Money Wisdom & Musings

Here's your source for thoughts and observations on all things financial (and otherwise). Topics can range from tips on your personal well being to the well being of your investments. As always, we welcome your comments and feedback.

Disclaimer: Our blog posts are for informational purposes only and are not to be considered investment, tax, or financial advice. Cornerstone does not and cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information presented in our blog posts regarding your individual circumstances. Please review your personal situation with your tax and/or financial advisor.

Where’s My Refund?

Posted by on March 21, 2019
Where’s My Refund?

Are you wondering what the status is of your federal refund? Although the typical turnaround time for refunds is 21 days, you can still check out the IRS’s Where’s My Refund tool to track your refund’s progress.

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Do the Math

Posted by on February 11, 2019

Last night my son Sam called and asked for my advice; he cracked the screen on his phone and was quoted $380 to fix it. He didn’t know if that was worth it, or if he should buy a new phone.  A lot of questions came up: how much did he still owe on his current phone? How long is he likely to keep this phone? What is the cost of a new phone? Pretty soon our heads were spinning! That’s when I…

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How Long Do I Need To Keep This?

Posted by on January 17, 2019
How Long Do I Need To Keep This?

When gathering tax information for 2018 tax return prep, you may want to clean house and purge some of your older files.

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Give the Gift of Memories

Posted by on December 4, 2018
Give the Gift of Memories

Carrie's latest Money Wisdom blog post discusses the importance of making Christmas memories -- instead of focusing on what is wrapped under the tree.

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Thinking about moving to another state?

Posted by Christina Traurig on October 10, 2018

Anyone who has ever moved all their possessions from one location to another will tell you that it is not an enjoyable experience -- and moving across state lines just adds to the frustration.

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What do you and Aretha Franklin have in common?

Posted by on August 23, 2018

It has been reported today that Aretha Franklin died “intestate”, which means that she had no will. In her home state, Michigan, the laws dictate that her estate will be divided among her 4 children. She might have wanted part of her assets to go to other relatives, charities or friends. Or she may have wanted to give certain belongings, such as jewelry or sentimental keepsakes, to a specific individual. Without a will, her four children will decide how to divide her possessions.

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Are you caught in the ‘Return Gap?’

Posted by on August 20, 2018

When it comes to our portfolios, the word “return” is one that most of us understand and recognize. However, focusing on (or chasing) returns can be a futile exercise.

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The Dog Days of Summer

Posted by on August 2, 2018

Contrary to popular belief, the “dog days of summer” have nothing to do with lying around in the heat with your tongue sticking out. The phrase actually originated in Greek and Roman literature...

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What's Going On With Tariffs?

Posted by Christina Traurig on June 21, 2018

What exactly is a tariff? The direct definition of a tariff is “a tax imposed on imported goods and services.” Tariffs can be used to protect domestic industries by making imported goods more expensive or to raise more revenue for the government. As a recent example, the US Government has decided to impose a 10% tariff on aluminum. A US company that buys aluminum from a Canadian company will now pay 10% of the purchase price to the US Government as a tax. The big issue with tariffs comes when other countries retaliate with tariffs of their own, resulting in a trade war.

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Spring Cleaning: The Personal Finance Edition

Posted by Christina Traurig on May 7, 2018

Finally, springtime in New England! The weather is getting warmer, the flowers are blooming, and everyone is in the mood to start cleaning house. Now is a great time to do a clean up of your personal finances as well.

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