Welcome to the first installment of our Social Security series: An Introduction to Social Security. This article, and the others within our Social Security series, will focus on the particulars related to retirement and survivorship benefits.
Read MoreAlas, the answer to the title question of this article is… it depends. I was tempted to say “yes” and make this a very quick read. However, I didn’t want to shatter anyone’s retirement dreams. As a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) practitioner, my goal is to do the opposite of that. Really, the honest way to assess this question is to examine if a retiree’s financial resources are enough to last them their lifetime. Doing so will go a long way towards determining whether or not they should consider unretiring during a stock market crash.
Read MoreAs of the most recent consumer price index (CPI) reading on Aug 10, inflation came in at 8.5% annualized. While the rate has come down from the 9.1% reading in June, it remains to be seen if this is a temporary step in the right direction or if inflation has in fact peaked. Any way you slice it, Americans are experiencing the worst level of inflation since the end of 1981.
Read MoreBefore we dive into the main components of this article, which is Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Medicare, let’s do a brief primer on how these types of accounts operate. HSAs are tax deferred savings vehicles that allow contributions to go in tax-free, and for withdrawals to be taken out tax-free – as long as the money is used to pay for qualified medical expenses. Therefore, HSAs are truly the only triple tax savings accounts allowed by the IRS.
Read MoreIRMAA is an acronym that is otherwise known as the Income-Related Monthly Adjusted Amount. This is a surcharge that gets added to your Medicare Part B and Part D base level premiums. Just what you wanted to hear… You have to pay more for the same level of coverage – only because you make more income. Effectively this is means-testing within the Medicare system.
Read MoreWith the second installment of our Medicare blog series, this article will be overviewing Medicare Part A, commonly referred to as hospitalization coverage. Note that there are many components to Medicare, and some of those components are intertwined. So, if you are interested in getting the full picture, we suggest you refer to our Medicare blog series page to keep up with the details you need.
Read MoreWith that in mind, we created a 5-page powerpoint style guide that explains how Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) works.
Read MoreAn important aspect that applies to all is that the funds you buy or sell are potentially subject to trading commissions, which are charged by your custodian (e.g. TD Ameritrade or Fidelity).
Read MoreFrom pre-approval to interest rates and mortgage insurance, determining and understanding what mortgage suits your needs can be a difficult and complex task
Read MoreToday's blog article will kick-off by examining the 4 most common student loan mistakes and what you can do to avoid those landmines. Then, we present 2 case studies, as seen with our clients.
Read MoreBuying a house, especially for first time homebuyers, typically begins with a sense of excitement. However, without a good plan and team around that buyer, that initial excitement can quickly turn into an overwhelming process.
Read MoreSure planning a family has always been a "thing." However, such a decision in today's world is putting a heavier burden on the next generation of young adults than ever before.
Read MoreA much more enviable position to be in is when someone can simply write a check when the rainy day arrives. Having the ability to do so is much less stressful than being forced to borrow at double-digit interest rates.
Read MoreMany young professionals with both student debt and a house find themselves carrying 2 mortgage-like payments.
Read MoreAmericans have a great track record of pulling together when it matters most. It is time to do it again. More importantly, I want to thank all of the people on the front lines helping us fight this deadly virus.
Read MoreWhen used properly annuities can be a useful income solution to take the pressure off of withdrawing a higher percentage of money from growth-oriented assets that often carry higher volatility and drawdown risks.
Read MoreThe Price-to-Earnings ratio, commonly called the P/E ratio, can be defined as a company's stock price divided by its earnings per share from the previous 12 months.
Read MoreIf the average investor only knew the truth, they would care less about where the Dow finished the year and leave it up to the financial professionals and historians.
Read MoreA successful football team like a successful financial plan requires a high level of synergy across the board from several different components.
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