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This article will ... Explain why a smaller number of loan estimates from high quality lenders, such as those that are FDIC-insured, may yield the best results. Help illustrate why a longer payment term may lower your monthly payment, but cost you more over the long run. Highlight the loan features that may be negotiable, including APR, term, whether or not there will be prepayment penalties, and other fees. A little education goes a long way when it comes to borrowing money.

This article will ... Walk through how to allocate business sale proceeds to create reliable retirement income. Cover the key retirement planning decisions business owners face once the sale closes. Address how to protect your spouse, plan your estate, and prepare for life after the sale. One day you’ll sell your business or transfer it to the next generation.

This article will ... Define the role of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Highlight the three primary ways that states protect consumers and regulated life insurance providers. Suggest ways that consumers can protect themselves by researching an insurance company’sfinancial strength and complaint recordbefore they buy.

This article will ... Show how to look beyond the lump sum and weigh the severance, health insurance, and stock vesting that make up a strong early retirement package. Walk through the negotiation points that can improve an early retirement package and when it's worth asking for more. Highlight that accepting an early retirement offer is both a financial and an emotional decision, and how professionals and loved ones can help you think it through.

In many families, parents are more well-off than their adult children. They’ve had more years in the workforce, which means more time to increase income and to build savings. And some parents may want to use their excess earnings or accumulated wealth to help their offspring.

This article will ... Explain how to use back-to-school shopping to teach your kids the art of delayed gratification. Offer tips for helping your child “work off” brand name purchases, like forgoing their allowance for a few months. Warn parents about certain uncomfortable truths when it comes to getting their kids a college scholarship.

This article will ... Help you spot the warning signs that a business may be headed toward forced liquidation rather than continued operation. Explain the difference between voluntary liquidation and forced liquidation — and why the distinction matters to business owners. Cover two planning strategies — a funded buy-sell agreement and a strong management team — that can help keep a business a going concern.

This article will ... Trace the rise of the FIRE movement and the social norms it disrupts for those who retire decades early. Highlight the forecasting challenges of planning a retirement that may need to last 40 to 50 years. Caution against the risk of depleting retirement savings early and the income strategies you may need as a backup. Retiring in your 30s or 40s may sound like a dream come true.

This article will ... Explain what dollar-cost averaging is and how it helps manage investment risk. Walk through a dollar-cost averaging example to show how it lowers your average share price. Identify which investors tend to benefit most from a dollar-cost averaging approach. The stock market gets a lot of attention, especially these days when it’s been on a mostly upward run.

This article will ... Identify the four business risk categories owners may want to evaluate. Outline risk mitigation strategies that can help protect your business, family, and finances. Share MassMutual research data revealing the most common gaps in business owner risk planning. The goal of every business owner is to build and grow a successful business.