Firm Insights
Click below to read recent insights on various financial topics, provided by North Star:
Determining Your Financial Preparedness for Marriage
Getting married is something that a lot of people dream about, however it isn't as simple as walking down the aisle and exchanging rings, especially with finances to take into consideration.
Breaking Down Financial Wellness Priorities
With many Americans presently struggling with acquiring or retaining basic financial literacy or general knowledge, it raises the question of how many are even aware of their own financial wellness status, or what they think should be their priorities.
In Case You Missed It—Stock Market Update
As 2018 ends, you’ll likely be hoping that the market’s roller coaster ride is coming to a close. How volatile has it been? On December 26, a single day saw a surge of more than a thousand points in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
3 Financial Products that Make Great Gifts for Children
Veer away from the expected gifts of clothes, electronics and gift cards, and give a child you're shopping for this holiday season a gift that keeps giving.
5 Common Long-Term Care Myths
Cost allocations, roles of nursing homes, and how much outlets like Medicare factor into expense costs have caused some notably-misguided views of when and how to use long-term care insurance.
5 Spending Habits Potentially Keeping You from Bolstering your 401k Funding
Routinely eating out, keeping up with the latest technology trends, and buying new cars are seemingly harmless practices that could be affecting your 401K balance.
Q&A on Life Insurance
Given the importance of life insurance but the intricate details surrounding a product you may be unfamiliar with, read on for a Q&A addressing some of the topic's most common questions:
Paying Off Student Loans While Juggling Other Financial Priorities
Young professionals today are increasingly juggling both student loan debt and other competing financial priorities. To determine how to make progress, read on for ideas on how to prioritize both goals:
5 Retirement Savings Myths
With the seemingly never-ending stream of information today, it's almost impossible to not base theories about your own retirement savings strategy on others you've heard about. Read on for 5 retirement savings myths, debunked:
Compound Interest: What It Is and How It Works
You've likely heard how important it is to start saving early in life, especially when it comes to your retirement saving strategy. The reasoning behind this? Compound interest. Learn more about what this is and how it works:
3 Insurance Considerations for Growing Families
From a financial standpoint, welcoming another person into your family will invite some changes that you'll want to consider both before your child arrives and periodically after. Read on for 3 insurance considerations to review:
Emergency Savings Fund: What It Is and How to Build It
It can be all too easy to ignore that you may be in financial trouble should something unexpected occur. However, it's imperative to prepare for these situations with an emergency savings fund. Read on for how to create your own:
5 Things to Consider When Selling a Home
Given the risks involved with selling a home, it's wise to approach the process having thoroughly considered multiple angles, especially on the financial side of things. Read on for 5 things to consider when selling a home:
Continuing Education: How to Pay for Grad School
While pursuing a graduate degree is a significant investment in yourself, the high cost of grad school-related expenses indicates that planning ahead for which financial resources to utilize is crucial.
How to Save for a Down Payment on a Home
Once you decide to take the leap and become a homeowner, you'll need to calculate not only how much home you can afford—but also how much to put down right away. Read on for how to save for a down payment:
How to Combine Finances with Your Spouse
In many ways, marriage is a “new beginning” for couples. From a financial standpoint, one of the biggest decisions to make is if the two of you will combine finances and if so, how to do it. Read on for several ideas:
Getting Married Later in Life: Financial Items to Consider
Marriage brings forth a range of financial considerations to discuss with your spouse, or soon-to-be spouse. For those getting married later in life, the considerations are more complex. Here are several items to discuss:
Financial Literacy: What It Is and Why It’s Important
Being educated on personal finance matters can have an enormous impact on financial actions taken by individuals at all stages of life. Read about what financial literacy is, why it's important, and what you can do:
Five Ways to Take Advantage of Your Tax Refund
Your tax refund is the perfect opportunity to give a boost to those financial goals you've been working towards. Need some ideas? Here are five ways to take advantage of your tax refund:
How to Overcome Financial Procrastination
A little procrastination here and there is relatively common, yet it can become a problem when ignoring or delaying items on your to-do list is a regular occurrence. Here are some ideas on how to overcome financial procrastination:
Addressing the February 2018 Volatility
Despite a strong January, the first week in February ended with the S&P 500 declining 3.9%. On Monday, February 5, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 4.6%. Read on for our thoughts on these recent changes:
Get Financially Fit in the New Year
The start of a new year is typically the time to reset and refresh. Setting resolutions can feel productive—yet equally important is establishing a plan to follow through on. Here are some tips to get you started:
A Look Back at 2017
2017 was a year of change and innovation at North Star Resource Group, including our brand refresh which was unveiled in July. Here is a non-comprehensive list of our highlights from 2017:
Home for the Holidays: Discussing Financial Matters with Parents
With many families getting together around the holiday season, it can be an ideal time to discuss financial matters with aging parents. Read a few tips on how to approach the topic, as well as what to discuss, here:
6 Financial Preparations for New Parents
Whether you are thinking of having a child, have one on the way, or are a new parent, you have plenty to think about during this exciting yet hectic time. Here are 6 financial preparations to consider:
What to Do with Your Retirement Plan when Changing Jobs
There are a number of logistical items to consider when changing jobs. If you had a retirement plan at your previous employer, what are your options moving forward with your new employer?
3 Considerations for First-Time Home Buyers
The prospect of owning your own home for the first time is incredibly exciting, yet the decision on whether to buy or rent is not an overnight decision. Here are three basic considerations to help start the process.
Financial Steps to Consider at Any Stage in Life
As you enter a new year or decade of your life, your financial to-do list is constantly evolving with you. Here is a non-comprehensive list of financial steps to consider throughout various life stages.
Healthy Habits: Teaching Kids About Finance
Teaching your kids how to manage financial matters may seem like a mundane thing to discuss with your 4- or 9-year-old. However, here are reasons why it may be beneficial and some ideas to get you started.
Wedding Planning: Financial Preparations for the Big Day
Your wedding day is one of the biggest days of your life—but you may not want to spend years paying off the debt accumulated from it. Here are a few steps to take to keep the cost under control.
The Dos and Don'ts of Saving for College
The benefits of a college education are endless, yet with rising costs of tuition and other expenses, it has become necessary to plan ahead. Here are some tips for saving for college.
5 Ways to Spring Clean Your Finances
Spring cleaning can extend to a number of different things that could use a little attention and organization, such as your finances. Here are five ways to spring-clean your financial picture this season.
What NOT to Do When Creating a Budget
Budgeting is something we hear about constantly, however, it can be tricky to create a budget you can actually stick to. Read on for a few things NOT to do when creating a budget.
5 Reasons to Consider Working with a Financial Advisor
As your financial picture grows increasingly more complex, receiving the guidance of an experienced professional may be just what you need. Read on for five reasons to consider working with an advisor.
6 Common Financial New Year's Resolutions and How to Stick With Them
37% of Americans made some sort of resolution related to financial matters in 2016. If you are one of the many making a financial resolution for 2017, here are 6 common resolutions and how to stick with them.
Year-End Checklist: Financial Items to Review by December 31st
In the whirlwind of December, the last thing most feel like undertaking in the midst of the holidays is sorting through financial matters. Here's why it may be beneficial to review several items before the year-end.
Getting into the Holiday Spirit: How to Get Involved and Give Back
Americans yet again increased the amount of money they gifted to charitable causes in 2015. With so many resources now available to help choose an organization, giving back is easier than ever.
Financial Considerations to Make Your Vacation Less Stressful
Taking a vacation is a wonderful opportunity to relax, enjoy new scenery and take a break from reality. However, planning for sightseeing and logistical aspects of the trip can overshadow a few necessary financial preparations.
Election 2016—Here We Go Again
Uncertainty regarding the economy and direction of the capital markets is always high during presidential election years. Investor doubts increase as campaign ads and speeches highlight the heated and contentious climate of politics.
Your Online Financial Information: Tips for Keeping It Safe
In the virtual world we live in today, it has become the norm to have large amounts of personal information stored online. In light of recent hacking incidents, it's more important that ever to secure your online details.
Financial To-Do List: College Graduates
The "real world" comes with a lot of expenses. While it may seem manageable, it's best to come up with a game plan to tackle these expenses to avoid becoming overwhelmed.
5 Things NOT to Do with Your Year-End Bonus
A year-end bonus creates an opportunity to do a lot of things you otherwise might not have been able to, yet it can be extremely tempting to spend it unwisely. Read on for five things NOT to do with your bonus.