You're more than ready for the festive feelings, celebrations, and joy of the winter holidays, but is your budget? By the time you factor in travel expenses, gifts for your nearest and dearest, meals, and all those special events, you may find costs have snowballed quicker than you expected. If you take a few practical steps now, though, before the holidays are in full swing, you can stay financially balanced throughout the season so you can step into the new year with confidence.

It’s already that time of year again, leading up to the holidays. The kids are back in school, summer fun is just a memory, and it’s time for a strategic huddle with your tax planner. This year, in particular, has been a wild ride in terms of inflation and the cost of living, and most everyone is looking for ways to lessen the sting of rising costs and create a plan for whatever 2023 may have in store.

When you're starting out - new careers, new location, new relationships - you probably get lots of advice about planning for your future. Sure, you're fully engaged in budgeting your income and thinking about lifestyle priorities. Still, it's a good idea to start working with a financial advisor to develop your long-term financial plan.

We recently posted a New York Times article "Does Personal Finance Still Work in Our Changing Economy?" on our Facebook page. It opened with references to Income Volatility, an economic situation that many Americans find themselves in today. If irregular employment, inconsistent work hours, and unpredictable income are the new normal in your life, does it mean that you should give up on savings and retirement planning?