Retirement is a milestone many Americans look forward to, but the more prepared you are going into it, the more fulfilling it’s likely to be. No matter when you’re planning to retire, these tips will help you make the most of your golden years. 1. Go in with as much savings as possible There’s no […]
Does your bank have a cardless ATM? Cardless ATMs interact with your smartphone to let you withdraw cash from your bank’s enabled ATMs without inserting a card into a card reader. With some ATMs, your smartphone app generates a QR code for your withdrawal, and the ATM scanner reads the QR code off your phone. […]
In 2013, Fritz Gilbert reached a goal he had worked toward for 28 years: His 401(k) hit the million-dollar mark. With that tick to seven digits, Gilbert, who is 55, newly retired and founder of The Retirement Manifesto blog, joined an exclusive club: People who hit millionaire status with their 401(k)s. At Fidelity Investments, which […]
Protecting your hard-earned savings is important. One part of protecting your savings involves following the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) rules. In general terms, deposit accounts at banks and savings and loan associations are insured by the FDIC up to $250,000 per depositor per bank. Included are demand deposits and time deposits. Demand deposits are […]
For better or worse, Social Security is the nation’s most important social program. With more than 62 million current recipients, Social Security is responsible for keeping an estimated 22.1 million of these folks above the federal poverty line each and every month, based on an analysis from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. Furthermore, […]
The news on the job front has been overwhelmingly positive in recent months, with unemployment at a low and work opportunities abounding left and right. But despite these solid economic conditions, working Americans still are struggling to save adequately for retirement. Two-thirds of U.S. households have less than $100,000 set aside for their golden years, […]
We all know what inertia means. That’s when an object at rest tends to stay at rest. If that object is you, it means you keep doing what you’re doing, whether it’s watching TV or leaving your retirement plan untouched. After all, why bother? They know all about inertia in the retirement plan industry. Only […]
Though they say 40 is the new 30, it’s still a good time to take stock of your finances and make sure they’re reasonably on track. Here are three milestones you should aim to reach by the time your 40th birthday rolls around. 1. Have three months of living expenses in the bank It’s one […]
Though retirement is often a liberating period of life, it can also be a stressful one — especially from a financial standpoint. The more careful you are with your money, however, the less stress you’ll encounter. And that’s why you’ll need to avoid the following mistakes at all costs. 1. Not following a budget Just […]
When the inevitable financial emergency strikes, will your retirement suffer? Without easy access to money, the proverbial flat tire, unexpected plumbing issue or hospital visit will set anyone into a scramble for cash. Will you need to borrow from friends and family, go into credit card debt, or take a payday loan? Without other options, […]
Shave down your tax bill in the future by funding these two savings accounts in the present. Employees are likely familiar with the traditional 401(k), an account that allows you to put away pretax dollars and have them grow on a tax-deferred basis. Once you begin drawing down income in retirement, you will pay taxes […]
The holidays might be a joyous time of the year, but they’re also an expensive one — so much so that more than 25% of U.S. adults have landed in holiday debt in the past. For financial reasons, a large number of Americans find this time of year overwhelmingly stressful. The logical part of you […]
