So Long, Free Credit Monitoring Were you one of the nearly 148 million consumers affected by the 2017 Equifax data breach? You may have taken advantage of Equifax’s free one-year offer of their TrustedID Premier service, extended to all affected consumers. TrustedID Premier allowed consumers to lock their Equifax credit report, provided identity theft insurance, […]
If you’re looking for love as the calendar moves toward Valentine’s Day, you may want to check your finances. No, you’re not looking to make sure you have enough money to pay for flowers, chocolates, or a fancy dinner. Instead, you’re checking to see if your debt limits your dating pool. Nearly three-quarters of American […]
One of the most important financial goals you have is to provide for a financially secure retirement. That’s a daunting task, but if you get started early, then you have your whole career to save and invest in order to grow your nest egg into a healthy amount that will support you long into your […]
There are certain things workers look for in a job — competitive pay, great health benefits, and the little perks that make coming to work all the more pleasant. However, some of those perks might end up hurting employees more so than benefiting them. Here are a few your company might want to do away with. 1. […]
Financial fraud has become so rampant that it’s hard for consumers to keep up. Nearly every person who holds a debit or credit card has received alerts about charges they may not have made, and tens of millions of Americans have had some of their cards replaced in the wake of data breaches at retailers […]
The markets have recovered from their year-end turbulence. Still, you’ll likely see the negative effects of that turmoil when you open up your latest 401(k) statement. Average account balances for 401(k), 403(b) and individual retirement accounts dropped for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to the previous quarter, according to Fidelity Investments. The average 401(k) […]
Millions of retired seniors depend on Social Security to pay their expenses, so much so that it’s their single greatest source of income. As such, getting less money out of the program than anticipated is something that could really hurt you in retirement. Here are a few reasons your benefits might not be as high […]
A key financial question for retirees is what to do with their hard-earned retirement savings. For example, some investors may find it more fulfilling to provide a college fund for grandchildren rather than purchase a second home for themselves. The opposite can also be true, and that’s okay. In my experience working with retirees, I’ve […]
Even steady customers probably don’t know the manager of their local Target or Walmart. They may not even have a real connection with any employee in the store, and they most certainly don’t have a relationship with either company’s CEO. That’s an inherent pitfall of any big business that small business owners and managers can […]
Tax scams abound year-round, but people over 65 are targeted even more frequently during tax season. Why? A certain amount of money is in play at this time as taxpayers are figuring out what they owe Uncle Sam and scammers take advantage of the fact that money is being exchanged between the U.S. citizenry and […]
During retirement, you’ll have a lot more freedom. You won’t have to answer to a boss anymore, or meet important work deadlines. But just because your hours are your own doesn’t mean you don’t have to live by some rules. In fact, there are five key rules you need to follow as a retiree so […]
If saving money were an easy thing to do, many Americans would have much more in the bank than they have today. The sad reality, however, is that 40% of U.S. adults don’t have the cash on hand to cover a $400 emergency. Without near-term savings, however, you risk racking up debt the moment an unplanned […]
