Nicholas J. Baker - IMG Financial Group

Are you saving enough for retirement?

Whether you’re a recent college grad, your career is in full gear, or you have a young family, there’s one crucial step you can take to help ensure a healthy and happy retirement: start saving. Use Securian’s retirement calculator to see how much you should be saving to meet your retirement goals.

securian.com Use this retirement calculator to help estimate your savings needs

How do annuities work?

Annuities can provide the benefits of tax-deferred growth potential – and a guaranteed income stream throughout retirement. But not everyone understands how they can fit into a secure retirement. Find out what annuities do and how they work here!

securian.com Annuities can provide the benefits of tax-deferred growth potential — and a guaranteed income stream throughout retirement. Learn how they work.

Getting over the fear of spending down in retirement

With the possibility of living for 30 years (or longer) after you retire, there’s a lot to consider. 54 percent of Americans worry they might not have enough money for retirement. But spending in retirement doesn't have to be scary. Good preparation goes a long way!

securian.com Spending in retirement doesn't have to be scary. See how good preparation goes a long way.

7 smart things to do with your tax refund

Receiving a large tax refund can feel like you won the lottery. For many of us, it’s the biggest paycheck we receive all year. That’s a lot of “extra” money at our disposal. If you’re looking to spend that money mindfully, click here for 7 smart things to do with your tax refund.

securian.com Tips for how to use the money mindfully

Why Do I Need Life Insurance?

Life insurance is one of the most selfless gifts you can give to the people you would leave behind if you pass away. Click here to see 5 important reasons to own life insurance.

Questions or need help evaluating if you have enough coverage? Contact me directly at [email protected]

5 reasons to consider buying life insurance — one of the most selfless gifts you can give.

Why stocks rebound before the economy

Did you know: stocks may rebound before the economy. But why?

Questions about how this affects your personal finances? Contact me directly [email protected]

This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. This information should not be relied upon by the reader as research or investment advice regarding any funds or stocks in particular, nor should it be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell a security. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments will fluctuate and when redeemed may be worth more or less than when originally invested

usatoday.com Investors are forward-looking, and they are in buying in advance of—and a belief in—better days ahead.

Life insurance for new parents

The cost of raising a child today is $233,610 — not including the cost of college — for a middle-income family, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Would you or your partner be able to cover that should one of you unexpectedly pass away?

securian.com Congratulations, you had a baby! Between the snuggles and feedings, who has time to think about life insurance? And do you really need to?

Creating a fulfilling life: The Conklin family’s story

Learn how one family persevered because of their decision to buy life insurance.

If you would like to review if your family has enough life insurance, schedule a meeting with me here: https://calendly.com/nick-baker1/45min

Learn how the decision to purchase life insurance helped one family persevere after a heartbreaking loss.

Life insurance for new parents

According to this article, the top three reasons Americans give for owning life insurance include covering burial and final expenses (91%), helping to replace lost wages/income of a wage earner (66%) and transferring wealth or leave an inheritance (63%).

securian.com Congratulations, you had a baby! Between the snuggles and feedings, who has time to think about life insurance? And do you really need to?

[10/31/18]   My Co-chairs Melinda Bertrand, Levi McClenny and I are excited for the 2019 Traditions Lunch schedule! A few of the speakers lined up include General Mark Welsh, Joe Tortorice - CEO and Founder of Jason's Deli, and Dr. James Olson - former chief of counterintelligence at the CIA. Come join us every second Monday of the month at Grotto on Westheimer.

Nicholas J. Baker - IMG Financial Group

Building Your Family | Securian

Are you welcoming a new addition to your family in 2017? Check out these financial considerations for new parents.

securian.com Discover tips for navigating financial planning while building your family like budgeting, saving, insurance and investing.

Retirement Calculator | Securian

Worried you’re not saving enough for retirement? Try this calculator to see where you stand.

www.securian.com This pre-retirement calculator will help you determine how much you should be saving based on your goals and plans for your retirement years. It will also provide an estimated gap between your current savings and what you may need.

Scraping by on a $100,000+ income

"The number one issue we get is 'I feel like I am making a lot of money but I don't know where it all goes."

cnbc.com Most people consider themselves middle class, yet they can't make ends meet, even on a six-figure income.

5 Things to Consider Before Buying Today’s Hot Investment

While the stock market is at an all-time high, it’s important to stay calm and stay the course.

nytimes.com The stock market is at an all-time high, but that doesn’t mean you should act without thinking. Before you buy, read this guide.

Don’t Overlook These Tax Credits for College

College students—or their parents— may be eligible for one of two tax credits that help offset the cost of tuition and other higher education expenses.

kiplinger.com College students—or their parents--may be eligible for one of two tax credits that help offset the cost of tuition and other higher education expenses.

Debunking the

Like most of Wall Street’s supposed seasonal patterns, the Summer Rally turns out to be yet another urban myth.

usatoday.com You may as well head to the beach and kick back. All that "Summer Rally" talk is hogwash.

When to Hire a Financial Advisor

Is hiring a financial advisor right for you? Watch this video to learn more.

What does a financial advisor do? How are they paid? How can they help you? Learn how a financial professional can help you with your current and future fina...

Federal student loan rates to jump starting July 1

In case you missed it – a quick read on increased student loan rates starting in July.

cnbc.com Expect to pay even more to finance educational expenses as interest rates rise for the 2017-2018 academic year.

Wealth Management for Life | Securian

Wealth management is more than retirement strategies and investments – it’s your life. It’s your day-to-day, what you experience over time and what you want to accomplish in the future. By putting you in the center of it all and truly listening to your goals, needs, concerns and even fears, I can better identify strategies that suit your unique situation. Learn more about my approach for working with clients.

www.securian.com Securian advisors work with you to identify holistic strategies for unique situations using our Wealth Management for Life approach. Watch a short video to learn more about our client-centric philosophy.

Handle Your Stress Better by Knowing What Causes It

Recent studies estimate that work-related stress costs the U.S. economy over $300 billion a year.

hbr.org Only then can you learn to cope.

Tying the Knot | Securian

Tying the knot this summer? There’s more to consider financially than the wedding day.

securian.com Discover tips and topics for navigating the financial waters of marriage including budgets, debt, saving and life insurance.

Effective Networking Requires Work. How To Make The Most Of Every Event.

Networking is a crucial skill for any professional.

forbes.com Effective networking requires planning and a lot of work. Here are a dozen steps to make your next event more successful.

My Family Drives Me (Financially) Nuts

The title is funny, but there are some good tips in here about family and wealth transfer.

kiplinger.com When it comes to money, families have a lot of issues to work out. And there's a lot at stake. It all starts with communication.

How to Improve Your Sales Skills, Even If You’re Not a Salesperson

"At some point in your career, even if you’re not a salesperson, you’re going to have to sell something — whether it’s your idea, your team, or yourself."

hbr.org Listen more than you talk.

Nearing Retirement | Securian

Will 2017 be the year you retire? There is a lot to think about when it comes to distributing the nest egg you’ve worked so hard to save. Keep these considerations in mind as the big day approaches.

securian.com Learn about financial considerations for those nearing retirement.

The ‘Best’ Places to Move in Retirement? They’re All Over the Map

"With so many surveys and rankings, you’d think that America’s retirees are a horde of itinerants. But relatively few people really do move in retirement."

nytimes.com Most older people don’t relocate after they retire, but when they do, it’s not likely to be to a place selected by a survey editor.

Yes, Numbers Matter in Money Decisions, but So Do Emotions

"In the end, the point of money is not to make you more money. The point of money is to help make and keep you happy and fulfill the hopes and dreams that align with your own (often irrational and emotional) values."

nytimes.com As much as we think we should be rational robots who look only at what spreadsheets say, feelings and intuition count in personal finance, too.

Looking for a job? These 5 areas are doing the most hiring

This is helpful for recent grads and others looking for new employment.

usatoday.com With the job market at or near full health, where is hiring particularly strong? Below are five industries with the fastest job growth over the past 12 months.

6 Tips for Avoiding the Worst Student Loan Repayment Traps

Student loans have been in the news a lot recently. If you or your children are starting to pay back student loans, check out this NY Times article. There are some good insights here to help you avoid student loan repayment traps.

nytimes.com The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accused Navient, the nation’s largest student loan servicer, of much wrongdoing. Here’s how to steer clear of problems.

Research: Family Firms Are More Innovative Than Other Companies

This is neat – New research shows that family owned firms are more efficient in their innovation processes. Some good tips in here for business owners in general too.

hbr.org They spend less on R&D but get higher returns.

Working with a Financial Advisor | Securian

Financial advisors can help with many aspects of your financial picture. Learn how advisors put your goals first.

www.securian.com Developing your own personal financial strategy can be daunting. Learn how working with a financial advisor can help with retirement, investing and insurance...

The One-Page Cheat Sheet To Your Most Productive 90 Days Ever

This in depth read is really helpful when trying to plan out and accomplish your long term goals.

fastcompany.com Here’s how to break down your big-picture goals into steps you and your team can actually take this quarter.

Why You Should Get Around to Drawing Up a Will

A will may not be on the top of your to-do list, but it should.

nytimes.com Many Americans don’t have wills, but should. You can do it yourself online, but consulting a lawyer is often a safer bet.

4 Ominous Social Trends That Will Shape Our Future

"There’s a strong sense in much of the developed world that we’re headed for harder times ..."

forbes.com We’ve touched on this before, but there’s a strong sense in much of the developed world that we’re headed for harder times. Deficits increase. Unemployment...