Valerie Schmitz, CEPA, CPFA President
Welcome to our Web site, where you’ll find a wealth of information in the form of newsletter articles, calculators, and research reports.
We hope your visit will help you understand the opportunities and potential rewards that are available when you take a proactive approach to your personal financial situation. We have created this Web site to help you gain a better understanding of the financial concepts behind insurance, investing, retirement, estate planning, and wealth preservation. Most importantly, we hope you see the value of working with skilled professionals to pursue your financial goals.
We’re here to help educate you about the basic concepts of financial management; to help you learn more about who we are; and to give you fast, easy access to market performance data. We hope you take advantage of this resource and visit us often. Be sure to add our site to your list of "favorites" in your Internet browser. We frequently update our information, and we wouldn’t want you to miss any developments in the area of personal finance.
Newsletters
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Goodbye Passwords, Hello Passkeys
As major tech companies, apps, and websites make passkeys their default security option, it’s likely you’ll be prompted to set them up to help secure your accounts.
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Closed-End Funds May Offer Higher Income
Closed-end funds are considered to carry higher risk but may provide a higher income stream than traditional mutual funds holding similar securities.
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Why Renters Should Have Their Own Insurance
Young renters who are just striking out on their own may not realize that a landlord’s insurance policy typically will not cover the destruction or loss of the tenant’s possessions.
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HOT TOPIC: The Shutdown is Over: What Now?
The longest government shutdown in U.S. history ended on November 12, 2025. This article looks at the bill that ended the shutdown, issues that are unresolved, and estimates of the economic impact.
Calculators
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Mortgage Acceleration
This calculator can help you determine how soon you can pay off your mortgage.
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Car Affordability
How much can you afford to pay for a car?
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IRA Eligibility
Use this calculator to determine whether you qualify for the different types of IRAs.