While working with clients, I am often asked about social security benefits. To clarify the topic a bit, I've compiled the following list of my most frequently asked questions. This in-depth FAQ addresses common concerns about collecting social security retirement benefits, including the impact of part-time work and other earnings, the age at which you may begin collecting, and spousal benefits.
The sooner the better: it's a saying that applies to many facets of life, including educating children about money. By introducing sound financial habits early on, you'll give your child a head start on the path to becoming an informed investor. Here are some creative ideas, as well as book and website suggestions, for raising a financially saavy kid.
Given today's economy, it's fair to say that we are all more concerned about our financial situation than we have been in the past. Our awareness of the need to save and plan ahead has been heightened, and everyone, it seems, is looking for ways to economize.
As someone who works in the financial services realm, few things could give me more pleasure than this collective impulse toward saving, investing, and planning for the future. The focus on protecting your assets ties in nicely with the idea of protecting your income. You may have considered what would happen if you were downsized, but perhaps you've neglected to plan for what could happen if you became disabled. Understandably, this is not a popular subject, but it is one we must all consider.
With every news story about the latest Powerball jackpot, it's only natural to wonder, "What would I do if I won the lottery?" Although your chances of hitting the jackpot may be slim, a financial windfall could come to you through more ordinary means, such as the settlement of a lawsuit, a severance package, a family inheritance, or simply a larger-than-expected tax refund. Unfortunately, along with the obvious rewards, a windfall can be accompanied by plenty of potential problems.
You've probably heard how important it is to establish and maintain an emergency fund. Unfortunately, most people don't fully realize this until a money emergency is upon them. Are you financially prepared for a leaky roof? How about a broken-down car? If you lost your job, how long would you be able to support yourself and your family until you got a new one?
An emergency fund is money that you've set aside to be used in these critical situations, be it to handle a minor home repair or to pay for something more serious, like medical bills. Despite the clear importance of having an emergency fund, however, more than three in five Americans have accumulated no savings for unforeseen expenses, according to a recent Bankrate report.
If you are one of the 60% who don't have an emergency fund, I've outined 4 easy ways that you can prepare for the unexpected:
You've worked long and hard and are nearing retirement age. Like many other baby boomers, with your kids out of the house and a surplus of empty space and time, you may be thinking about moving. To help you make up your mind—or make your transition go as smoothly as possible—we've compiled this list of tips.
Many of my clients have questions about Medicare. How much will it cost? When should I enroll? What are my options? The process for enrolling in Medicare is surprisingly easy, but there are several options you'll need to consider.
To shed some light on the topic, I've put together Medicare 101: A guide to enrolling in the Medicare plan that is right for you.
Did you make any resolutions for 2017? Personal? Professional? Financial? We all have good intentions when it comes to setting goals that will help us improve our lives, but staying motivated and on track throughout the year can be challenging.
To help keep you moving toward your goals in 2017, I've created a month-by-month checklist of key financial tasks that will keep your finances in good health all year long.
As we approach the end of 2016, you'll likely hear many people talking about year-end tax planning. While implementing tax planning strategies at year-end is certainly advantageous, tax planning can be even more beneficial as a year-round activity.
As a financial planner, I often advise my clients to regularly review their financial planning activities alongside the current tax strategies available to them, to minimize potential income taxes while staying on course to meet their financial goals.
Retirement is something we all think about, but when it comes to the specifics - how much retirement income we'll need, and where that income will come from - many people feel uncertain and underprepared.
The best way to prepare for retirement is to take a proactive approach, and start planning as early as possible. In a webinar that I hosted last week, I discussed critical retirement planning steps, and why it's so important to start now. For those of you who missed it, I've outlined the top 4 steps you should be taking to prepare for your retirement.
