As a parent, you’ve made sure your kids have had a safe, secure foundation for growth throughout their lives. You’ve made it possible for them to become the people they are and realize their full potential. And, while finances aren’t the only piece of the puzzle, they are an important one. If you’ve thought about legacy planning at all, you may have considered it something you could put off for a while. It’s a task you might have intended to tackle after the endless rounds of meals, laundry, and carpooling have settled down.

When it comes to estate planning, many people make the mistake of thinking that it’s only for the wealthy. But the reality is, if you have assets like a home, bank account, life insurance policy, or business, you should have an estate plan. If you have dependents like a spouse, children, elderly parents, pets, or a non-profit you support, you should also have an estate plan.

Risk is inseparable from return, and every investment involves some degree of risk. If you invest in assets like stocks and bonds, you will almost inevitably be exposed to risks like market volatility and downturns.

As the years go by, your life and career will naturally evolve, and your priorities will shift accordingly. How you plan for the future will change, and you’ll think differently about protecting yourself and your loved ones.

In our lives, change is the only constant. Personal situations like marriage, going to school, having children, unexpected emergencies, job loss or retirement happen.

After years of hard work, you have finally received the executive promotion you deserve. You may now be entitled to an expanded suite of benefits including options to help secure your retirement.

Getting a new job can dramatically change your financial situation with a new salary, new prospects for advancement, and new benefits. But in all the excitement, don’t forget about the retirement benefits you’ve earned from previous employers. Making the right decisions about your retirement strategy now during your job transition can pay off handsomely later on.

You spent your life with someone, and now that person is gone. Perhaps you’ve spent the last several months caring for your spouse during a final illness. Or maybe their death was sudden, leaving you alone without warning or time to prepare for your loss. However it happens, losing a loved one, especially a spouse, is a life-changing event no one wants to experience.

Alice B. has lived in the white colonial at the end of Pine Street since she got married 53 years ago. Her kids still stay in their old bedrooms when they come to visit, and her grandchildren love the tire swing at the back of the property as much as their parents did.

You’ve been saving for retirement for quite some time, but you have more than a decade to go before you can finally step away from your full-time job. While it might feel far off, now is the time to evaluate how you’re doing with your savings plan and adjust if necessary. Many wonder how much is enough when it comes to their retirement, and as you near retirement age, those funds and your needs may have changed since you first started out. By taking the time to review your approach, you can be prepared for the road ahead.