Blog

Some life and financial factors can be overlooked. We all have a “blue sky” vision of the way retirement should be, yet it helps to plan for retirement with a little pragmatism. Fate may alter the course of our retirement...

Do two-thirds of us really have no financial plan? Only 48% of Americans say they think they are saving enough. And 30% feel that they are not even slightly confident that they are saving enough for retirement. That finding comes from...

With the Fed poised to gradually raise rates, this is worth considering.America once experienced something called “moderate inflation.” It may seem like a distant memory, but it could very well return in the second half of this decade....

Some people make money moves that may get them in trouble.Americans do many things with their money and invested assets, most of them on the up and up. There are exceptions, however – cases in which people unintentionally break the law...

Your outlook may influence your financial outcomeWhat kind of retirement do you think you’ll have? An outstanding one? A depressing one? What if it all starts with your outlook? Qualitatively speaking, what if the success or failure of...

The “dirty dozen” that criminals & cheats try to get away with year-round Year after year, criminals try to scam certain taxpayers. Year after year, certain taxpayers resort to schemes in an effort to put one over on the IRS. These...

A lack of vision is often the answer to that question. Many are the stories of family wealth lost. In the late 19th century, industrial tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt amassed the equivalent of $100 billion in today’s dollars – but when...

Little things you could do that could help you leave work a little sooner. Little things matter. When planning for retirement, people naturally think about the big things – arranging sufficient income, amassing enough savings,...

Next year’s small COLA isn’t the only adjustment related to the program. Here are six things you need to know about Social Security for 2014. For clarity’s sake, here is a rundown of what is changing next year, and what isn’t. Social...

A practical financial checklist for the future. When our parents retired, living to 75 amounted to a nice long life and Social Security was often supplemented by a pension. How different things are today! The good news is that life...

Getting It All Together for Retirement Where is everything? Time to organize and centralize your documents. Before retirement begins, gather what you need. Put as much documentation as you can in one place, for you and those you love....

Breaking down the enrollment periods and eligibility. Medicare enrollment is automatic for some of us. If you are age 65 and eligible to receive Social Security benefits (or married to someone eligible to receive them), then you are...

Many myths surround these popular estate planning tools. Living trusts are created with a clearly defined objective: to avoid probate. Misconceptions about living trusts have spread to the point where people think they can accomplish...

What you and your loved ones need to know. At some point, someone you love may make the transition from living at home to residing at an assisted living or nursing home facility. When should that transition occur, and what factors must...

It isn’t too early to think about next year. We are now in plain view of the “fiscal cliff”. After the election, Congress may or may not end up keeping income and estate tax rates at their recent levels. Next year may bring some...

Little things to keep in mind for life after work. Decades ago, there was a popular book entitled What They Don’t Teach You at Harvard Business School. Perhaps someday, another book will appear to discuss certain aspects of the...

Why are they made again and again? Much has been written about the classic financial mistakes that plague start-ups, family businesses, corporations and charities. Aside from these blunders, there are also some classic financial...

MEDIGAP & MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS They may come in handy, as Medicare may not cover as much as you think. Will you be 65 soon? If you’re turning 65 in the next few months, you might consider supplementing basic Medicare coverage. Most...

How will Congress resolve these issues? Decisions must be made. In the next couple of months, Congress will address several major tax matters. Here are the big questions looming. The Bush-era income tax cuts. Will the current...

What can married couples do to increase joint lifetime benefits? What is your “magic number”? Roughly half of retirees claim Social Security benefits at age 62, as soon as they become eligible. Some people delay benefits and postpone...