Annuities have been around for many, many years and can be considered an investment product with an insurance-like attribute. They can be in accumulation mode or annuitization mode, they can be immediate or deferred, and they can be fixed or variable. They can also be treated very differently for tax purposes, depending on whether the annuity is held in a non-qualified or qualified account. Here’s what you need to know about these products, and how they may or may not fit into your overall financial plan.

Whether you are early in your career or have started a family, as a member of the next generation of investors you face your own set of unique needs. Below are key tips to ensure you are off to a financially healthy 2022!

Your business represents a substantial investment of your ideas, time, and money. Because your business faces a variety of risks and perils (e.g., property damage, theft, personal injury claims, and natural disasters), you’ll want to protect your investment. You can do this with various types of business insurance. Here are some reasons to insure your business.

Medicare is the federal health insurance program that was signed into law in 1965. It was created for people over age 65 and certain young people with disabilities. Open enrollment for Medicare runs annually from October 15th to December 7th. During the enrollment period you have the opportunity to select your health care plans that will take effect on January 1st for the next calendar year.

The experts of this show featured CNB's Denise Kelly-Dohse, CFP®, Vice President, Wealth Advisor, and Tina Scahill of Ahrens Benefits Company.

The experts of this show featured CNB's Denise Kelly-Dohse, CFP®, Vice President, Wealth Advisor, and Jane Ahrens and Tina Scahill of Ahrens Benefits Company.

Life insurance is an agreement between you (the policy owner) and an insurer. Under the terms of a life insurance policy, the insurer promises to pay a certain sum to a person you choose (your beneficiary) upon your death, in exchange for your premium payments. Proper life insurance coverage should provide you with peace of mind, since you know that those you care about will be financially protected after you die.

Your need for life insurance changes as your life changes. When you're young, you typically have less need for life insurance, but that changes as you take on more responsibility and your family grows. Then, as your responsibilities once again begin to diminish, your need for life insurance may decrease. Let's look at how your life insurance needs change throughout your lifetime.

Insurance can be a complicated matter; there are thousands of insurance companies and policies to choose from, and new products are entering the market all the time. Policies are often filled with disclaimers and insurance jargon that can frighten the average consumer. A variety of specialized types of coverage, discounts, and surcharges may further muddy the waters. Let's break down some of the insurance basics:

On December 18, 2015, President Obama signed into law the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015. One provision benefitting seniors that was made “permanent” is the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). I say permanent with tongue-in-cheek, of course, since very little Congress does can ever be considered permanent, particularly when it comes to tax legislation.

Ask the Experts is a financial forum for education and advice as CNB’s experts answer your questions on financial topics that interest you. The experts of this show featured CNB's Denise Kelly-Dohse, CFP®, Vice President, Wealth Advisor, and Jane Ahrens of Ahrens Benefits Company.

Ask the Experts is a financial forum for education and advice as CNB’s experts answer your questions on financial topics that interest you.  The experts of this show featured CNB’s Margaret Whelehan, Vice President – Personal Banking Insurance Agency Manager

For many, retirement has become something different from what it once was. Now, many retirees are just as active in retirement as they were when they were working full time. They are filling their days with meaningful non-profit work and embarking on second and third careers that they likely could not afford to try in their earlier lives.

Ask the Experts is a financial forum for education and advice as CNB’s experts answer your questions on financial topics that interest you.  The experts of this show featured Margaret Whelehan, Vice President, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust and Susan

Your insurance needs will obviously depend in part on the type of business you operate. However, all business owners should consider at least three types of insurance.