a real estate investment trust that owns and operates multifamily apartment properties across non-gateway U.S. markets, including Atlanta, Dallas, Louisville, Memphis, Raleigh and Tampa. IRTs investment strategy is focused on gaining scale within key amenity rich submarkets that offer good school districts, high-quality retail and major employment centers. IRT aims to provide stockholders attractive risk-adjusted returns through diligent portfolio management, strong operational performance, and a consistent return on capital through distributions and capital appreciation. More information may be found on IRTs website at http://www.irtliving.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements can generally be identified by our use of forward-looking terminology such as will, strategy, expects, seeks, believes, potential, or other similar words. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, our expectations with respect to capital allocations, including as to the timing and amount of future dividends. Because such statements include risks, uncertainties and contingencies, actual results may differ materially from the expectations, intentions, beliefs, plans or predictions of the future expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are difficult to predict and generally not within our control. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change. Risks and uncertainties that might cause our actual results and/or future dividends to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: risks related to the impact of COVID-19 and other potential future outbreaks of infectious diseases on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and performance and those of our residents as well as on the economy and real estate and financial markets; changes in market demand for rental apartment homes and pricing pressures, including from competitors, that could limit our ability to lease units or increase rents or that could lead to declines in occupancy and rent levels; uncertainty and volatility in capital and credit markets, including changes that reduce availability, and increase costs, of capital; inability of tenants to meet their rent and other lease obligations and charge-offs in excess of our allowance for bad debt; legislative restrictions that may delay or limit collections of past due rents; risks endemic to real estate and the real estate industry generally; the effects of natural and other disasters; delays in completing, and cost overruns incurred in connection with, our value add initiatives and failure to achieve projected rent increases and occupancy levels on account of the initiatives; unexpected costs of REIT qualification compliance; costs and disruptions as the result of a cybersecurity incident or other technology disruption; and share price fluctuations. Please refer to the documents filed by us with the SEC, including specifically the Risk Factors sections of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and our other filings with the SEC, which identify additional factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required by law. In addition, the declaration of dividends on our common stock is subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors and depends upon a broad range of factors, including our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements, the annual distribution requirements under the REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable legal requirements and such other factors as our Board of Directors may from time to time deem relevant. For these reasons, as well as others, there can be no assurance that dividends in the future will be equal or similar to the amount of the quarterly dividend described in this press release.

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Independence Realty Trust Announces Closing of $200 Million Term Loan - Business Wire

Welcome to Ask Clark, a column designed to answer your financial questions, bymoney expert Clark Howard.

Keith from Georgia asks:"I'm a young professional who's looking at removing myself from two of my parents' credit cards. Both were initially intended to help me build credit, but I'm now ready to 'cut the cord,' so to speak.

The accounts on which Im authorized are in good standing and I myself have three credit lines for which I am the primary user. My credit utilization is under 10% on average.

My main concern is that one of the authorized user credit limits is substantial and would zap a notable portion of my available credit if removed. What precautions can I take to help safeguard against potential credit damage but still move toward financial independence?

Clark says:You can successfully take yourself off of another person's credit card without it doing big damage to your credit limit, but it's going to take some maneuvering. Clark calls it "The Hopscotch," because you take action before you remove yourself as an authorized user.

You want to apply for one more card that will replace some of the limit youre going to lose on the one that youre an authorized user on, Clark says. You may not be able to get a credit limit that will fully replace it, but youll be able to build enough of it.

Clark says that lenders will continue to view your credit file favorably as long as you keep your credit utilization below 30%, total.

In this case, Clark says, apply for another card, which would take you to four and give you more available credit. Then have yourself removed as an authorized user on the two cards that you have with your parents.

Here's more information about being an authorized user on someone else's credit card.

To hear Clarks full take on this question, listen to the segment:

Do you have a question for Clark?Use this form to ask him! And remember that you canlisten to the Clark Howard Podcast at any time here.

If you have a question but don't want to go on-air,contact Clark's Consumer Action Center for free money help.

[This article was originally published on Clark.com]

The post How Can I Remove Myself From My Parents' Credit Cards Without Hurting My Credit Limit? appeared first on Clark Howard.

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How Can I Remove Myself From My Parents' Credit Cards Without Hurting My Credit Limit? - WOKV

May 13, 2021

What people believe happens after death guides how they think about the Earth and how they behave, including whether they choose to recycle or buy energy-efficient appliances, a new study shows.

Research from Arizona State University and the University of Wyoming has found that religious beliefs about the afterlife predicted how people value and practice sustainability. Thestudywas recently published in Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. Image courtesy of Jacob Tabo/Unsplash. Download Full Image

The importance of sustainability is gaining recognition worldwide, with people of all religions focused on making sure how we use resources is sustainable, that we are good stewards of the Earth, saidKathryn Johnson, associate research professor of psychology. We found the level of investment in sustainable behaviors was partly predicted by afterlife beliefs: If people believe in reincarnation, they were more invested in sustainability and stewardship.

The research team of Johnson,Elizabeth Mintonof the University of Wyoming and recent ASU graduate Madeline Parde McClernon first conducted in-depth interviews with a group of participants. The group was made up of people of different religions, including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Sikhism.

What has been lacking in so much of the previous research is examining people of all these different faith backgrounds in one study most prior research looks at one, maybe two different faiths, thereby limiting our understanding as to how faith more holistically influences sustainability behaviors, Minton said.

Interview responses were categorized based on how sustainability was defined and also based on religious beliefs about the relationship between people and the Earth. Religious beliefs did not affect the definition of sustainability all participants defined it as preserving natural resources for the future but they did affect why people chose to implement sustainable practices.

Christians, Muslims and Jews indicated that they thought of sustainability as a way to achieve personal independence, especially financial independence. The responses from Buddhists and Hindus emphasized the interconnections between people and the Earth.

The independence-interdependence distinction is something that has the potential to change the way that sustainable practices are promoted by policymakers, nonprofits and marketers of sustainable products, Minton said.

The research team also examined how religious beliefs about what happens after death affected sustainable practices in daily life, an idea that came from McClernon.

Madeline wondered whether people who believed in reincarnation, who believe that they would return to the Earth after death, would be more invested in the idea that the Earth needs to be a good place to return to. This idea ended up being the foundation of her senior honors thesis and of these experiments, Johnson said.

Two groups participated in this experiment. One was made of people living in the U.S. and the other of people living in India.

Belief in reincarnation predicted behaviors like preserving water, volunteering for organizations that promote sustainability, or choosing to buy energy-efficient appliances. Belief in heaven was related to fewer sustainable practices and less general concern for the environment.

Our results show that if a person believes in reincarnation, as opposed to believing they will leave Earth after death, they are a lot more invested in making sure the Earth is a good place to come back to, Johnson said.

Despite differences in religious beliefs, the study participants had one thing in common: Many cited personal benefits of sustainability practices.

We were surprised that, regardless of religious beliefs, people indicated they engaged in sustainability practices because it benefitted them in some way, Johnson said. This finding suggests that communicating the personal benefits of sustainability could be used to increase environmentally friendly practices.

This work was funded by a grant from Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University and from the Sustainable Business Practices fund at the University of Wyoming.

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Study: Beliefs about the afterlife affect sustainability practices - ASU Now

In Portland, the main objective of the personal injury law firm is to assist customers review the damage caused to them by other person(s) activities often recognized as the misdeed practice. They become the representative of the injured to assist them in getting financial independence after an injury that has brought a setback to their work and income.

Whenever any unjust action is conducted by a party on an injured person that makes them worthy of a remuneration from the injurer, it is termed as a misdeed practice. The lawyers are there to assist them in the act to get the claim.

Professional lawyers like the Seattle personal injury lawyer assist the harmed individual(s) to get a lawful remuneration for the misconduct of the miscreants. They show up at the court to demand the financial right of the injured which the injurer has to pay. The court then proceeds to lawfully make the injurer liable to pay for the misconduct.

The personal injury law firm determines the customers cases through an arrangement with the miscreants advice, discretion/ intercession, or, even prosecution. They can then arrive at a strategy to fulfill the goal. The preliminary lawyer prepares themselves for the same to introduce the case before the jury.

When a mishap happens, the injured loses wages and has to incur losses in getting the right medical facilities. They go through many financial and mental troubles. The definite objective of a personal injury law firm is to get their client the right financial settlement for the present and the future so that they can recover peacefully.

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Personal Injury Law Firm Are Assisting The Customers On Their Injury Cases - The American Reporter

Exchange-traded funds (ETF) have risen in popularity as an investment vehicle over the last decade. ETF pros and cons appeal to a wide range of investor types and risk levels, making them a great intermediary form of investment. They dont carry the risk that individual securities do, yet arent as broad as index funds. Moreover, ETFs dont carry the fees mutual funds typically do. Theyre a very appealing product to a broad cross-section of investors.

To understand why so many investorsretail and institutionallove ETFs, its worth drilling down deeper into the pros and cons. What makes them a more stable investment than individual stocks? Why are the fees lower than other types of managed funds? Lets get to know the good and bad of ETFs, so you can determine if theyre a savvy choice for your portfolio.

An ETF is a type of fund that tracks another investment. These funds can track anything from a broad index like the S&P 500, to a collection of stocks in a particular sector, to commodities and beyond. While this might sound similar to derivative investments, its different in that ETFs trade on stock exchanges. Investors can buy and sell shares using a ticker symbol.

Typically, ETFs have a themesomething that anchors their investment focus. For example:

ETFs have an unlimited number of shares, and investors can buy or sell at any time. This is opposite something like a mutual fund, which has strict rules about buy-in and cash-out, depending on the fund.

Investors typically choose ETFs because of their consistency. On the scale of volatility and risk, theyre on-par with mutual fundstheyre less volatile than individual securities but more prone to action than broad index funds. Heres a look at some of the specific reasons investors choose ETFs.

At their core, ETFs offer bucket investment potential. If you know what you want to invest inemerging markets, a specific sector, company size, etc.an ETF offers instant diversity, without sacrificing focus.

Despite offering some hedge against risk, ETFs arent immune to volatility. Moreover, many of the benefits they offer come with trade-offs. Here are some of the reasons ETFs might not be for you.

Seasoned investors might want more control over their money than ETFs can offer. Moreover, trending too heavily into ETFs can leave you with diversification issues, depending on the fund. Its important to invest in reputable ETFs with transparency and a history of performance to evaluate.

ETFs do what theyre designed to: hedge against risk. ETFs have found their niche among investors who want to focus on a specific market, without the legwork of researching many different companies. Its much easier to find an ETF that focuses on X, Y or Z, to hedge your exposure to a specific segment of the market. With low fees and modest stability, ETFs are great for risk-averse investors as well.

To learn more about ETFs, sign up for the Liberty Through Wealth e-letter below. A portfolio with exchange-traded funds can help you build towards financial independence in your life.

Should you invest in exchange-traded funds? Consider ETF pros and cons and see how they stack up against your investing thesis. If you want diversity with focus in a specific sector, theyre a great vehicle. If youre looking for rapid growth or want broad exposure, individual stocks or index funds may be a better play. It all comes down to factors like focus, risk, investing habit and cost.

Originally posted here:

ETF Pros and Cons - Investment U

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Given the technological influence of younger generations and the economic power of their parents and grandparents, the financial services industry is at an interesting crossroads. Many banks and credit unions now find themselves struggling to retain their traditional in-person experiences for seniors while also trying to woo 22-year-olds who prefer mobile account openings and talking to customer service at 2 a.m.

A new survey from BAI found while all consumers are moving further to digital banking, theres a growing generational variance in what they want and how they expect financial institutions to deliver.

BAI surveyed consumers across four generations and found banking behaviors have changed significantly since the start of the pandemic. Many Boomers have taken a greater stab at technology, Millennials have rapidly expanded their expectations for the mobile experience, and Gen X has become increasingly concerned about fraud and trust.

Ensuring a continued understanding of generational banking preferences will remain pivotal for financial services leaders as they build the appropriate strategies to prioritize products and services for their customers, says Karl Dahlgren, Managing Director at BAI.

( Read More: Dont Sweat Amazon and Other Big Techs: Steal Their Best Ideas Instead )

While its easy for older banking executives to write off Gen Z as spoiled kids that grew up with too much of the world at their fingertips, their growing importance demand that banks and credit unions pay close attention. Morgan Stanley notes that these kids will soon reshape the financial industry in their tech-savvy, mobile-first image as they enter the 25 to 40-year-old sweet spot for borrowing.

It shouldnt be surprising that Gen Zers are mobile-centric. Many of them tinkered with smartphones before they could walk, and few of them have ever set foot in a bank branch. BAI found 37% prefer to use their phone to open a deposit account, a far higher portion than any other generation (31% of Millennials and 24% of Gen X, and 4% of Boomers).

Gen Z also has high expectations and big ambitions, even if theyre not entirely shrouded in reality. While most still live at home and rely on their parents for financial assistance, 59% told BAI theyre financially independent, and 75% plan to achieve a higher standard of living than their parents. And while 61% bank at the same institutions as their parents, they bring their own set of digital expectations.

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Gen Z can sometimes seem like a tough nut to crack, but there is good news. Despite being mobile-first and constantly immersed in technology and social media, they prefer dealing with financial institutions over tech companies. Thats quite surprising and welcoming at a time when the tech Gods like Facebook, Amazon, and Google are increasingly trying to break into financial services.

There is definitely a clear separation of church and state, and most of these kids want to get their banking services from a bank and not from big tech, Warren Fisher, Founder and CIO of Manole Capital Management told The Financial Brand. While this could mean an up-and-coming generation of consumers willing to stick with traditional banks, it may not necessarily lead to unsecured lending profits.

Only 17% say they prefer to pay by credit card, compared to 46% of Millennials, 35% of Gen X, and 47% of Boomers, according to BAI. As they mature financially, banks and credit unions can help attract Gen Z by serving as a trusted partner in their future with financial literacy lessons or education.

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As a population of 72 million people between their 20s and 40s, Millennials have the tech-savviness of Gen Z but with a greater sense of maturity and financial responsibility. More than 70% are employed full-time, and 85% consider themselves financially independent the highest of any age group.

Raised on convenience, Millennials value speed and want faster payments with quicker transfers and a seamless omnichannel experience. This financial independence, growth, and connectivity lead them to interact with their financial institutions at a rate of 114 interactions per month, the BAI study found, nearly four times the rate of boomers and 50% more than Gen Z or Gen X.

While they prefer mobile, they also have high expectations for what the mobile experience should be. In fact, 75% of Millennials say they would switch their primary financial services organization for a better mobile app, a whopping 28-point jump over the same number who said so last year.

One alarming discovery is that 85% of Millennials say they are willing to bank with non-traditional banks such as Amazon, Apple, or PayPal, the research found. Thats troubling given the growing size of the generation and the fact that these companies have a clear advantage in mobile app development. Yet, rather than worry about big techs, banks and credit unions should focus on using their ideas instead.

As they enter their peak earning years and start thinking more about retirement, their kids, and their financial future, Millennials are also eager for financial advice. However, 84% said they are comfortable with AI-driven financial advice, more than any other generation, according to BAI.

( Read More: Four Ways Banks Must Change Before Millennials & Gen Z Will Love You )

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The MTV Generation of slackers and disaffected youth are now in the prime of middle age with greying hair and more concerns about retirement and their kids college tuition than about video games. While Gen Xers are comfortable with most digital services, they still share many traits with Boomers, including a preference for traditional banks and some face-to-face interaction. Most small business owners also fall into this generation.

BAI found Gen X generally has a high level of trust with their financial institutions. While only 39% of them have experienced some type of fraud or identity theft, 95% believe their banking provider did enough to resolve fraudulent activity on my account quickly and efficiently.

When it came to what they wanted in a financial institution, best rates were at the top of the list by a long shot compared to other generations, as shown below. And although they want online account opening for deposits and loans, nearly half said they prefer banks and credit unions with branches, even if they dont use them.

Reasons consumers select a new primary financial institution

Source: BAI

With decades of work, experience, and savings under their belts, its not surprising that Boomers are more stable. The study found that 65% of them say they are either increasing their deposits or maintaining the status quo when it comes to savings, compared to 38% of Millennials.

Boomers use more technology than many people give them credit for, and their pace of adoption has only increased since the pandemic. As digital aptitude can vary widely, banks and credit unions should seek consistent feedback on the user-friendliness of their digital services and offer assistance when needed.

Financial institutions will also need to consider how theyll keep seniors using digital banking after the pandemic subsides. As a generation that still values physical branches and face-to-face interaction, its no surprise that only 35% are comfortable receiving financial advice via artificial intelligence, compared to more than 70% of the other generations.

While many Boomers are now more willing to bank through their phones than they were prior to the pandemic, they still prefer financial institutions with a branch or two nearby. BAI found nearly two-thirds prefer to open a deposit account in-person, more than twice the percentage of any other generation, and four times the number of Millennials. Most of these older consumers are loyal and content with their current banking situation, saying they are more likely to use the same institution in the next year.

One area where banks will need to pay particular attention to is trust. While 89% of Boomers say they trust their financial institution, the study found, only 63% feel it will protect them from fraud and identity theft, the lowest percentage of any generation.

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The Pandemic Has Changed How Everyone Banks (And Here's How) - The Financial Brand

The concept of investing is something we start hearing about at an early age. But what does investing mean? Most people understand it at a surface level: saving money now so you can access it in the future. The reality is that investing is more complexespecially when you consider compound interest, different investment vehicles and different styles of investing. To truly understand investing, you need to do more than scratch the surface.

Whether youre a fresh-out-of-school 20-something opening your first 401(k) or a worker with decades of savings in an index fund, investing is important. Knowledge is power when it comes to capitalizing on your investments. Heres what you need to know about investing, in a nutshell.

Investing and saving are two different things. Theres often a lot of confusion around these two terms, and its important to make the distinction between them. While investing involves saving, theres a fundamental difference between them. Saving refers to principal; investing refers to gains on principal. Simply put: investing is about making money with your money.

Consider a simple example. If Brad puts $1,000 in his bank account each month, hes saving. That bank account only has a 0.10% interest rate, and inflation ranges between 1-3% during any given year. That means Brad is actually losing money by saving it! Conversely, if he were to invest it at a rate of 8% per year, hes making money year over year. In fact, if his investment compounds annually, hes going to make a lot of money over time! Check out our investment calculator to see what compound interest looks like in action.

When you invest, youre letting someone else borrow your money to make money, and youre earning interest that makes you money. Its part of the cycle of economics. To save is to stagnate due to inflation; to invest is to profit through appreciation.

Theres a wide array of investment vehicles out there that can lead to wealth accumulation. Here are some of the most popular:

Within each of these investment vehicles are numerous choices investors can make to obtain wealth. Consider investigating them further as you diversify your portfolio.

There are two approaches to investing: active and passive. Active investors prefer to be hands-on, making adjustments to their portfolio by reallocating their investments. This takes work, and a working knowledge of different investment strategies. It also requires a strong knowledge of tax and accounting, to ensure youre making sound investment choices.

Passive investing is a set it and forget it style of investing. These investors prefer to contribute money regularly and let automated systems do the work for them. It might mean buying index funds that track the market or letting a dividend portfolio compound automatically. In any case, passive investors dont change their investing habits or thesis. Theyre in it for the long haul, and will stay the course.

Its important to note the difference between investing and speculating. Speculating is a short-term mindset: the stock will go up next week, so Ill buy today and sell when it rises. Investing is traditionally a long-term mindset: the stock price will go up and down, but will generally go up over time.

Speculators open themselves to more risk by trying to time the market. Investors benefit from time, since theyre relying on compounding and macro growth. Theres a reason the stoic investor Warren Buffet famously says, Time in the market beats market timing every time.

Putting money in a savings account for 45 years isnt an investment. Investments involve making your money work for you! Whether its compound interest earned through the stock market or rental income from an investment property, investments add up over time.

And these investment can help you build wealth. Sign up for the Liberty Through Wealth e-letter below to get started on your journey to financial independence.

Once you understand the fundamental concept of investing, youll be able to make smarter decisions about how to invest your money. Stocks vs. property. Passive vs. active. Growth vs. dividend. Each person will make different choices depending on their level of risk and comfort with certain investments. What matters most is your understanding of the basic principle behind them.

Always ask yourself, what does investing mean? before making investment decisions. Itll drive you to save your money in a way that compounds your wealth.

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What Does Investing Mean? - Investment U

PHOENIX, May 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Advisor Group, the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, today announced the successful recruitment to its network of Tor and Tyler Saile, a father-and-son hybrid wealth management practice with offices in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Barrington, Ill., that oversees $150 million in total client assets.

Both financial professionals have joined Advisor Group through its subsidiary and network member firm Triad Advisors for brokerage services. They have also affiliated with Triad Hybrid Solutions, one of Triad's two corporate registered investment advisors (RIAs), to support their advisory / fee-based operations. The announcement reinforces Triad's longstanding position as the leading destination for independent hybrid practices.

Advisor Group also includes FSC Securities, Royal Alliance Associates, SagePoint Financial, Securities America, and Woodbury Financial Services.

Jeff Rosenthal, President and CEO of Triad Advisors, said, "We are thrilled to welcome Tor and Tyler Saile to the Triad and Advisor Group family. Tor is a financial professional with a long and distinguished track record of providing exceptional client service, and Tyler brings great enthusiasm, talent, and energy to their mission of helping clients achieve their financial goals. We look forward to working with both of them to further elevate their growth trajectory. Triad is at the forefront of helping financial professionals succeed by enabling them to thrive in the business models of their choice. As the wealth management industry increasingly moves toward fee-based advisory services, we stand ready to support financial professionals in attaining their business goals."

Tor Saile has more than 20 years' experience in the wealth management industry, joining the independent channel in 2010, while Tyler Saile joined the practice in 2017. They specialize in investment management, retirement planning, estate planning, education planning and insurance consulting. Both financial professionals will continue to do business as Ironwood Family Wealth Advisors.

Greg Cornick, Advisor Group's President, Advice & Wealth Management, said, "The entire Advisor Group network of firms welcomes Tor and Tyler Saile, and we congratulate Jeff Rosenthal and his team for bringing aboard two exceptional financial professionals. Triad's continued recruiting momentum, along with that of our other firms, highlights the strong value proposition Advisor Group and its subsidiaries offer as the ideal destination for growth-minded independent financial professionals who seek maximum flexibility, choice and support across the full spectrum of business models. Going forward, we will continue to make the strategic investments necessary to put our professionals in the best position to serve their clients. As always, we're in their corner, now and for years to come."

About Triad Advisors

Triad Advisors is part of Advisor Group, one of the nation's largest networks of independent financial professionals. Headquartered in Atlanta, Triad is a national broker-dealer as well as a multi-custodial registered investment adviser firm that was an early pioneer and continued leader in the hybrid registered investment adviser marketplace. The company has more than 600 financial providers on its platform and provides a comprehensive set of products, trading and technology systems, as well as customized wealth management strategies. For more information, please visit http://www.triad-advisors.com.

About Advisor Group

Advisor Group, Inc. is the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, serving approximately 10,100 financial professionals and overseeing over $475 billion in client assets. The firm is mission-driven to support the strategic role that advisors can play in the lives of their clients. Cultivating a spirit of entrepreneurship and independence, Advisor Group champions the enduring value of financial professionals and is committed to being in their corner every step of the way. For more information visit https://www.advisorgroup.com.

Securities and investment advisory services are offered through the firms: FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., Triad Advisors, LLC, and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, and members of FINRA and SIPC. Securities are offered through Securities America, Inc., a broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Advisory services are offered through Arbor Point Advisors, LLC, Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, Inc., Securities America Advisors, Inc., and Triad Hybrid Solutions, LLC, registered investment advisers. Advisory programs offered by FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., are sponsored by VISION2020 Wealth Management Corp., an affiliated registered investment adviser. Advisor Group, Inc. is an affiliate of these firms. 20 E. Thomas Rd., Ste. 2000, Phoenix, AZ, 85012. 866.481.0379.

Media Inquiries

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424 317 4851 or 424 317 4854

jkuo@haventower.comor cclemens@haventower.com

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SOURCE Advisor Group

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Advisor Group Successfully Recruits Father-Son Wealth Management Team With $150 Million In Total Client Assets - WFMZ Allentown

Peter Dunn, Special USA TODAY Published 1:45 p.m. ET May 9, 2021 | Updated 5:16 p.m. ET May 9, 2021

USA TODAY's Janna Herron got married and changed her name years ago, but her maiden name keeps haunting her and her personal finances. USA TODAY

Dear Pete,

My daughter is graduating from college and she landed a great job in our hometown. The plan was always for her to get an apartment right away, but with the pandemic, her father and I are rethinking that plan. She doesn't have student loan payments and she has a decent amount in savings, but for some reason being conservative seems more prudent. At least that's what we're trying to convince her of. We've offered her the ability to live at home for a little while. What do you think?

Elizabeth; Raleigh, N.C.

Congrats to your daughter and your entire family. To graduate debt-free, with savings to boot, is quite the accomplishment. Looks like your plan worked thus far, now for what's next.

One of the more interesting challenges I've dealt with over the past nine months or so is trying to decide how much I should account for pandemic realities when making otherwise unrelated decisions.

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At first, that was happening involuntarily, like in April 2020 when I found my spending had tightened significantly, despite the fact it didn't need to. I've since chalked that decision up to a healthy mix of fear and prudence. The pandemic has tried to weigh in on several other financial decisions since then, from the December holidays to our interest in supporting restaurants. What I've learned is the pandemic doesn't affect as many of my financial decisions as I thought it did.

Given what you've shared, I'm not quite sure the pandemic, or the economy it leveled, are relevant to your daughter's decision.

It's fascinating how our goals as parents evolve. In the past five years or so, you wanted your daughter to get accepted by the college she wanted, graduate debt-freeand secure a job quickly. And just like that, she's accomplished all three. Though I'm sure you want to give your daughter the best start toward long-term success, the next goal in line is actually her complete financial independence from you.

Graduates line up before the Bergen Community College commencement at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on May 17, 2018.(Photo: Seth Wenig, AP)

There is no better time in your daughter's life to struggle financially than right now. She's employed, she has no debt, she has savings, and it sounds like she wants to live on her own. If you over-curate her experience, you will absolutely regret it. Just like when you taught her to ride her bike, the training wheels coming off were the inflection point to success.

If she didn't have a job, then yes, she should move back in with you. If she had a ton of student loan debt, then yes, she should arguably move back in with you. If she had zero savings, then yes, she should conceivably move back in with you. None of those blemishes is reality. If your daughter can't venture off on her own, no one can. Seriously.

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Will she struggle from time to time? Hopefully. That's how all this works. Her resiliency, a quality we've all come to value as of late, can't develop unless independence develops.

If you want to weigh in one last time on her financial life, encourage her to set her household budget off her net paycheck, after she's made a healthy retirement plan contribution of at least 10%. Since she doesn't have student loan debts to satisfy, she can afford a reasonable apartment and the lifestyle surrounding it. All the while, she can build up her short-term savingsand, more importantly, her independence from you.

The sooner your daughter learns how a work income can support her chosen lifestyle, the better. This is especially true when it comes to housing costs. Both you and she have earned the privilege for her to start her work career living on her own. Congratulations on your efforts, and now you can both start to enjoy the independence you've collectively created.

Peter Dunn is an author, speaker and radio host, and he has a free podcast: "Million Dollar Plan." Have a question for Pete the Planner? Email him at AskPete@petetheplanner.com.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY.

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The pandemic doesn't affect everyone's financial decisions: Why after graduation could be the best time to struggle - USA TODAY