General retirement planning advice says that you’ll need about 80% of your pre-retirement income in retirement, but this may not be the case for everyone. Inflation, taxes, and long-term care costs are easily overlooked - but these expenses could be high. When creating your retirement budget, don’t forget to include these three expenses. Taxes: How [...]
The Federal Reserve voted to raise interest rates for the first time since 2018 and has several more rate hikes planned for this year.[1] Rising interest rates can have significant effects on the economy and your finances. Between a volatile market, high inflation, and rising interest rates, know how you’ll respond. The Federal Reserve Raising [...]
Even though you're a long time away from needing long-term care, now is the time to plan. An estimated 70% of Americans currently age 65 will need long-term care at some point, and costs can be staggering.[1] If you have a 70% chance of needing long-term care, you should think about how you would like [...]
Many of today's retirees are the wealthiest retirees of all time. Rising home values, strong market returns, and a generation of dedicated workers mean that there are more millionaires than ever. But, even if you have built a substantial nest egg, you may not feel like a millionaire and may be worried about how you'll [...]
Alexander Hamilton was the first Secretary of the Treasury: He created the first national bank, consolidated the new country's war debts, and established federal credit. You could say he was America's first Chief Financial Officer. He was also a self-taught immigrant who started with no wealth but ended up on the $10 bill. Hamilton never [...]
Although you may not have ever struck oil, you’ve already won the retirement lottery by working hard to save and benefiting from market growth and home appreciation. Now the question is how you'll make your small fortune last the rest of your life. We can learn three important lessons from The Beverly Hillbillies as to [...]
In retirement, you have to transition from saving to spending. You've worked hard to amass wealth, and now you must protect it from market downturns and make it last for the rest of your life. We have seen record highs in the stock market recently, but the state of the market at the time of [...]
In 1960, a gallon of milk cost 36 cents, and today it costs $3.35 on average.[1] Inflation is to blame, and we could see higher inflation in the coming years. It’s important to have a sense of how much you’ll need to spend in retirement, but this is difficult when future costs and tax rates [...]
A home is one of the most significant purchases you’ve made in your lifetime, so you should take your time when thinking about buying a second one. Many people have a favorite vacation spot in a scenic area, but they can’t spend a significant amount of time there until they’re retired. If you’re thinking about [...]
While $1 million is sometimes cited as the ideal number for retirement savings, this assumes a one-size-fits-all approach to retirement planning. Everyone's retirement goals are unique, and preparing for retirement might not be as simple as saving a certain amount at all. It's worth taking a more in-depth look at your finances and future needs [...]