Dahna M. Chandler, MPS

Transferring wealth to the next generation is a complex process fraught with potential pitfalls. Not understanding the most common mistakes in the process can lead to multiple issues, including fractured family relationships. Here are some common pitfalls, along with strategies for overcoming them to ensure a smooth and effective transfer of wealth to your heirs.

This blog post provides mass affluent and emerging HNW readers with essential tips to fortify their digital defenses and safeguard financial assets from ever-evolving cyber threats. Adopting the proactive stance of sophisticated fraudsters, the post outlines a multi-layered cybersecurity strategy—from promptly installing software updates and leveraging secure password managers, to hardening home networks with encryption and firewalls. It advocates engaging financial monitoring services, utilizing AI-driven cybersecurity programs, and promoting continuous family education on emerging risks.

Explore the potential benefits and risks of adding real estate to your portfolio mix. This blog post can provide you with an informed perspective about pursuing this alternative path to growing your net worth strategically. The piece examines how investing in residential properties can generate rental income, leverage appreciation, provide tax advantages, and hedge against inflation. But, it also covers crucial drawbacks, like liquidity constraints, maintenance costs, vacancy risks, and concentration risk.

High net worth and ultra-high net worth executive women often get overlooked by wealth management advisors as viable clients. But, this multi-trillion dollar market is a growing—and lucrative—investor segment. From this white paper, advisors learn why this important investor segment has value to them and how to reach this market.

(Inclusion of this writing sample in my portfolio does not represent an endorsement of me or my work by FlexShares or Northern Trust.)

Increasingly, investors are interested in aligning their investment portfolios around their
environmental, social, and governance (ESG) values. Savvy financial professionals are taking the necessary steps to identify their clients' interests and values to help them meet their investing goals. This research-backed white paper shows financial professionals how to provide customized client experiences that meet their ESG investing requirements.

It's an honor when a friend or loved one trusts you to become their estate executor. But being a will executor is a significant responsibility. It makes you their fiduciary and it can be time-consuming and expensive. It may come with emotional challenges, particularly related to dealing with the departed's remaining family. Here's how to overcome those emotional and logistical challenges.

Many Americans find themselves in their 50s without enough saved for a comfortable retirement. That's because many people focused on meeting financial obligations — like raising children and paying off debt — during their 30s and 40s. It's not too late to get retirement savings on track if you apply practical some strategies to help boost them.

In today's world where people are living longer and future financial conditions are uncertain, a majority of them worry about running out of money in retirement. About 58% of those saving for retirement or already retired feel this fear. That's especially true for Gen X and Baby Boomers who are approaching retirement age or are already retired. To help ease these worries, an effective strategy is needed to protect retirement wealth and ensure a comfortable and secure financial future. Here's how to create one.

You can take many paths to increased wealth, but it helps to have a recognized and easy-to-apply framework to structure your goals. The S.M.A.R.T. framework provides the structure and accountability that can help you turn your financial intentions into tangible results. Consider using the S.M.A.R.T. strategy to achieve financial goals like saving for college, starting a business, growing your income, paying off debt, reducing your taxes, or accumulating tangible assets. (Finance editors, this is the EEAT/YMYL content I can write for your mass affluent and emerging HNW clients.)

Financial scams targeting seniors are becoming more common and harder to recognize. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)1 reported that, in 2022, older people (60-plus) reported losing more than $1.6 billion to fraud. This is a significant increase from the $1 billion lost by older adults the previous year. There are multiple types of frauds being tried on seniors, and often, they succeed. Here's what to do when your senior has been victimized by this economic crime.

It's an honor when a friend or loved one trusts you to become their estate executor. But being a will executor is a significant responsibility. It makes you their fiduciary and it can be time-consuming and expensive. It may come with emotional challenges, particularly related to dealing with the departed's remaining family. Learn here how to address many of these challenges effectively.

With recession and inflation concerns as a backdrop to this holiday season, you may wonder whether you can give to loved ones in ways more reflective of your personal and family wealth goals. That can include saving on taxes and hedging against inflation — while remaining consistent with the values you and your gift recipient hold. One of your values may be transferring wealth to the next generation to ensure they're prepared for the future and can weather macroeconomic shocks. Here are some ways to give the gift of economic well-being while protecting your finances.

If you have special charitable goals, you may want to consider a donor-advised fund (DAF). A DAF lets you set up charitable accounts at a variety of institutions — like community foundations, financial institutions, and national foundations — and donate money through them to your favorite causes. Here's what to know about the charitable and tax implications of establishing a DAF.

Most people know that inflation — the gradual rise in prices over time — decreases your purchasing power. And the recent bout of inflation has certainly had a profound impact on most people's purchasing power. At 8.5%,1 it's at its highest since the 1980s. This comes after price increases holding steady at the Federal Reserve's prescribed rate of a 2% annually since the Great Recession ended in 2009. What is the role of the Fed in mitigating inflation? (Image: Pexels)

A 401(k) match is the amount or percentage of money your employer contributes toward your retirement account, above your own contributions. If you work for a company that offers this benefit, you can take full advantage of this perk to help maximize your savings. Here's how to get the most out of this benefit.