Category: Retirement

Save, invest, and plan for your retirement

Retirement

Will You Outlive Your Money in Retirement?

I’ve been retired officially for a couple of years now and I did a pretty good job of trying to save and prepare for my golden years. But truth be told, almost every month I wonder if I will have enough to last. Is it possible to outlive your money that you’ve stashed away in retirement plans? Actually, it’s the biggest fear of retired folks today and that’s according to experts. Over 44% of all persons and 41% of all retirees think they may and actually fear they might outlive their money!

Will You Outlive Your Money in Retirement?

Prepare yourself right now and avoid these pitfalls than can make your retirement a lot less than “golden” if you don’t get it right.Continue reading“Will You Outlive Your Money in Retirement?”

Personal Finance, Retirement

The Social Security Dilemma & What You Need to Do

Social Security has been around now for over 80 years and has helped millions and millions of Americans live more comfortably in their senior years. But what about the future of Social Security? It’s something you learn about when you’re young, and like most people, think about it just occasionally until you draw nearer to the time when you will receive it. Although it was never designed to be the sole supporter of your retirement, it has become just that for millions of people. It’s now more than 50% of retirement income for the vast majority of all Social Security recipients.

The Social Security Dilemma and What You Need to Do

According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), 52% of all beneficiary couples and 74% of all beneficiary singles received at least 50% of their retirement funds from Social Security payments in 2015!  For 22% of all couples and 45% of all singles, Social Security is shockingly 90% of their retirement funds. Those numbers are growing every year. That is pretty scary. Continue reading“The Social Security Dilemma & What You Need to Do”

Retirement, Saving & Investing

Retirement Realities That Will Shock Your System

When you are in your 50’s and are thinking about your retirement and all the pleasant thoughts of having your time be all your own, you may be in for the shock of your life! I tell you this so that you react now and don’t wait a minute longer to prepare yourself for the retirement realities that may be just around the corner.

Retirement Realities That Will Shock Your System

Even if you are 40, or even 30 something, and you think retirement is a goal that is close at hand for you, you should know more about what waits in retirement that perhaps you think can’t or won’t happen to you. For most of us, 50 is a toll booth that stands between you and the path to a financially happy retirement in the sense that it’s a mile marker and it’s up to you to make sure you have your “easy pass” ready to meet the toll collector. It’s not too late to reach into your pocket for the exact change and make sure that you don’t have to get off the road and travel the long way towards your peace and contentment.Continue reading“Retirement Realities That Will Shock Your System”

Budgeting, Credit, Family & Relationships, Income and Career, Retirement, Saving & Investing

Financial Literacy: A Review of “High School Money Hacks”

Every April since 2003, the United States has recognized and celebrated National Financial Literacy Month. It was called for by a joint resolution in congress and is one path to educating the citizens of our country about the importance and real necessity of developing a working knowledge in mastering the language, principles, and actions of finance.

Financial Literacy: A Review of "High School Money Hacks"

But nowhere is it more important to begin that education than with our youth. High school financial literacy is more important than ever before. There are many levels of education and responsibilities that kids come in contact with that can be the inspiration and key to their developing a full understanding of the principles of financial education. I recently read a book that I think can really help both student and parent in that quest.Continue reading“Financial Literacy: A Review of “High School Money Hacks””

Retirement, Saving & Investing

How Much Does 1% Cost You?

Last week, I wrote about How to Avoid Those Annoying Fees. But some fees can be even worse than that, robbing you of huge savings for retirement, as Michael from Stretch A Dime explains in today’s guest post.

The first thing I would suggest for you to do is login to your retirement savings account (IRA, 401k, or any other type) and check the expense ratio of the funds you have your money invested in.

If you don’t pay careful attention, 1% can cost you very dearly on your retirement savings count. Let me show you…

How Much Does 1% Cost You?Continue reading“How Much Does 1% Cost You?”

Credit, Personal Finance, Retirement

5 Money Mistakes for Women to Avoid

We all make money mistakes in our lives. I have, and what I try to do is to never make the same mistake twice. Being a man and working continuously for well over 40 years, I’ve had the chance to recoup my losses and make up for some of the money errors that might have cost me dearly now that I’m in retirement. But women, especially those who are married and are looking to raise a family, may not be so fortunate to recover from some of the same mistakes that men make for some very good reasons.

5 Money Mistakes for Women to Avoid

 

So in honor of Women’s Money Week, I’m going to look at some difficult situations and highlight the potential pitfalls that a woman may stumble over if she doesn’t deal with them early on. Time, which is often your friend when it comes to finance, can be your very best buddy if you take action sooner rather than later. Here’s what I’m talking about.Continue reading“5 Money Mistakes for Women to Avoid”

Health, More, Personal Finance, Retirement, Taxes

How Will the Presidential Election Affect Your Financial Future?

You can’t get through a day right now without hearing something about the presidential election and the Democratic and Republican campaigning that is going on. Between the news, talk shows, debate stages, and the constant updating and interviewing of the huge number of candidates wanting your vote, it’s just inescapable isn’t it?

How Will the Presidential Election Affect Your Financial Future?

How much attention do you pay to it all? Have you taken a look at what each candidate says and stands for? That may have a huge impact on your life, money, and your financial future. Here are some of the big issues that are being talked about that you should consider and may very well influence your choice when you vote in your state primary/caucus and of course next November when you have the chance to vote for President.Continue reading“How Will the Presidential Election Affect Your Financial Future?”

Retirement

Avoid These 8 Costly Retirement Planning Mistakes

There are lots of mistakes we might make throughout our lifetimes that can cost us and our family some serious money. That’s why financial advisors and other experts are always talking about what you should do to make sure you are positioned to maximize your earnings and avoid the mistakes that will derail your retirement. The Retirement Confidence Survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute in 2015 points out that only 22% of all American workers feel very confident that they are properly prepared for retirement. It’s important to understand how our financial planning strategies are helping or harming our ability to maximize our retirement savings.

Avoid These 8 Costly Retirement Planning Mistakes

Today, we’ll look at the 8 most common retirement planning mistakes we need to understand and attend to. Have you looked at all of these and put yourself on solid ground towards your goals and successful retirement?Continue reading“Avoid These 8 Costly Retirement Planning Mistakes”