Here are some easy ways to protect the environment and improve your budget at the same time. Wash your clothes in cold water. They get just as clean, but without the energy needed to heat the water. Take shorter showers. Shaving even one minute off of your daily shower could save nearly a thousand [...]
Many prospective investors eventually shy away from a commitment when they hear the dreaded “R” word: risk. By itself, risk is innocuous, carrying no special meaning or predictive result. But the idea that investing one’s money is not foolproof; that there are risks involved, and that a return is speculative — the very idea [...]
Changing jobs can impact your 401k retirement plan. To minimize disruptions to your contributions and the vested portion of your previous employer’s contributions, it’s important to understand the choices you may have when you make a career transition. We offer the following key considerations: Option 1: Stay Your previous employer may allow you to [...]
In an effort to save money, the Social Security Administration (SSA) stopped mailing annual statements nearly a decade ago. The yearly statements were helpful, as they helped workers estimate their Social Security benefits. Despite this lack of formal reporting, the SSA offers an online option, Retirement Calculator, where you can estimate your Social Security benefits. [...]
One year ago, there was already troubling news about how little Americans had saved for retirement. Then the pandemic descended, multiplying those concerns. Local and national governments attempted to help with the immediate needs of citizens who, on a grand scale, suffered sudden job losses. The CARES Act paved the way for people to [...]
Seven age milestones that will impact your retirement planning As you travel the savings road toward retirement and beyond, certain key dates will pop up. Some of these dates are critically important to your retirement planning efforts. Taking the right retirement planning steps as you reach each of the following age milestones could help [...]
During these uncertain times, 529 plans may make more sense than ever For many people, a 529 savings plan offers an opportunity to achieve an important life goal and improve overall financial health. As college and university administrators determine how higher education will look in the future (classes on campus, remote learning or a [...]
It’s tempting to predict runaway 1970s inflation as an April Fools’ Day joke. But at the risk of upsetting our friends in the compliance department, we’ll shoot straight here. With that important disclaimer out of the way, here we provide 10 reasons why we aren’t worried about inflation long term: Technological development. As we learned [...]
Congratulations on your new job! As you navigate through a new onboarding process, you stop suddenly when you get to the discussion of retirement plans. And then you think: What about my plan at my previous employer? What do I do with the money in that account? Good question. You have four options for [...]
Seventy-two is an important age milestone for those in or near retirement, as it marks the time when required minimum distributions (RMDs) begin to be withdrawn annually from IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans (previously, the threshold was 70 ½). The milestone carries with it tax consequences that are not fixed. Rather, there are a [...]
