Retirement can mean uncertainty if you haven’t taken steps to plan for it appropriately. In a June 2018 Bankrate survey, 61% of Americans admitted that they still don’t know how much they’ll need to save to retire. Getting your target savings number right is an important part of the retirement planning process, but it’s just […]
You could save money by eating only cat food or performing your own dental surgery, but you probably should not try either of those. It’s also possible to save money by giving up things you love, and, generally, that’s not a best practice either. Instead, saving money involves making sensible cuts, understanding your spending, and […]
For better or worse, Social Security is a program that our nation’s senior citizens can’t live without. As of September, 43.4 million retired workers were receiving a monthly benefit and, according to data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), more than 3 out of 5 were leaning on this payout to account for at least […]
Running out of money in retirement is a major concern, so much so that 60% of older Americans are more worried about spending down their nest eggs than about actually dying. If you’re nervous about having enough money in retirement, rather than stress about it, take steps to increase your income while you still can. […]
Social Security is a nice supplement to your personal retirement savings, but there isn’t a retiree alive who doesn’t wish that that check were just a little bit bigger. The average Social Security retirement benefit is $1,417 per month, but with careful planning, you can beat the average and ease the strain on your own […]
We all want to make more money at work, and the start of a new year often coincides with a boost in income. That said, raises are by no means guaranteed, and just because your friends and peers might be getting an increase doesn’t mean you should automatically expect the same. If you really want […]
In a small warehouse in Melville, New York — a town located on Long Island — dozens of shelves of neatly organized bins hold colorful socks featuring every playful print imaginable. There are socks featuring avocados; socks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s face; socks that look like Vincent Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” painting; socks […]
There’s something about the end of the year that motivates us to step up our game. Maybe there’s a project you’re itching to finish before 2018 comes to a close. Or maybe your goal is to snag a raise and start the new year richer. Here are a few key moves my colleagues and I […]
The number of 401(k) accounts with a balance of $1 million or more rose to a record 168,000 in the second quarter, an increase of 41 percent from a year earlier, according to Fidelity Investments, the nation’s largest plan administrator. Although that’s only a small percentage of 401(k) participants, there were other positive developments. The […]
From credit reports to family leave, there are a few areas in which Democrats and Republicans share common ground. And bipartisan cooperation could be good for your wallet. Think there’s no hope for bipartisan cooperation now that the Democrats control the House of Representatives and the Republicans have tightened their grip on the Senate? C’mon, […]
With a number of written and unwritten rules for how to handle your personal finances, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and not know which rules to follow or which ones will work best for you. When it comes to your managing your money, it’s important to remember that one size does not fit all, and […]
SOME RETIREES ARE happy, while others are downright miserable. According to financial planners, what separates the happy retirees from the unhappy ones comes down to getting a few things right in pre-retirement planning. Financial advisors say happily retired clients are financially stable and have properly thought out and planned their retirement. Here’s what differentiates the […]
