For many workers, retirement can’t come soon enough. You may be yearning for the day you can stop setting the alarm clock and start spending your time however you please, and early retirement may sound like a dream come true. But that dream can quickly turn into a nightmare if you’re not prepared because there’s […]
Category: Personal Finance
Waited Too Long to Address Retirement? Do These 4 Things Now
The procrastination struggle is real. We put off cleaning the toilet, getting the oil changed in the car, and organizing our financial documents. But perhaps the biggest thing we wait on is saving for retirement. According to Fidelity’s 2020 Retirement Savings Assessment, 46% of working American households are at risk of not being able to […]
Most Americans Give Themselves a Grade of C or Lower in Retirement Saving
Saving for retirement is one of the most important things you can do with your money. Unfortunately, most Americans don’t think they’re doing it very well. In fact, according to a recent TD Ameritrade study, the majority of Americans would give themselves a grade of C or lower on their retirement savings. Sadly, the number […]
2 Ways to Get Out of Paying Taxes on Your Social Security Benefits
Taxes are an unpleasant — but essential — part of life. And unfortunately, you won’t be able to escape them even in retirement. Not only could you be faced with income taxes if your savings are stashed in a 401(k) or traditional IRA, but you may also have to pay taxes on your Social Security […]
3 Reasons to Retire Early (and 2 Reasons Not To)
When you’ve spent the majority of your adult life working, you may be eager to retire as soon as possible. Maybe you have a long bucket list of activities you can’t wait to enjoy, or perhaps you’re just ready to sit back and enjoy a life of leisure. Regardless of how you choose to spend […]
Want a $100 Boost to Your Social Security Check? Here’s What You’ll Have to Do to Earn It.
Preparing for retirement is hard, and for most Americans, the money they get from Social Security will be critically necessary to help them make ends meet. The typical retired worker has to get by on just over $1,500 a month from Social Security, and while that’s better than nothing, it still leaves most people needing […]
These are the steps to financial independence
Royals aren’t the only ones leaning on family. As Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, struggle to become financially independent and forgo public funds, they are even more like the rest of us. More than half of millennials over 21 are receiving financial help from a parent or guardian, according to […]
Top tax-planning mistakes when saving – or not saving – for retirement
Tax season is here, and whether you’re 23 or 53, it’s a good time to think about tax-saving strategies, particularly when it comes to retirement. While the biggest mistake is not having in place an overall financial plan and a risk management plan, there are smaller missteps you can easily correct that will help you […]
Will There Be Another Tax Refund Scare This Year?
Everybody likes to get money back from the IRS, and as tax season has finally begun, millions of Americans hope that they’ll be able to get tax refunds after they file their returns this year. With more than 70% of taxpayers for the 2018 tax year having received refunds, it’s not uncommon to expect to […]
How Much Will I Get From Social Security if I Make $100,000?
Social Security benefits in the United States aren’t well-understood by many pre-retirees. The benefit formula is a bit complex, and many people simply don’t have any idea how much they should expect to get. To look at one example, let’s say that you make $100,000 per year. Here’s a rundown of what this means in […]
How to Retire at 40: Is It Really Possible?
The FIRE movement, short for “financial independence, retire early,” has many people dreaming of an early retirement. But while some people think “early retirement” means calling it a career at 55, some have far more ambitious retirement goals, aiming to retire as young as 40. But could you really have enough retirement savings to retire at 40? And […]
One-Third of Older Adults Admit They’ll Never Afford Retirement; Here’s What to Do if You’re One of Them
Today’s workers have their work cut out for them when it comes to preparing for retirement. Pensions are a thing of the past at most companies, and Social Security benefits are only intended to replace around 40% of your pre-retirement income. That means a significant chunk of your money in retirement will need to come […]