No, you’re probably not imagining it. 69% percent of Americans surveyed by Lending Tree in 2023 reported they’d paid an extra fee when using a credit card for a purchase. A smaller, more recent survey by WalletHub put that figure at 79%, with 85% of the participants saying that credit card charges made them feel […]
Have you heard this phrase? It is often used to refer to the anxiety and stress that people feel in the years leading up to retirement. While it is common to feel a sense of stress with any major change, many feel a higher level of anxiety as they approach retirement due to the various
Pre-Retirement Syndrome Read More »
At this time of year there tends to be discussion about what our New Year’s resolution will be. Researchers suggest that only 9% of Americans that make resolutions complete them. In fact, research goes on to show that 23% of people quit their resolutions by the end of the first week, and 88% fail them
Resolution Fatigue Read More »
It is important to think about your risk/reward ratio tolerance–terms like “conservative” and “risky” can mean different things to different people which is why it is necessary to think it through. This way, you can also get a feel for what level of risk is necessary to try to obtain a return on your investment,
Conversions of a traditional IRA to a Roth can differ individual to individual, even where the same sum of money is involved. Let’s take, for example, two individuals, each with $100,000 in a traditional IRA, that the funds were identically invested and would double over 10 years. The tax rate was posed to be 30%.
As year-end approaches, it might be a good time to reflect on if you are allocating funds to be sure to maximize your contributions to tax advantaged accounts. If you can, you should consider making your contributions sooner rather than later. Even though you have until year-end to make contributions to your 401(k), or Tax
Are You Maximized? Read More »
As we approach year end we are frequently being asked about what we call “Lost 401k” accounts. Perhaps you changed jobs, or your employer went out of business or merged with another company, or maybe you’ve just put the memories of a workplace that you left years ago far, far behind you. And now, you
According to a national survey for LiveCareer in June, about 61% of working Americans are more afraid of retirement than of death. Why is this? The survey suggests the reason is that many Americans are financially unprepared to retire. About 20% of Americans ages 50 and older were shown to have no retirement savings according
Americans Are More Afraid of Retirement Than Death Read More »
We have been asked to explain the reason why some financial institutions ask for the name of a person that is often referred to as a “trusted contact.” There is frequently confusion about what rights that person has, specifically if they have access to any account their name is provided for. The simple answer is,
One way to approach retirement is to think of it in stages. While retirement might seem like the final step of a journey, your goals and lifestyle will likely continue to evolve, and your income strategy should reflect that. For example, consider looking at your retirement in five-year stages; can you meet your income needs
Retirement in Stages Read More »
