Last week we covered four financial planning myths that can confuse and frighten employees as they try to figure out how much income they will need in retirement. This week, I’ve chosen five more statements related to insurance, taxes and Social Security that are largely mythical, even if some contain a grain of truth. Let’s look at […]
The recent market volatility has affected just about everybody’s financial and investment situations. So, if you were planning to retire soon, you may be wondering if it will still be possible? Of course, the answer depends somewhat on your employment situation. With so many people’s jobs being affected by the coronavirus pandemic, your retirement plans […]
With each day feeling like it’s getting hotter, people are looking for ways to keep their homes cool this summer without running up their electricity bill. Two Rivers Regional Council Weatherization Director Jon Vrandenburg says they key is to keep the heat that’s outside from coming inside. Vrandenburg explains, “Close your windows, seal all the […]
That’s personal-finance celebrity Suze Orman offering some advice on the “Pivot” podcast this week about what investors should be doing during the coronavirus pandemic. With traditional IRAs or 401(k)s, savers get the tax break immediately upon the contribution, allowing their investments to grow tax-free, and then have to pay the taxes upon withdrawal. But there […]
If the economic impacts of the pandemic put you out of a job this spring, you’re probably scraping by with a mix of your state’s unemployment benefits plus an extra $600 weekly payment thanks to the CARES Act. But what happens to those benefits if you go back to work—especially if you’re only able to […]
The U.S. Department of Labor has published a final rule that would nix the default mailing of pension and 401(k) statements to eligible Americans in favor of electronic statements, which could spell trouble for seniors who aren’t regular internet users, according to a report from AARP. Individuals who prefer to receive paper copies of these […]
Microsoft is launching a new Money in Excel feature that’s designed to help the millions of people who use Excel to track budgets and personal finances. Money in Excel is a template and add-in for Excel that allows Microsoft 365 subscribers to securely connect to bank, credit card, investment, or loan accounts and import transactions […]
Microsoft’s newest frontier may just be your household budgeting process. Microsoft is pushing deeper into personal finance, having just announced the launch in the United States of its new Money in Excel product. The new Excel offering enables Microsoft 365 Personal and Microsoft 365 Family users to plug all their financial information into one place […]
BUSINESS OWNERS AND GIG workers are often frequently ineligible for unemployment insurance. But thanks to COVID-19, small business owners, gig economy workers and independent contractors who’ve lost income can access a range of benefits, including unemployment insurance. So if you’re your own boss but your finances have taken a hit this year, it’s important to […]
The stock market has clawed back much of its losses from the new coronavirus pandemic. Ophthalmologist Craig Sklar is selling his stocks anyway. When the pandemic hit, the value of Dr. Sklar’s investments tumbled. So did the income he earned from his private practice in Connecticut, which was forced to furlough staff and dip into […]
As the unemployment rate has soared to a recent record 14.7%, the highest since the Depression era, the coronavirus crisis may result in one alarming trend: forcing thousands of Americans into early retirement. The coronavirus is impacting labor markets in three ways. First, there have been significantly larger than anticipated job losses. Second, many laid […]
Numerous studies—both past and current—report a looming shortfall of retirement savings for American workers who are approaching their retirement years. Some people call this a retirement savings “crisis,” whereas others characterize it as a serious retirement planning challenge. Regardless of whether you call it a crisis or a challenge, there are steps we can take […]
