Personal Finance
Could You Become Car-Free?
It wasn’t a decision we took lightly. In fact, Billy and I discussed the idea of becoming car-free for several years. There were good reasons to do it: no more maintenance and repair costs; no more fees for insurance, license plate renewal, or registration; no more fuel expense; and no more worry about storing the vehicle here in the States w...Read More
5 Scams Aimed at Baby Boomers
If you’re visiting your mom or dad and see an excessive amount of junk mail, take note: Your parent might be a prime target for fraud. “If your parents’ mail is filled with sweepstakes notifications, free gift offers and more magazines than they could possibly read, chances are good they’re on a ‘sucker list,'” w...Read More
Retirement Countdown? Here’s Your Cheat Sheet!
One day you’re celebrating the first day at a new job. The next thing you know, toasts are being raised at your retirement party. With each passing year, the hands on the retirement clock spin faster. That’s why it’s wise to establish milestones — at 10 years, five years and one year out — to fine-tune investment strategies, buffer against market v...Read More
What’s Next for Social Security?
Key Points Social Security’s 2018 cost of living adjustment will be the largest in six years For many, higher Social Security benefits will be offset by increased costs for Medicare The Social Security system faces long-term challenges, but may be healthier than you think In recent years, Social Security recipients have had to settle for little or ...Read More
Is a Reverse Mortgage Right for You?
Handling money in retirement is a complicated business. We want our money to grow, we want to be secure, and we want to try to leave money to our heirs. Owning a home is a big part of most people’s retirement plans, and so the idea of a reverse mortgage is bound to come up. What is it? A reverse mortgage is essentially a loan on your own in...Read More
Pay Off a Mortgage or Invest? 3 Steps – You Decide
Key Points Paying off a mortgage early could reduce overall interest paid over time Investing the funds could yield a better return than mortgage interest saved With interest rates changing, it may be time to reevaluate your options Entering retirement with the mortgage paid off is a common aspiration. Paying off a home loan even sooner than that c...Read More
3 Tips for Selling Investments
Key Points Knowing when to sell is just as important to building wealth as knowing when to buy Emotional decision making could impair your ability to make good long-term choices Rebalancing your portfolio on a regular basis can help lock in gains and avoid losses On May 17, 2017, the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index dropped 373 points after a ser...Read More
Preparing for Retirement: Top Trends
Key Points Most workers are preparing for retirement, but many aren’t sure whether they’re saving enough About 37% of workers expect they’ll need $1 million or more in retirement savings Those with a formal plan are almost twice as likely to feel confident about the future Most Americans are fairly confident about preparing for retirement – are you...Read More
The Best Retirement Plan is Not To – Thoughts by Aaron Clarey
It’s an all too common problem. Every month I host a financial planning class and I ask all the new students to introduce themselves. And while there’s the occasional 35 year old housewife there, unfortunate widow whose husband did the finances there, or even the young whipper snapper 23 year old trying to get a jump on things, the plurality of my...Read More
3 Tips When It Comes To Money and Our Adult Kids
– Millennials are navigating a tough job market and a post-recession economy – Financially supporting adult children could deprive them of “teachable moments” – Sharing your experiences is an invaluable way to teach fiscal responsibility You probably talked to your kids about money when they were younger — ...Read More
Social Security: How to Plan Around Uncertainty
Key Points ****************** Americans are not confident in Social Security solvency, according to new research Benefit amounts can vary greatly based on the age that you begin collecting Legislative standoff could make other sources of retirement income more crucial ******************* Social Security has been serving as a safety net for over 80 ...Read More