Healthcare in Retirement: The Basics
Healthcare insurance is a crucial aspect of managing one's health and finances. Understanding its basics can help individuals make informed decisions to help them stay healthy without running into unexpected costs. Here are some important points to keep in mind: Types of health insurance: There are different types of health insurance plans, including health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider [...]
Target-Date Funds: The Backbone of Many Retirement Accounts
A target-date fund is an investing tool, often in the form of an ETF or mutual fund, that adjusts its investment strategy based on how much time there is until the target date. The investments are strategized for long-term growth when you are further away from the target date and strategized for wealth preservation the closer you get to it. [...]
How Long Can I Keep My Money in My Retirement Account?
In most cases, you can’t actually keep your money in your retirement accounts forever. Even if you don’t need the money from your retirement accounts, many of them will require you to begin withdrawing from them when you are 73 years old.[1] This is called a required minimum distribution (often shortened to RMD). More specifically, you must start taking RMDs [...]
What Happens to Inherited Retirement Accounts?
You may know plenty about the differences between traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs, as well as the risks to your IRAs in this market, but what happens to an IRA (or other retirement account) that still has money in it when its owner passes away? You may think that the beneficiary just gets all the money in the account, but [...]
How Safe Is Your Money In The Bank Today?
With the recent turmoil in the banking sector, it’s understandable to worry about your bank savings. But before worrying, it’s important to know how your money in the bank is protected. So, how safe is your money, really? Where is my money? First, let’s talk about how your bank actually stores your money. When you deposit your money into the [...]
Tax Tips for Married Couples
Even as tax season winds down, it’s still important that you consider tax strategy as part of your financial picture. Many couples file jointly, and while it can sometimes help save on your taxes, it isn’t always the best option in each case! Here are some important factors to consider if you are filing taxes as a married couple. Determine [...]
What if 1 Million Dollars Isn’t Enough to Retire?
If you are headed toward retirement soon, or you have just retired, you may find yourself wondering, "Is my nest egg enough?" It's a common question and one that causes a lot of people a lot of reasonable anxiety. Because retirement finances are much more about prediction than they are about facts and assurances, it can be hard to feel [...]
Exploring The Difference Between an Investment and an Expense
In theory, the definitions of an investment or an expense are quite clear-cut. An expense, or cost, is simply the dispensing of time, money, or resources. An investment, while an expenditure, comes with the expectation of a return.[1][2] While the two ultimately have the same goal –to acquire a good or service—their intentions and outcomes differ. So, let's discuss the [...]
