Todd Bender Ameriprise financial advisor in Cedar Park, TX

Saving for retirement and a child's education at the same time

You want to retire comfortably when the time comes. You also want to help your child go to college. So how do you juggle the two? The truth is,... Read the full article

Merging your money when you marry

Getting married is exciting, but it brings many challenges. One such challenge that you and your spouse will have to face is how to merge your... Read the full article

Understanding risk

Few terms in personal finance are as important, or used as frequently, as "risk." Nevertheless, few terms are as imprecisely defined. Generally, when... Read the full article

The sandwich generation: juggling family responsibilities.

At a time when your career is reaching a peak and you are looking ahead to your own retirement, you may find yourself in the position of having to... Read the full article

Health insurance in retirement

At any age, health care is a priority. When you retire, however, you will probably focus more on health care than ever before. Staying healthy is... Read the full article

Investing in bonds

Bonds may not be as glamorous as stocks or commodities, but they are a significant component of most investment portfolios. Bonds are traded in huge... Read the full article

529 plans: The ins and outs of contributions and withdrawals

Section 529 plans can be powerful college savings tools, but you need to understand how your plan works before you can take full advantage of it.... Read the full article

Tax planning for the self-employed

Self-employment is the opportunity to be your own boss, to come and go as you please, and oh yes, to establish a lifelong bond with your accountant.... Read the full article

Going back to school as an adult

You've decided that college or graduate school is your ticket to a better career or the path to advancement in your current job. Or maybe you just... Read the full article

Charitable giving

When developing your estate plan, you can do well by doing good. Leaving money to charity rewards you in many ways. It gives you a sense of personal... Read the full article

Investing in stocks

Businesses sell shares of stock to investors as a way to raise money to finance expansion, pay off debt, and provide operating capital. Each share of... Read the full article

Life insurance and estate planning

Life insurance has come a long way since the days when it was known as burial insurance and used mainly to pay for funeral expenses. Today, life... Read the full article

Year-end tax planning

As the end of the year approaches, it's time to consider strategies that can help you reduce your tax bill. But most tax tips, suggestions, and... Read the full article

ABCs of financial aid

These days, it's hard to talk about college without mentioning financial aid. Yet this pairing isn't a marriage of love, but one of necessity. In... Read the full article

Wills--the cornerstone of your estate plan

If you care about what happens to your money, home, and other property after you die, you need to do some estate planning. There are many tools you... Read the full article

Understanding Social Security

Over 55 million people today receive some form of Social Security benefits, including 90 percent of retired workers over age 65. (Source: Fast Facts... Read the full article

The best ways to save for college

In the college savings game, all strategies aren't created equal. The best savings vehicles offer special tax advantages if the funds are used to pay... Read the full article

Insurance concerns of divorcing couples

Few life changes are of more consequence than a divorce. In addition to the financial and emotional difficulties, you'll face special concerns about... Read the full article

Mutual fund basics

A mutual fund pools the money of many investors to purchase securities.The fund's manager buys securities to pursue a stated investment strategy. By... Read the full article

Finding money to pay college bills out of pocket

You've saved for your child's college education through the years, helped your child research schools, and supervised the application process. Now,... Read the full article

Understanding long-term care insurance

It's a fact: People today are living longer. Although that's good news, the odds of requiring some sort of long-term care increase as you get older.... Read the full article

Tax planning for income

The goal of income tax planning is to minimize your federal income tax liability. You can achieve this in different ways. Typically, though, you'd... Read the full article

Six keys to successful investing

A successful investor maximizes gain and minimizes loss. Here are six basic principles that may help you invest more... Read the full article

And baby makes three

So you're going to have or adopt a baby. Congratulations! Parenthood may be one of the most rewarding experiences you'll ever have. As you prepare... Read the full article

Estimating your retirement income needs

You know how important it is to plan for your retirement, but where do you begin? One of your first steps should be to estimate how much income... Read the full article

Insurance needs in retirement

Your goals and priorities will probably change as you plan to retire. Along with them, your insurance needs may change as well. Retirement is... Read the full article

Debt consolidation

If you have a lot of debt, you're not alone. Today, more and more Americans are burdened with credit card and loan payments. So whether you are... Read the full article

Deciding what to do with your 401(k) plan when you change jobs

When you change jobs, you need to decide what to do with the money in your 401(k) plan. Should you leave it where it is, or take it with you? Should... Read the full article

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