by Kenny | Jan 12, 2022
The end of the year provides a good opportunity for reflection. The past 12 months brought plenty of opportunities to make financial strides — and plenty of potholes and challenges. A lot of Americans struggled with money issues, but others flourished. Whether your...
by Kenny | Jan 7, 2022
Understanding the various types of annuities and how they work If you are considering buying an annuity to provide steady income during retirement, it’s important to understand the different types and how they work. Here’s a look at the fundamentals of...
by Kenny | Dec 31, 2021
KEY POINTS The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted people to rethink both big and small life goals. For 2022, it’s “super important” that everyone redo their financial plans, advisors say. These tips can help you make sure you’re on track and turn uncertainty into...
by Kenny | Dec 22, 2021
Inflation is here. The most recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation report showed that prices rose across the board in November. By a lot. Overall, prices climbed 6.8% year-over-year, the largest increase since June 1982, and rose 0.8% over the past month. Higher...
by Kenny | Dec 16, 2021
What to do now, as the pandemic surges yet again in the U.S. COVID-19 is still raging throughout the U.S., and in much of the world it has never stopped doing so. Safe and highly effective vaccines are available, but not everywhere, and even where they are, not...
by Kenny | Dec 9, 2021
There’s still time to give your savings a good boost before you retire If you’re between 55 and 64 years old, you still have time to boost your retirement savings. Whether you plan to retire early, late, or never ever, having an adequate amount of money...
by Kenny | Dec 2, 2021
Different phases call for different strategies If you’re physically healthy and financially prepared, your retirement could last for decades. During that time, it may go through several distinct phases, with changing levels of income and expenses that require...
by Kenny | Nov 28, 2021
Staggering your retirement date from your spouse may benefit you both Many working couples dream of the day when they can retire and sail off into the sunset together. However, couples should consider whether retiring at the same time is the wise choice. There are...
by Kenny | Nov 18, 2021
The income ranges, adjusted annually for inflation, determine which tax rates apply to you You may be making plans for filing your 2021 income taxes, but in a few short weeks you’ll be living in tax year 2022, and tax year 2022 will differ substantially from...
by Kenny | Nov 11, 2021
Planning ahead is one of the best ways to prepare for a comfortable retirement. From keeping track of your savings to adopting strategies for generating income, a thoughtful approach can help you sustain your lifestyle as you move into the next phase of your life....
by Kenny | Nov 4, 2021
Steps you can take to avoid disagreements over spending and much more You’ve looked forward to retirement for decades — the chance to slow down the pace, to live in a different place, to see parts of the world you’ve only dreamed of, to spoil the grandkids...
by Kenny | Oct 28, 2021
What Is Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE)? Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) is a movement of people devoted to a program of extreme savings and investment that aims to allow them to retire far earlier than traditional budgets and retirement plans...
by Kenny | Oct 20, 2021
Working at 50+ From flight attendants to grocery store managers, older adults made the tough decision to end careers Retirement is supposed to be a happy time, but Lucie Desmond expects there will be tears when her paperwork comes through. Desmond, 62, has been a...
by Kenny | Oct 13, 2021
What Is Financial Health? Financial health is a term used to describe the state of one’s personal monetary affairs. There are many dimensions to financial health, including the amount of savings you have, how much you’re putting away for retirement, and how much...
by Kenny | Oct 8, 2021
Few are prepared as financial decision-making grows more complex Many consumers have little understanding of finances, how credit works, and the potential hit to financial well-being that poor financial decisions can create for many, many years. In fact, a lack of...
by Kenny | Oct 3, 2021
What to do now, as the pandemic surges yet again in the U.S. COVID-19 is once again raging throughout the U.S., and in much of the world it has never stopped doing so. Safe and highly effective vaccines are available, but not everywhere, and even where they are, not...
by Kenny | Sep 23, 2021
KEY POINTS The Covid-19 pandemic has hurt some Americans’ confidence that they can meet their retirement goal date on time. Among those feeling the most negative effects are women and pre-retirees. Even so, many Americans say the pandemic was a financial wake-up call...
by Kenny | Sep 17, 2021
Studying behavioral economics has taught me that our brains don’t make it easier for us to save. Psychology is often just as important in personal finance as are the numbers — the way we save, spend and invest are all influenced by the way we think and feel,...
by Kenny | Sep 12, 2021
If you earn money from the sale of a capital asset — your home, part of a business, stocks, or bonds, for example — that profit may be subject to capital gains tax. There are two categories of capital gains: short term (assets held for a year or less) and long term...
by Kenny | Sep 4, 2021
Most people over 65 will eventually need some form of paid care. Here are some ways to plan ahead. Many people are frightened of long-term care costs — for good reason. Most people over 65 eventually will need help with daily living tasks, such as bathing, eating or...