Three Ways to Help Build Financial Resilience Roller-coaster markets, global events, and unexpected life changes can catch you off guard. Little wonder that you might worry about the potential effects on your financial well-being. Fortunately, you can take steps to build the resilience you need to help handle challenging times and hopefully emerge even stronger. Fortify your foundation Developing a new budget or reviewing an existing one may help reduce stress and feelings … [Read more...]

Link to Printable PDF:  2025 08 August Newsletter Cost Is a Key Factor in College Selection With college tuition rising every year, it's not surprising that cost is one of the most important factors for families when choosing a college. Cost, location, financial aid package, and the availability of a specific academic program topped the list when families were asked why students chose the college they did for the 2023–2024 year. Still, 86% of families believe a college degree will create … [Read more...]

Link to Printable PDF:  2025 07 July Newsletter Travel Spending Surpasses Pre-Pandemic Levels Spending by foreign visitors in the United States, including fares on U.S. airlines, is considered an export for purposes of U.S. gross domestic product, while spending by U.S. citizens in foreign countries and on foreign airlines is considered an import. Both types of travel spending were hit hard by the pandemic but surpassed pre-pandemic levels in 2024. However, prior to the pandemic, … [Read more...]

Link to Printable PDF:  2025 06 June Newsletter State and Local Sales Tax Across the Map Among the 46 states (and the District of Columbia) with a state and/or local sales tax, the combined state and average local sales tax rates range from about 1.8% to 10.2%. The sales tax base (defining what is taxable and nontaxable) can also vary greatly. Some states exempt groceries and/or clothing from the sales tax or tax them at a reduced rate. Five states have no statewide sales tax, and of … [Read more...]

Link to Printable PDF:  2025 05 May Newsletter Prime Workforce Stays Strong The labor force participation rate — the percentage of Americans age 16 and older who are working or actively looking for work — peaked in early 2000, when it began to drop due to an aging population and more young people in college. Participation was rising before the pandemic but has only partially recovered, due in large part to accelerated retirement among older workers. The rate for the prime working ages … [Read more...]

  Link to Printable PDF:  2025 04 April Newsletter Cost of Living Varies Widely Across the U.S. Residents of Manhattan, NY, live in the nation's most expensive urban neighborhoods, paying more than twice the national average to maintain a "professional/managerial" standard of living. By contrast, individuals who live in Decatur, IL, can stretch their dollars the farthest, paying less than 80% of the national average. Here are the five most and least expensive urban areas of the … [Read more...]

Link to Printable PDF: 2025 03 March Newsletter Funding the Federal Government The IRS collected a little more than $4 trillion in net taxes (after refunds) in fiscal year 2023. About half was individual income taxes, and around 35% was employment (payroll) taxes, including Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, and railroad retirement. Business income taxes made up a little over 10% of the total, with relatively small contributions from excise, estate and trust income, and estate … [Read more...]

Link to Printable PDF:  2025 02 February Newsletter Steady Growth in Real Wages Wages rose strongly with inflation beginning in mid-2021, but the pace of price increases was faster than wage increases, leading to a loss of buying power despite higher income. Real wages — adjusted for inflation — actually declined during this period. For example, at the height of inflation in June 2022, wages increased at an annual rate of 6.7%, but real wages declined by 2.4%. Inflation has dropped … [Read more...]

Link to Printable PDF:  2025 01 January Newsletter Do You Have a New Year's Resolution? One out of three U.S. adults typically plan to make New Year's resolutions. Younger people are more likely to make resolutions, and they tend to place more emphasis on finances, happiness, and mental health, whereas older people tend to emphasize physical health. Experts suggest that it's easier to keep resolutions that are specific and measurable, and it can be helpful to reward yourself for meeting … [Read more...]