Retirement Living
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
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
Working Longer? GREAT! Here’s Why ($$$-hint, hint)
WELCOME BACK to our 3-part series on the benefits of working longer. Here we look at the financial advantages of staying in the workforce later-in-life. Now we know that financial factors are exactly what drive most people to work longer and a lot of people probably read the first article and thought, “Working longer? I have no choice!” But no m...Read More
Medical Tourism – Our Top 10 Q & A’s
Because Billy and I live a lifestyle of travel, we often get readers asking us basic questions about medical tourism. Below we have the answers to some of the most common questions we get asked. How do you know if this option will work for you? The following should help you decide. Q: I have heard the term “Medical Tourism,” but what exactly is it?...Read More
The Freedom that Comes with an Uncluttered Life
I like to believe I am on the cutting edge, always one step ahead of the latest trend. I commonly find that I have initiated lifestyle changes long before they are publicized on major print media or featured on television. This is why when the tiny house trend started to catch on a few years ago, my spouse and I felt like we were ahead of the game....Read More
Help! There’s Someone in My Sandbox!!!
My husband just retired. He’s a great guy. I love him dearly. He just doesn’t belong in my sandbox. There’s an old saying, “I married you for better or worse, not for lunch.” Now I know the truth in those words. In Japan, it’s estimated that 60% of the older female population suffer from RHS – Retired Husband Syndrome. ABC News described the sympto...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
Journey with Kileen – to the South Pacific!
NOTE: This article is the first in a series by AFL Travel Blogger Kileen Prather who will share her recent exploits to the South Pacific. Kileen’s helpful hints and words of travel wisdom are always deeply appreciated! I like to cruise in January for my own personal vacation. There are two reasons for this. First, the week after New Year’s is th...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
Personal Capital – Lessons from Living the “Village Life”
Over the last three decades of financial independence, Billy and I have done some extensive world travel. While we have seen the large cities, the amazing architecture, eaten in some of the finest restaurants and enjoyed museums, plays, and concerts, generally, we are attracted to Village Life. It might not be that different from the neighborhoods ...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
