No married couple should suffer from financial infidelity. If you hide debt, income or assets from your spouse, it can lead to a fight and possibly even an impasse in your relationship. Communication & transparency are essential when it comes to money. That truth should be recognized by every couple tying the knot, or even […]
When it seems like you can barely keep your head above the financial waters, what can you do to lighten up the heavy debt load? Positive moves to counteract negative cash flow. The financial analysis website nerdwallet.com keeps track of the various debts common to the U.S. household. As of April 2014, they found an […]
How many of us save and invest with an eye on tax implications? Not that many, according to a recent survey from Russell Investments (the global asset manager overseeing the Russell 2000). In the opening quarter of 2014, Russell polled financial services professionals and asked them how many of their clients had inquired about tax-sensitive […]
Key Medicare enrollment periods are approaching. This fall and winter, there are three periods in which Medicare beneficiaries can either enroll or disenroll in forms of coverage. * Oct. 15-Dec. 7: Open enrollment period. This is when you can exit Original Medicare (Parts A & B) for a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) and change […]
Location, location, location. It matters when it comes to real estate, and it also matters when it comes to the way you hold and invest your retirement savings. You can’t control what happens with the tax code, but you can control how your savings are held. As various types of investments are taxed at varying rates, […]
When it comes to the question of Social Security income, the choice looms large. Should you apply now to get earlier payments? Or wait for a few years to get larger checks? Here are some factors to keep in mind when making your decision: Consider what you know (and don’t know). You know how much retirement money […]
These days, we all literally hold our finances in our hands. Whether it’s making purchases, accepting small business payments, or simply checking account balances, personal wealth has gone mobile. With the speed and ease of transferring money on the go, it’s increasingly difficult to keep tabs on our budget—much less our larger financial goals. Fortunately, the same devices that […]
Just like any major life event, retirement brings about a lot of unexpected changes. Many of these changes will be in lifestyle, hobbies, or location, but the most worrisome for retirees are the unexpected changes with their financial situation. If you are like most of our clients, you have planned well for your retirement, but […]
Ever since the 2008 presidential elections, America has been in a whirlwind of discussions over our healthcare system. Any American that has paid attention has had healthcare in the forefront of their mind at some point over the past four years. And, once the Affordable Care Act legislation went into effect on October 1, 2013, it has […]
With Black Friday just around the corner, the “savings” pumped out by our culture are all but unavoidable. Everywhere we go we’re being offered a sale on something, whether it’s the necessities of our lives such as food or the less necessary, such as an extra pair of shoes or, yes, even scores of holiday […]