With Medicare Open Enrollment happening from October 15 to December 7, here’s what you need to know about the Medicare program!

In order to start to understand how Medicare works, it’s helpful to have a bit of background. Both the Medicare and Medicaid programs were signed into law in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson to provide basic health services for Americans who didn’t have health insurance. Medicare was designed for retirees, while Medicaid was designed for low-income individuals and families, minor children, and people with disabilities. Fast forward to today.

September is “Life Insurance Awareness Month,” and we wanted to answer this common question: “What life insurance can you borrow from?” Since life insurance policies come in so many forms, let’s start with the type you can’t borrow from. The most common form of life insurance is called “term life” which contains only a “death benefit” paid to a beneficiary upon the insured person’s death. You cannot borrow from a term life policy because it’s strictly used to provide financial protection in the form of a death benefit, or cash for a loved one in the event of an insured’s passing.

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), often called the “Big Beautiful Bill,” is a sweeping piece of legislation that touches nearly every aspect of American life. Spanning over 800 pages, it introduces changes across the tax code, retirement savings, estate planning, border security, ICE, and government operations. The IRS is expected to issue further clarifications on many provisions, but what’s clear is that this bill brings a wide range of reforms that can impact nearly every household.

Financial freedom in retirement means more than just having enough money, it means having choices. Putting a comprehensive retirement plan in place can not only help you take control of your finances, but also address how you will spend your time by defining your desired lifestyle and delineating strategies for your future as you get older.

In the past, annuities have been a topic avoided by many, but lately interest levels have risen—a lot. In fact, online searches for terms like “annuities” and “pensions” are up by 160% while “are annuities good or bad” are up by 200%, according to ThinkAdvisor.

April is often known for spring cleaning, Easter, and Passover, but it’s also Financial Literacy Month. At its core, financial literacy refers to understanding and effectively being able to use various financial tools and strategies. So, in honor of the month, we’re offering a basic financial primer, with some quick definitions and simple breakdowns of common retirement accounts.