Important Birthdays Over 50
Most children stop being “and-a-half” somewhere around age 12. Kids add “and-a-half” because they want everyone to know they are closer to the next age than the last. As adults, there are several important birthdays over 50 that may be worth tracking just as closely. Later in life, “and-a-half” birthdays start to matter again. Starting […]
Immediate vs. Deferred Annuities
Annuities may not be as familiar as 401(k)s, IRAs, or brokerage accounts, but they can play a role in some retirement income strategies. Understanding immediate vs. deferred annuities is a helpful place to start. An annuity is a contract with an insurance company. In exchange for a premium or a series of premiums, the insurance […]
How Women Can Prepare for Retirement
Retirement can look different today than it did for previous generations, and retirement planning for women often involves its own set of considerations. Many retirees are living longer, pensions are less common than they once were, and Social Security often needs to be supplemented by personal savings, workplace retirement plans, and other income sources. For […]
How Will Working Affect Social Security Benefits?
Many people expect to keep working after they retire, so it helps to understand how working and Social Security benefits interact. Some continue working for income. Others want structure, purpose, social connection, or the chance to stay active in a profession or business they enjoy. That raises an important question: How will working affect Social […]
How Will the Economy React to AI?
Artificial intelligence is moving quickly, and many investors are asking how AI and the economy may affect each other in the years ahead. AI tools now help businesses write, code, analyze data, detect fraud, improve customer service, develop medicines, summarize documents, and automate routine tasks. New tools appear so fast that some become outdated only […]
How to Make the Tax Code Work for You
The tax code can feel complicated, but you do not need to understand every rule to make better financial decisions. Thoughtful tax planning can help you focus on the provisions most relevant to you. A good place to start is with two basic ideas: credits and deductions. Both may reduce what you owe, but they […]
How to Appeal Your Property Taxes
Property taxes can be a meaningful expense for homeowners and real estate investors. If your local government assesses your property at a value higher than it may be worth, your tax bill may be higher than necessary, and a property tax appeal may be worth considering. An appeal gives you a chance to challenge that […]
How the SECURE Act 2.0 Changed RMDs
In the final days of 2022, Congress passed the SECURE Act 2.0, a broad retirement law designed to expand savings opportunities and give retirement savers more flexibility. It followed the original SECURE Act of 2019, which also changed several long-standing retirement rules. Together, these laws affect many areas of retirement planning, including required minimum distributions, […]
How Often Should You Update Your Estate Plan?
Creating an estate plan is an important first step. Knowing when to update your estate plan matters just as much. Your estate plan should reflect your life as it looks today—not the way it looked five, ten, or twenty years ago. Relationships change. Assets change. Laws change. Family responsibilities change. If your documents do not […]
How Insurance Deductibles Work
An insurance deductible is the amount you, the insured, pay before any claim is paid by your insurance carrier. Depending upon the type of insurance, a policy may set the amount of deductible. Alternatively, it may offer you the ability to select a deductible amount. Deductibles serve a dual purpose: they save the insurance company […]