As you plan for retirement, you’re likely considering the major expenses you may encounter, such as housing and health care. But are you overlooking something that may have a significant impact on your ability to achieve a financially secure retirement? If the bulk of your retirement savings are in tax-deferred accounts (workplace plans and traditional [...]
Emotionally coping with the death of a spouse or partner is difficult enough. Add to that the responsibility of organizing the finances and settling his or her estate and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Here are a few suggestions to help make that part of the process easier. Assess your short-term expenses — If you [...]
It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the constant stream of negative news about the state of our country and the world. This feeling also makes it difficult to be confident as an investor. At times likes these, a little perspective might be in order. A good place to start is to remember that smart investing [...]
Many are aware of the role insurance plays in long-term financial security, but people often underestimate the importance of updating insurance policies as you age. The decisions you make about the best protection plan for you and your family today may not be applicable down the road, so you should frequently reassess whether your coverage [...]
Having a “rainy day fund” in place to help you pay for emergency expenses has long been one of the foundations of a solid financial plan. But the importance of having a cash reserve that is liquid and easily accessible has become more apparent given the hard financial realities faced by many families due to [...]
The economy may be plodding toward recovery, but it isn’t moving quickly enough to justify an increase in interest rates any time during the next two years according to the Federal Reserve. The Fed’s first announcement of lowered interest rates came during the recession in 2008, and the latest extension means that rates will remain [...]
Diapers, formula and day care — the list of expenses new parents incur goes on. And infancy is just the beginning. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that the cost for a middle-income family to raise a child through age 18 has increased by 40 percent over the decade from 2000-2010, to a startling high [...]
For some couples, talking about finances becomes taboo due to differences in money management styles and financial goals for the future. It turns out that financial disagreements between couples may reflect a fundamental difference in the way men and women approach money matters. Data reveals the role gender may play during financial planning Research [...]
