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Read More10 Financial New Year’s Resolutions for 2023
We want to help set you up for success. People can struggle with keeping their resolutions. Some reasons why people can lose steam on resolutions include - they set unrealistic goals,
Read MoreAFG Building Remodel [watch video]
The AFG “Financial Center” building at the corner of Main Street and Albion Street in Wakefield, MA, is getting a facelift.
Read MoreHappy 4th of July!
How will you celebrate this Fourth of July?The Fourth is all about freedom – remembering the men and women who fought to sustain it, and enjoying the privilege of being who you want to be, and doing what you want to do.I wish you...
Read MoreDon't go it alone.
When markets cycle lower like they have been lately, perspective is critical. If you’re not connected to someone with experience, it can be easy to miss the big picture.If you zoom out a bit in history, most investors haven't...
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Summertime Checkup
Summer’s here, and the time is right for vacations, outdoor activities, and fun. It’s also a good time to consider a few financial matters. Here are some questions to ask yourself mid-year:Goals still the same for 2022? Has...
Read MoreHappy Father's Day
A special day is coming: Father's Day; a day to praise the contributions dads make and the love and encouragement they provide.How will you celebrate this Father's Day? Whether the occasion calls for quality time with the ones you love...
Read MoreHappy Flag Day!
Flag Day is celebrated each June 14th to honor the date in 1777 when the United States approved the design for its first national flag. There are 50 stars representing the 50 states and there are 13 stripes representing the 13...
Read MoreMemorial Day 2022
As we go into the holiday weekend, I wanted to wish you a safe and happy Memorial Day. For me, Memorial Day is more than the unofficial beginning of summer: it’s a chance to honor those who have sacrificed everything for their...
Read More6 Parts of an Insurance Policy -the Devil is in the Details !
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Are You Protecting Your Property Investments at the Minimal Standard
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Happy Thanksgiving!
Warm wishes to you and your family. Happy Thanksgiving! Dana Rodrigues
Read MoreDo You Need Long-Term Care Coverage?
You might be wondering whether you really need long-term care insurance. The conservative answer? If you go without it, you’re taking a bet in which the odds are not very good. Caring for those with Alzheimer’s, dementia...
Read MoreThank You Veterans!
Thank you to all who dedicated themselves to serve our country. May we always remember and be grateful!
Read MoreTime to Fall Back - this Sunday November 7th - 2 AM!
As you have noticed, the days are getting shorter – and we are coming to the end of Daylight Saving Time for the year. On the first Sunday of November at 2:00 am, most of America will “fall back” into Standard Time...
Read MoreHappy Halloween!
October is coming to an end, and that means Halloween will be here before you know it. Are you ready for the holiday? If you have kids, no doubt they are! All Hallows Eve is celebrated in many ways today; they are all enjoyable. So,...
Read MoreIs a Will or Trust Right for you?
LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WILLS AND TRUST You may not know the difference between a will and a trust. As you're estate planning, you should know your options and the proper tools to achieve your asset distribution goals....
Read MoreWhy Estate Planning Is Important Today
National Estate Planning Awareness Week (October 18-24, 2021) Plan for tomorrow, today.That seems like sensible advice, doesn't it? Yet a surprising number of people leave no estate plan in place for their survivors. It makes a...
Read MoreOctober Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October brings to mind the beauty of the leaves changing colors and a time to enjoy the colder weather. But October also holds another meaning for millions of people: it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Based on the numbers,...
Read MoreHSA vs PPO Find the Right Insurance Plan For You
HSA vs PPO Open enrollment is coming up soon, and it's important to know about all your insurance plan options before deciding which one is right for you. Two options you could have are a Health Savings Account plan (HSA) and a...
Read MoreProtect Yourself From Identity Theft
5 WAYS TO DEFEND AGAINST IDENTITY THEFT You've probably heard about identity theft, but you may not know what it is or how to protect against it. First, let's talk about what identity theft is. Identity theft occurs when someone...
Read MoreLeave Behind a Lasting Legacy
Leave a Lasting LegacyUse Your Life Insurance to Help You’ve worked hard your whole life to create a legacy you are proud of. But your legacy doesn’t have to stop when you pass on. There are ways for your legacy to live on...
Read MoreHappy Fall!
The Autumnal Equinox approaching on September 22 is a day with 12 hours of sunlight and 12 hours of darkness. This balance of day and night serves as a reminder of the change of seasons, and heralds the coming of fall colors and...
Read MoreHappy Labor Day to You!
For many, Labor Day is seen as the end of summer, but it’s an annual national tribute to the contributions that workers have made to the strength, success, and security of our country. Here are some interesting facts about this...
Read MoreGet Rid of Old Records
Which documents should you keep?And which ones can you shred? Everyone is guilty of holding on to documents for too long. Whether you feel like it has real value, or you're keeping it for fear of needing it, this can create quite a...
Read MoreSocially Responsible Investing
Impact Social Change Through Investing Choosing Investments Based on Social Responsibility For many people, the decision about what companies to invest in comes down to growth, profits and dividends. There’s nothing wrong with...
Read MoreA 6.1% Bump in Social Security?
The news keeps getting better for Social Security recipients.It's now projected that benefits will increase 6.1% in 2022, up from the 4.7% forecast just two months ago. That would be the most significant increase since 1983.1...
Read MoreLet Freedom Ring!
Have an enjoyable day celebrating our great country and those who have worked hard to make it so. Happy Birthday, America!
Read MoreHappy Father's Day
A special day is coming: Father's Day! A day to praise the contributions dads make and the love and encouragement they provide. How will you celebrate this Father's Day? Whether the occasion calls for quality time with the ones you...
Read MoreRecovering from COVID
With COVID, there were some who believed that progress on this health issue was a necessary precondition to economic recovery. In recent weeks, we have seen some promising trends emerge on the health front. The CDC is reporting the...
Read MoreA Seven-Year High for Gas Prices
Over Memorial Day weekend, gasoline prices hit the highest for this holiday weekend since 2014.1With the Colonial Pipeline outage in the rear-view mirror and an ever-increasing number of adults vaccinated, formerly cooped-up motorists...
Read MoreHappy Pride Month!
Pride Month is here! All month long, people across the country are planning parades, events, and other community gatherings to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.For this entire month, we honor our collective rights to live freely, love...
Read MoreWishing You a Safe and Happy Memorial Day
Let’s take a moment to reflect, remember and honor all the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Have a safe weekend, and enjoy your time with friends and family.
Read MoreProtecting Your Good Credit
When was the last time you checked your credit score? If it’s been more than a year, you may want to make a quick note to yourself to check it soon. What Impacts Your Credit Score? Over time, your credit score changes—for...
Read MorePay Off Student Loans The Smart Way
6 Tips for Paying Off College Debt Get ahead of paying off your student loans. For many, student loans are a necessary debt—a means of paying for college and earning a degree that could potentially put life-changing career...
Read MoreHow Much is Too Much to Give Away?
Are Your Financial Gifts Costing You? Know the financial gift limits to avoid unnecessary taxes. You might have heard about financial gift limitations and wondered if that’s something that applies to the financial gifts you give...
Read MoreFinancial Literacy Month - Defining SMART Financial Goals
Are your financial goals well-defined? While "I want to have lots of money" may sound like a great goal, it's just too vague. How much is "lots?" If you don’t know … how will you know when you have it? And will the "lots"...
Read MoreHappy Earth Day!
April 22 is Earth Day, a day to do the little (and big) things to reduce your carbon footprint and support a healthy planet.There are many ways in which we can become better stewards of the Earth. We can recycle hazardous materials;...
Read MoreI.R.S. Delays Tax Filing, Payment Deadlines
Less than one month ahead of the traditional date, the I.R.S. has delayed the deadline for filing and paying taxes. The new deadline is May 17, 2021.1,2,3 The delay follows continued disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic and a late...
Read MoreFirst Day of Spring
Spring is here! And soon the landscape will turn greener and the weather warmer. Perhaps you are already thinking about what you would like to do – the trips you could take, that new look for your yard or your garden, a day at...
Read MoreSt. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day is fast approaching! On March 17, the annual celebration of Irish culture begins with parades, festive music, and fun from coast to coast. Celtic music, Irish pastries, corned beef and cabbage, the camaraderie,...
Read MoreSpring Forward!
Just a quick reminder to make sure you set your clocks forward one hour on Saturday evening 3/13/2021 for Daylight Savings! Daylight Savings Time takes effect at 2:00 AM EST on Sunday 3/14/2021.
Read MoreInternational Women’s Day
This year we’re celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8. In 1920, women fought for the right to vote. In 1974, single and divorced women were finally able to secure a credit card without needing a male cosigner....
Read MoreTax Season is Coming Up -
Married? Should You File Jointly or Separately Some big changes come with getting married, and that includes your taxes. For the first time, you have the option to file jointly or separately. How romantic!While the IRS recommends that...
Read MoreTax Strategies to Help this April
Retirement Tax Strategies that Work for You Taxes are a certainty of life, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to reduce what you owe to the government, especially once you retire. Consider these strategies (both...
Read MorePresidents Day
Presidents Day is upon us. It's time to celebrate Washington's birthday and celebrate the founding of our nation. Washington said, "Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages." This Presidents Day, I hope you take a moment...
Read MoreEnjoy Your Valentine's Day!
Can’t let today pass without telling you how much you are appreciated! Thank you for your business. Enjoy your Valentine’s Day!
Read MoreTax Issues If You Used Your Retirement Fund To Weather The Pandemic
If you tapped into your retirement account to weather the pandemic, you may have some tax issues to deal with come April 15. CNBC has the story @ http://cnb.cx/3c279MR
Read MoreTax filing season will be starting a little later this year
Tax filing season will be starting a little later. The date has been pushed back to February 12, 2021 instead of starting in mid-January. CNN has the details @ http://cnn.it/2NejyCZ
Read MoreHappy Holidays!
Wishing you and your family a wonderful Holiday Season!
Read MoreFed Keeps Rates Near Zero!
Fed keeps rates near zero amid fragile recovery. CNN has more @ http://cnn.it/37qR40y
Read MoreFDA Authorization For At Home COVID Tests
The FDA has granted emergency authorization to over-the-counter, at-home COVID tests. Axios has the details @http://bit.ly/3qZ0acK
Read MoreThe COVID-19 Vaccine Has Some Routine Side-Effects
The COVID-19 vaccine has some routine side-effects, but the good news? It means that the vaccine is working. CNBC has the latest @ https://cnb.cx/3gxc60z
Read MoreVaccines Will Help The Economy - But It Might Not Feel Like It
Once the COVID-19 vaccine rolls out, the economy will get a boost, but it might not feel like it for a while. CNN has the story @ https://cnn.it/2VStraD
Read MoreStudent Loan Payments May Be Postponed Until May
As negotiations continue on the next COVID-19 stimulus package, federal student loan payments may be paused until May 2021 . CNBC has the story @ https://cnb.cx/3m8oXYk
Read MoreHome Sales Have Risen to a 14 Year Peak!
Yahoo! Finance reports that existing home sales have risen to a 14-year peak. https://yhoo.it/35YXGmo
Read More13 Million College Students Worry
The coronavirus crisis has altered how 13 million college students feel about their financial future. CNBC has the latest @ https://cnb.cx/2FfWM9V
Read MoreGive Your Finances A Routine Check-up
FINANCIAL REVIEW CHECKLIST
Read MoreStock Market Hits First Record Since Pandemic
The stock market closed August 18 with its first record high since the pandemic. CNN Business has the story @ https://cnn.it/2Q8ghUg
Read MoreReasons a Retiree May Want to Delay Social Security
Fox Business looks at reasons a retiree might want to delay claiming Social Security. More @ https://fxn.ws/3jqN83N
Read MoreQuestions about rolling over? IRA or Roth?
Questions about rolling over? IRA or Roth? A look at these questions from MarketWatch @ https://on.mktw.net/2AhBQxf
Read MoreU.S. Mortgage Rates Move Below 3% for First Time
Yahoo! Finance reports that 30-year mortgage rates moved below 3% for the first time. @ https://yhoo.it/2CA6Mtn
Read MoreWill COVID-19 Obstruct Your Path to Home Ownership?
Will the COVID-19 pandemic obstruct your path to home ownership? More from MarketWatch @ https://on.mktw.net/37jbZkv
Read MoreBenefits of Ongoing Education
Whether you choose to pursue a degree, audit a class, or learn a new skill or craft in retirement, the benefits of ongoing education are numerous. In fact, a growing number of studies indicate that people who further their education,...
Read MoreThe Financial Literacy Crisis
THE FINANCIAL LITERACY CRISIS Imagine driving a car without a basic understanding of the rules of the road or even how to operate it. Scary thought. Here’s another scary circumstance – one that is all too real. Many...
Read MoreThe Roaring 20's
The Roaring 20’s It is crucial for investors in all age demographics to be aware of the upcoming changes and events that will affect retirement portfolios in the near future. One major event that will be occurring later this year...
Read MoreCARES Act Information
The coronavirus pandemic has affected virtually every facet of American life and severely impacted the markets and economy. Congress and the federal government have acted to help individuals and businesses get through this difficult...
Read MoreLetter to our Clients
Dear Clients, As I’m sure you are aware Governor Baker has ordered a Public Health Issue 'stay-at-home' advisory for all non-essential workers. Given this new mandate we will have limited access to the office. However, we will...
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