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Our goal is to keep you, your family, and your friends up to date on everything from finance to health care. We strive to help you make the most informed financial decisions to help you achieve financial success, so you can enjoy everything life has to offer. That’s what our blog is for!

The 2025 Retirement Checklist: Are You Forgetting Something Important?

The 2025 Retirement Checklist: Are You Forgetting Something Important?

Retirement planning isn’t exactly the kind of thing you want to procrastinate, yet somehow, it ends up on the same to-do list as “clean the garage” or “start a kale garden.” But hey, 2025 is creeping up faster than that mystery charge on your credit card, so let’s get serious for a moment. Are you ready for the golden years, or are there a few glaring gaps in your plan? Let’s break it down with a checklist that will have you confidently waltzing into 2025.

Life Insurance: The Unsung Hero of Adulting (Yep, It’s That Important!)

Life Insurance: The Unsung Hero of Adulting (Yep, It’s That Important!)

Adulting is hard. Balancing a budget, saving for retirement, and trying to figure out whether you’re a cat person or a dog person—it’s a lot. But of all the things we juggle in life, one unsung hero tends to get left off the “adulting checklist”—life insurance. Oh, I know, I know, it sounds about as exciting as watching grass grow, but stick with me here. Life insurance isn’t just about morbid thoughts of “what if.” It’s about financial security, peace of mind, and (surprise!) making sure your loved ones aren’t left scrambling for pennies if life decides to throw a curveball.

Retirement Planning: Because Living Off Ramen in Your 70s Isn’t the Dream

Retirement Planning: Because Living Off Ramen in Your 70s Isn’t the Dream

Finance, Retirement

Ah, retirement. The golden years. A time for relaxation, adventure, and finally doing all those things you never had time for during your working years. But wait—what’s that in your bowl? Is it…Ramen noodles? While Ramen is a delightful throwback to college days and tight budgets, it’s not exactly the culinary experience you envisioned for your twilight years. Let’s dive into why solid retirement planning is essential unless you’re planning to become a Ramen connoisseur by necessity.

Retirement Planning Insights

Amid lost jobs and a scaled-back economy in 2020, some workers may have decided to retire earlier than planned. There are a couple of Social Security strategies worth considering in this scenario. First, if both spouses are over age 62, determine if you can make ends meet by taking only one Social Security benefit while letting the other benefit accrue to a higher level. It may be better to let the higher earner’s benefit accrue untapped as long as possible.

How Demographics Affect the Economy

Back in 2019, economists claimed that the large population of older Americans dubbed the “silver tsunami,” was creating a drag on the economy. The fear was that Americans were aging toward retirement at a faster rate than young adults were entering the workforce. Not only does this put a strain on our finance-as-we-go Social Security and Medicare programs, but a smaller workforce is less able to drive economic growth in the future.

Vaccines and the Stock Market

If there’s one thing that can move the economy and stock market forward, it’s hope. This year, that hope is being presented in the form of COVID-19 vaccines. Economists and Wall Street analysts have long proclaimed that comprehensive economic recovery is not possible until we have contained the virus. The prospect of wide distribution of effective vaccines and herd immunity by the end of the year has put recovery in our crosshairs.

When to “Buy Low”

The beginning of the year is typically full of hope. We make New Year’s resolutions, and it may take a few months for our enthusiasm (and vigilance) to wane. There’s also the “January Effect,” when the stock market generally gets a performance boost thanks to tax harvesting in December and subsequent reinvestments. But even that phenomenon tends to fade.

Global Recovery in a Post-Pandemic World

In 2020, the World Economic Forum published its annual Global Competitiveness Report, as usual. However, in light of the global pandemic, it put its long-standing Global Competitiveness Index rankings on hold. Instead, the report focused on priorities for recovery and revival instead of competition.

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Th Top 10 Things to Consider When Preparing For Your Retirement Guide

Top 10 Actions When Preparing For Retirement

Planning for retirement income may seem like a daunting task, but can help you get a handle on preparing for your financial future.

The 2025 Retirement Checklist: Are You Forgetting Something Important?

The 2025 Retirement Checklist: Are You Forgetting Something Important?

Retirement planning isn’t exactly the kind of thing you want to procrastinate, yet somehow, it ends up on the same to-do list as “clean the garage” or “start a kale garden.” But hey, 2025 is creeping up faster than that mystery charge on your credit card, so let’s get serious for a moment. Are you ready for the golden years, or are there a few glaring gaps in your plan? Let’s break it down with a checklist that will have you confidently waltzing into 2025.

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A Shot for Economic Improvement

A Shot for Economic Improvement

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the ongoing distribution of vaccines combined with the latest government stimulus is expected to jumpstart economic activity in the U.S. However, projections for sustainable growth are not equitable among various countries and business sectors. Faster and more effective vaccination deployment across the world is critical. The OECD emphasizes that global recovery is key.

What the Stimulus Could Mean for Investors

What the Stimulus Could Mean for Investors

Millions of Americans have embraced the new relief money resulting from the $1.9 trillion America Rescue Plan. They’ve been able to pay for utilities and put food on the table. Those who maintained their jobs have embraced the payout as well, but for different reasons. For them, it’s not about survival, it’s about ways to spend that lovely windfall. It’s also about jumpstarting the economy right about the time people can get back out and find work.

Annuity Insights

Annuity Insights

The Insured Retirement Institute (IRI) – a trade association for the retirement income industry – advocates annuities as a vehicle that can help provide retirees income, guaranteed by the insurer. The organization has been actively educating and lobbying legislators to expand annuity access as part of employer-sponsored retirement plans. Under this scenario, whatever portion the investor contributes to an annuity option in his 401(k) would be eligible for distribution throughout his lifetime based on an estimated calculation of life expectancy.

Retirement Planning Insights

Retirement Planning Insights

Amid lost jobs and a scaled-back economy in 2020, some workers may have decided to retire earlier than planned. There are a couple of Social Security strategies worth considering in this scenario. First, if both spouses are over age 62, determine if you can make ends meet by taking only one Social Security benefit while letting the other benefit accrue to a higher level. It may be better to let the higher earner’s benefit accrue untapped as long as possible.

How Demographics Affect the Economy

How Demographics Affect the Economy

Back in 2019, economists claimed that the large population of older Americans dubbed the “silver tsunami,” was creating a drag on the economy. The fear was that Americans were aging toward retirement at a faster rate than young adults were entering the workforce. Not only does this put a strain on our finance-as-we-go Social Security and Medicare programs, but a smaller workforce is less able to drive economic growth in the future.

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The 2025 Retirement Checklist: Are You Forgetting Something Important?

The 2025 Retirement Checklist: Are You Forgetting Something Important?

Retirement planning isn’t exactly the kind of thing you want to procrastinate, yet somehow, it ends up on the same to-do list as “clean the garage” or “start a kale garden.” But hey, 2025 is creeping up faster than that mystery charge on your credit card, so let’s get serious for a moment. Are you ready for the golden years, or are there a few glaring gaps in your plan? Let’s break it down with a checklist that will have you confidently waltzing into 2025.

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Increasing Tax Revenue Without Increasing Tax Rates

Increasing Tax Revenue Without Increasing Tax Rates

A recent article in The New York Times tackled the challenge of how the federal government can pay for its list of to-do items, such as nationwide infrastructure updates, investing in clean energy, ensuring every American has access to affordable health care, and paying down the massive $28.1 trillion in debt. The recommendation was simple: Don’t raise individual or corporate taxes — just collect was is owed under current rules and legislation.

A Shot for Economic Improvement

A Shot for Economic Improvement

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the ongoing distribution of vaccines combined with the latest government stimulus is expected to jumpstart economic activity in the U.S. However, projections for sustainable growth are not equitable among various countries and business sectors. Faster and more effective vaccination deployment across the world is critical. The OECD emphasizes that global recovery is key.

What the Stimulus Could Mean for Investors

What the Stimulus Could Mean for Investors

Millions of Americans have embraced the new relief money resulting from the $1.9 trillion America Rescue Plan. They’ve been able to pay for utilities and put food on the table. Those who maintained their jobs have embraced the payout as well, but for different reasons. For them, it’s not about survival, it’s about ways to spend that lovely windfall. It’s also about jumpstarting the economy right about the time people can get back out and find work.

Annuity Insights

Annuity Insights

The Insured Retirement Institute (IRI) – a trade association for the retirement income industry – advocates annuities as a vehicle that can help provide retirees income, guaranteed by the insurer. The organization has been actively educating and lobbying legislators to expand annuity access as part of employer-sponsored retirement plans. Under this scenario, whatever portion the investor contributes to an annuity option in his 401(k) would be eligible for distribution throughout his lifetime based on an estimated calculation of life expectancy.

Retirement Planning Insights

Retirement Planning Insights

Amid lost jobs and a scaled-back economy in 2020, some workers may have decided to retire earlier than planned. There are a couple of Social Security strategies worth considering in this scenario. First, if both spouses are over age 62, determine if you can make ends meet by taking only one Social Security benefit while letting the other benefit accrue to a higher level. It may be better to let the higher earner’s benefit accrue untapped as long as possible.

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