Retirement

CHICO, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 22: Supporters hold signs as democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a town hall meeting about climate change on August 22, 2019 in Chico, California. Bernie Sanders held a town hall Getty Images Earlier this week, this Bernie Sanders campaign released an expansive set of proposals meant

Share to facebook Share to twitter Share to linkedin A few million people still are eligible to use a Social Security benefits strategy that’s so valuable Congress banned it. But time is running out for them. The strategy is known as filing a restricted claim for benefits. It’s available to married couples and some divorced

As broke investors worry more and more about a stock market crash, billionaires are quietly loading up on their favorite dividend paying stocks. Investing for growth and income, these “country clubbers” know how to 4X their yields without taking on any additional risk. Who would you rather invest with? Obviously, the rich guy or gal

Average Americans See Fewer Wage Increases Than Just A Few Months Ago Getty The political spin machine is working overtime to deny what the economic data have been clearly pointing to since the start of the year – a slowing U.S. economy. To wit, an op-ed in the Washington Post by Andrew Puzder, a controversial

US President Donald Trump sign a Presidential Memorandum on Discharging the Federal Student Loan Debt of Totally and Permanently Disabled Veterans, at the American Veterans (AMVETS) 75th National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky on August 21, 2019. Photo credit: AFP/Getty Images (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) / ALTERNATIVE CROP (Photo credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) President

Share to facebook Share to twitter Share to linkedin Retirement Savings Concept : Senior woman hands holding jar full of money – vignette Getty Just under one-third of working Americans (29%) have increased their retirement savings contributions compared to last year, according to a new study by Bankrate.com. While almost half (46%) say they are

‘Whatever you do, don’t try to sell us an annuity.’ When 60-something couples visit a financial adviser’s office for help with retirement planning, these are often the first words they say after sitting down. Most of what they’ve read about annuities has been eye-glazing or frightening. But don’t write off annuities yet. Owning annuities can

WASHINGTON, DC, 2019/07/31: Seema Verma, Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services speaks during the Heritage Foundation’s event. (photo by Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images President Trump’s Medicare chief, Seema Verma, may have signaled the beginning of the end of Medicare’s three-day rule—the requirement

For those in what we call “midlife”, somewhere between 45 and 65 years of age, there is a hidden crisis many face. It’s not suddenly wanting to re-make your life nor taking an abrupt turn in your relationship with your significant other. Rather, it’s the pressure of feeling obligated to take care of both aging

The sustainable clothing company Prana wants to pay you $100,000 to quit your day job and pursue your dreams. Getty According to recent reports, millennials are ditching the 9-5 in droves in favor of more flexible careers that allow them to work remotely and travel at the same time. The concept has inspired countless “Best Job on

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are great potential fits for any modern retirement portfolio. With interest rates ticking down from 2% to 1% and, perhaps, eventually 0%, these generous dividend payers are benefitting big time. REIT stocks tend to yield twice as much as regular ol’ stocks. They collect rent and pay it directly to

Asking parents for money for college can be awkward. Doing a little math can make it much easier. Getty Dear Kids, We are very proud of you for getting into college! You’ve done a great job applying for financial aid and saving your earnings from your summer job. Now, it’s the time to have “the

What if there was a way you could tap this market correction to grab the biggest S&P 500 stocks cheap—all while hedging your downside and getting a 7.2% dividend yield? It’s not only possible, but you can do it in one single buy. More on that in a moment. First, I’m pounding the table on

At the beginning of the year, the Fed was expected to increase interest rates in the midst of a booming economy. Now, just months later, it has reversed course, not just maintaining interest rates, but dropping them. They seem to know something we don’t know. Or, perhaps, the writing is on the wall and we’re

Congratulations, you have finally signed your estate planning documents. Now, where do you keep them?   Many lawyers (myself included) will hold your original documents in their firm’s will vault. Years ago, that consisted of an actual vault or bank safe that was locked and fire proof. Nowadays, many law firms use fireproof, locked file cabinets.

I’ve always liked the idea of seeing a college degree as an investment. If you make the right choices, then your lifetime earnings will be higher. According to Andrew Latham of Supermoney.com, “college graduates earn 66% more than workers with just a high school diploma. And over their lifetime, the average college graduate earns around

Will you be richer if you run away from your Equinox gym membership? MediaNews Group via Getty Images This is an article delves into a few financial planning questions I’ve meant to answer for quite some time. Is Equinox worth the astronomical monthly dues? Would the gay community be better off saving that money for retirement? Will

Blacks and Hispanics are likely to face worsening retirement prospects compared to Whites in the years ahead, warns a report from House and Senate Joint Economic Committee Democratic staff. Photo credit: Getty Getty The retirement security gap of Blacks and Hispanics compared to Whites is likely to worsen because of lower earnings and personal savings,

I want you to think about your very first reaction when you flick on the TV and see the Dow has crashed 300, 500—even 800 points. It feels like you’re drowning, right? It’s physical, like a gasp after falling into a cold lake. Your first instinct is likely to reach for the closest “life preserver.”

The world’s thieves and scam artists constantly change their methods, and you have to keep up with them to protect yourself. Not long ago the major scam involved IRS imposters demanding immediate payment over the phone using gift cards. The incidents of that scam are greatly reduced. The main scammers were traced to India, and