If you regularly contribute to a health savings account and plan to claim Social Security past your full retirement age, watch out. That’s because you can no longer contribute to an HSA once you’re on Medicare, no matter whether you sign up just for Part A hospital coverage (which is free) or additional parts of […]
Category: Personal Finance
3 Expenses That Can Eat into Your Retirement Savings
Most of us, unless we have a generous pension in our future, need to have a solid retirement plan. We need to have figured out how much money we need to retire with and how we’re going to amass that sum. Without a plan, we’re much more likely to end up struggling in our final decades. […]
Millennials are coping with death on $600 ‘grief retreats’ where they dance, meditate and swim in lakes
There’s no manual for navigating grief. The new Netflix NFLX, -1.35% dramedy “Dead to Me” follows Jen (Christina Applegate), a widow from Laguna Beach, who is grappling with grief after her husband is killed in a hit-and-run. She finds herself at a retreat in Palm Springs with her support group sipping margaritas poolside, hitting on […]
What to Do If You Know You’ll Outlive Your Retirement Savings
Outliving retirement savings is a huge concern for many Americans, and the worry is not unfounded. According to a Northwestern Mutual survey, 21% of Americans have no retirement savings at all and another 10% have less than $5,000 saved. For some, it may be possible to get back on track by boosting retirement contributions and […]
5 Financial Numbers You Need to Know
Sometimes it’s really hard to know how you’re doing at managing your money. There’s a lot to keep track of and many milestones to achieve to become financially successful, so it can feel exhausting to try to figure out if you’re on track. The good news is, when you boil down everything down to the […]
When it comes down to it, there’s no excuse for not maxing out your 401(k)
Uncle Sam doesn’t give out too many freebies when it comes to tax time, except in the form of retirement plans. Surprisingly, not many people take advantage of them. Only 41% of people contribute to a 401(k) when they have the option to do so. A 401(k) allows annual contributions up to $19,000. If you […]
Soon more borrowers will be able to use vacation days to pay off student-loan debt
What’s more valuable — getting out of debt or getting away? Soon more workers will have the opportunity to make that calculation. PTO Exchange, a platform that allows employers to give workers the ability to put the monetary value of their vacation days towards retirement savings, charitable donations and other goods and services, is expanding […]
Falling behind on retirement savings? Here’s the math on becoming a millionaire (and how to do it)
Retirement planning is a thing many Americans have on their radar. Many may wonder how they can possibly save $1 million, and essentially guarantee a comfortable retirement, by the time they are 65. Of course, the younger you are when you start, the easier it will be to hit that goal. But that doesn’t mean […]
Why Working Till Whenever Is a Risky Retirement Strategy
Cleo Parker had a simple plan before retiring: She would work well into her 60s as a marketing analyst in the automotive business. But recently, she has been searching for a Plan B. In 2006, just as she was about to turn 50, Ms. Parker’s longtime marketing job with a Detroit-area advertising agency was eliminated. […]
5 Downsides to Early Retirement
Retiring early may seem like a great plan, but it’s not necessarily all it’s cracked up to be. Leaving the workforce prior to your mid-60s can come with huge financial and mental challenges that can derail your entire retirement if you’re not prepared for them. So, before you get all excited about handing in your […]
10 Things Retirees Should Never Keep in Their Wallets
One of the worst feelings is reaching for your wallet and finding it’s not there. Panic ensues: Did you leave it at home? Drop it? Were you the victim of a pickpocket? Following our advice won’t salve that panic, but it may lessen it. Because with every new bank slip that bulges from the seams, […]
School supplies, smartphones, and diapers — what to buy now before new tariffs hit
Going to the store is about to get a lot more expensive. As trade tensions between the U.S. and China escalate, with both sides increasing tariffs on a widening selection of products, American consumers will see higher prices as soon as this summer. Tariffs on goods traded between the U.S. and China have already increased […]