Many workers look forward to retirement and a chance to enjoy the laid-back, leisurely lifestyle a full-time job just doesn’t allow for. Unfortunately, the majority of workers today might have to wait a bit longer before bringing their careers to a close. Roughly 60% of Americans are very likely to work longer than they […]
Category: Personal Finance
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance: The best cash back rewards cards
Using rewards cards can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. On the simple end of the spectrum are cash-back cards that yield straightforward rewards with steady and predictable values. Here are some of the best cash-back card offerings. None charges an annual fee. Citi Double Cash Mastercard: The card […]
Nearly Half of U.S. Households Aren’t on Track for Retirement
We’re told of the importance of saving for retirement, yet an alarming number of workers aren’t listening. Only about 57% of U.S. households aged 35 to 64 are on track to cover 100% of the average costs retirees face, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute. This means that almost half of today’s workers are […]
3 Reasons Your Retirement Savings Isn’t as Big as You Think
When it comes to saving for retirement, the more money you can set aside, the more financially secure you’ll be. If you diligently save over the course of your career, you’ll find that by the time you retire, the size of your retirement nest egg can grow to a number that’s a lot bigger than […]
These Money Matters Are Stressing Americans Out the Most
We all need money to function, but let’s face it: It can be an unwelcome source of tension in our lives. In fact, 54% of Americans claim that their finances cause them anxiety, according to new data from Northwestern Mutual. Specifically, here are the top three sources of money-related stress: Rising healthcare costs (59%) Unplanned financial […]
Ask a Fool: Now That Interest Rates Are Rising, Should I Keep More Money in Cash?
Q: You’ve written that cash, or cash-based investments like money market funds and CDs, are a bad place to keep your assets because they pay next to nothing. With recent interest rate increases, is this still the case? Generally speaking, I’m still an advocate of a well-allocated portfolio of stock- and bond-based investments. That said, […]
Fact or Fiction: Social Security Is Running Out of Money?
Social Security is arguably the most important social program for senior citizens. More than three out of five retired workers lean on Social Security to provide at least half of their monthly income, with another third relying on Social Security for virtually all of their income (90% to 100%). Yet, truth be told, we still […]
How to Assess a Job Offer
When you want a job — whether it’s your dream job or you’re simply ready to move on — it can be all too easy to accept any offer you’re given, even if it’s not the right offer for you. “The No. 1 misstep I see clients take is the failure to step back, take […]
3 Personal Finance Basics Everyone Should Follow
Keeping your financial life in shape takes time and planning, but there are some ideas and rules anyone can follow to help ensure that they are on the right track. Here are three personal finance basics everyone should follow to ensure their finances are in order: Identify, Quantify and Prioritize Your Goals Setting goals is […]
4 personal finance rules every business should live by
If you think of your business as an extension of yourself, it’s easy to see how important it is to follow the same finance rules as you would for your personal financial health. Consider for a moment what would happen to your household if you had no cash on hand (cash flow) to pay your […]
If you are your own boss, don’t miss this tax deadline
Most taxpayers who filed their return in April can breathe easy for a year before facing another Internal Revenue Service deadline. The self-employed aren’t so fortunate. If you have income from a side gig or from full-time freelancing and contract work — i.e., no company is withholding taxes from your paycheck — it’s time to […]
How to keep on top of your personal finances in a growing economy
The economy has shifted into high gear, with corporate profits surging, bankruptcies and foreclosures tumbling and the national unemployment rate easing to 3.8%, an 18-year low. Americans have become more optimistic, but their personal finances don’t necessarily mirror the economy’s progress. The latest assessment of household financial health by the Federal Reserve shows “many signs […]