For years, I have educated employees of companies on personal finance. I have found there is one common gray area that most people inquire. “What is a credit score?”. Many are confused and curious why they should care. In simplest form, a credit score is a number assigned to you that indicates to a money… Read More
Have you ever wondered what a 401(k) is but are afraid to ask? Since 401(k) retirement plans are a frequent benefit offering in today’s world, many people hear the term but are not always sure what it means. You are not alone. A 401(k) is a tax qualified retirement account offered by many employers today. … Read More
You may have heard that a presidential election is now days away. However, what you might not be aware of is that 45% of consumers with $100,000 or more investable assets expect to make changes to their investments due to the election, according to a recent Hartford Funds study. That is an alarming number. Second-guessing… Read More
Applications for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, are now open for the academic year 2021-22. Applying for FAFSA allows you to qualify for grants, scholarships, and other federally-sourced aid, such as student loans. The applications opened at the beginning of October and will be accepted until June 30, 2022. It seems… Read More
On October 13, 2020, the Social Security Administration (SSA) officially announced that Social Security recipients will receive a 1.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2021. This adjustment will begin with benefits payable to more than 64 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2021. Additionally, increased payments to more than 8 million Supplemental Security Income (SSI)… Read More
With one year ending and a new one on the cusp of starting, many people will consider their resolutions—not their estate strategy. But the end of the year is a great time to sit down and review your preparations, especially when you’re spending more time with your loved ones; even more important if you have… Read More
Due to COVID-19, Americans are spending more time at home than ever before, leading to a record amount of spending on home improvement. It makes sense if you think about it. Many Americans now find their homes are doing triple duty as a place to live, work, and learn. Add that to the fact that… Read More
Medicare takes a little time to understand. As you approach age 65, familiarize yourself with its coverage options, costs, and limitations. Certain features of Medicare can affect health care costs and coverage. Some retirees may do okay with original Medicare (Parts A and B), others might find it lacking and decide to supplement original Medicare… Read More
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), one of the most widely followed stock market indices, has made some key changes to its starting lineup. Salesforce.com, Amgen Inc., and Honeywell International Inc. have replaced Exxon Mobil Corp., Pfizer Inc., and Raytheon Technologies Corp. The change went into effect before the market opened on Monday, August 31.… Read More