When it comes to retirement, one of the questions I’m asked most often is, “When should I retire?” There are a multitude of factors that go into making that decision and it boils down to your individual situation. There’s no formula that says if you meet a certain list of criteria, you should retire early, or if you check off [...]
Social Security has been around since 1935, and even after all those years, there is still a lot of confusion about the Social Security Spousal benefit. What is it? It’s an opportunity to receive a Social Security check based on their spouse’s work record. It’s beneficial for people who have very little work history of their own or if they’re [...]
You’re creating your estate plan. Part of it outlines how you want your estate handled when you die. But there’s another part giving instructions about what happens if you become incapacitated and can’t make your own decisions. In that case, it’s imperative that you have a financial power of attorney document. In the financial power of attorney (FPOA), you name [...]
Inflation, if it lasts long enough and hurts deeply enough, will make people rethink priorities. That seems to be the conclusion of a new Bank of America Report called Tracking the Confidence of Plan Participants which outlines current trends of workers who are enrolled in their employer’s 401(k) plan. Across all age categories, the average contribution rate is 6.4%. [...]
You’re planning for retirement. You’ve got visions of what you want it to be—the traveling you’ll do, playing with that hobby you’ve never had time for, volunteering with a cause that’s dear to your heart. You’ve got a comprehensive plan that accounts for retirement income, taxes, and even things on your bucket list. But have you planned for the one [...]
“Hey, when am I going to get my money?” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard beneficiaries ask that question when they’ve been named in a Will or Trust. It’s not uncommon for the beneficiary to put pressure on the executor or trustee to speed up the process. And if the person settling the estate caves to the [...]
Isn’t it what we all plan for? At some point in your life, you’ll stop working and enter “The Retirement Zone.” It will require income that may come from Social Security, retirement accounts, annuities, investments, or any number of sources. Yes, being a successful retiree requires planning. But you have to know what’s good planning and what are just myths. [...]
It’s just human nature. When we buy something, we want to pay the lowest price and get the best deal. That same principle applies to America’s seniors when they turn 65 and have to choose a Medicare Part D Prescription drug plan. The problem, though, is that choosing the lowest premium Part D plan may actually be more expensive in [...]
It’s called a “My Social Security” account. It’s often thought of as something for people getting Social Security benefits. In reality, there are positives for anyone who’s working and paying Social Security taxes. Protect Your Social Security from Identity Thieves Once you set up a “My Social Security” account, you’re protected. There can never be more than one account [...]
Celebrities are often placed on a pedestal because of their success and their extraordinary talent—people like Elvis, Aretha Franklin, Prince, Michael Jackson, Howard Hughes, Pablo Picasso, Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix. They were gifted and they made boat-loads of money doing what they did best. But making money has no correlation to handling money. And in the case of everyone [...]
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