Breaking down the basics & what each part covers. Whether your 65th birthday is on the horizon or decades away, you should understand the parts of Medicare – what they cover, and where they come from. Parts A & B: Original Medicare. America created a national health insurance program for seniors in 1965 with two … Continue reading The A, B, C, & D of Medicare
Think About Your Lifestyle Before You Retire
Sometimes planning for retirement isn’t entirely about money. How many words have been written about retirement? It’s a preoccupation for many, and we devote so much time, thought, and energy toward saving for the last day we go to work. Saving and investing in such a way that we no longer have to work may … Continue reading Think About Your Lifestyle Before You Retire
The Many Benefits of a Roth IRA
Why do so many people choose it rather than a traditional IRA? The Roth IRA changed the whole retirement savings perspective. Since its introduction, it has become a fixture in many retirement planning strategies. The key argument for going Roth can be summed up in a sentence: Paying taxes on retirement contributions today is better … Continue reading The Many Benefits of a Roth IRA
When Is Social Security Income Taxable?
The answer depends on your income. Your Social Security income could be taxed. That may seem unfair, or unfathomable. Regardless of how you feel about it, it is a possibility. Seniors have had to contend with this possibility since 1984. Social Security benefits became taxable above certain yearly income thresholds in that year. Frustratingly for … Continue reading When Is Social Security Income Taxable?
Could Unclaimed Money Be Yours?
How can you find & obtain it? More than $40 billion in unclaimed cash & property waits to be returned. At first glance, that figure seems staggering, unbelievable – and, yet, it is true. To be more exact, the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administration (NAUPA), a coalition of state unclaimed property programs, puts the … Continue reading Could Unclaimed Money Be Yours?
Keep Calm, Stay on Plan
Expect more volatility, but avoid letting the headlines alter your plans. Recent headlines have disturbed what was an unusually calm stock market. The political uproar in Washington may continue for weeks or months, and it could mean significant, ongoing turbulence for Wall Street. As an investor, a retirement saver, how much will this turmoil matter … Continue reading Keep Calm, Stay on Plan
The Real Cost of College
It may not be what you think. How much will your family end up paying for college? Your household’s income may have less influence than you think – and some private colleges may be cheaper than you assume. Private schools sometimes extend the best aid offers. Yes – it is true that the more money … Continue reading The Real Cost of College
Have a Plan, Not Just a Stock Portfolio
Diversification still matters. One day, this bull market will end. In the first quarter of 2017, the bull market seemed unstoppable. The Dow Jones Industrial Average soared past 20,000 and closed at all-time highs on 12 consecutive trading days. The Nasdaq Composite gained almost 10% in three months.1 An eight-year-old bull market is rare. This … Continue reading Have a Plan, Not Just a Stock Portfolio
The Importance of Financial Literacy
Too few Americans understand personal finance fundamentals. If only money came with instructions. If it did, the route toward wealth would be clear and direct. Unfortunately, many people have inadequate financial knowledge, and for them, the path is more obscure. Are most people clueless about financial matters? That depends on what gauge you want to … Continue reading The Importance of Financial Literacy
Key Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid
Too many people make these common errors. Many affluent professionals and business owners put estate planning on hold. Only the courts and lawyers stand to benefit from their procrastination. While inaction is the biggest estate planning error, several other major mistakes can occur. The following blunders can lead to major problems. Failing to revise an … Continue reading Key Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid