The average college student graduates with around $30,000 in student loan debt. While this isn’t an insurmountable amount of debt for a degree that may boost your earning potential, it also makes it important to maintain responsible credit habits in college and beyond.1 Below, we discuss four key facts college students should know about their credit. You Don’t Need to …
Staying on Track with Your Retirement Investments
Investing for your retirement isn’t about getting rich quick. More often, it’s about having a game plan that you can live with over a long time. You wouldn’t expect to be able to play the piano without learning the basics and practicing. Investing for your retirement over the long term also takes a little knowledge and discipline. Though there can …
A Financial Checklist for Life-Changing Events
When it comes to financial planning, people often think of financial professionals as people who assist with strategies for retirement planning. That is one aspect of their job; however, financial planning and working with a financial professional can benefit anybody who experiences life-changing events, including getting a new job, marriage, debt repayment plans, buying a house, and more. As the …
Financial Freedom, Market Volatility, and You
If recent market volatility has you questioning your opportunities for financial freedom, you are not alone. Due to rising inflation, higher interest rates, a volatile stock market, and recession fears, many investors find themselves wondering how to proceed. Fortunately, history may help gain perspective on this market. Those who weather volatility might have more resilience. Here are some tips and …
Inflation: The Nemesis of Every Single Retiree
As a retiree, one of the significant financial challenges you may encounter is inflation. The rising costs of goods and services can erode the purchasing power of your retirement savings, making it difficult to maintain your desired lifestyle. However, it’s not all doom and gloom. There are ways to safeguard your finances and make your retirement more inflation-resistant. Adjusting Your …
Financial Planning Challenges and Strategies for the Sandwich Generation
Almost half of all adults are part of the “sandwich generation.” These are adults in their 40s and 50s who are helping support or care for a parent while also supporting or caring for a child.1 Being caught between two generations of loved ones who require care can be both financially and emotionally draining, but there are ways to reduce …
Tax Benefits of Home Ownership
In tax lingo, your principal residence is the place where you legally reside. It’s typically the place where you spend most of your time, but several other factors are also relevant in determining your principal residence. Many of the tax benefits associated with home ownership apply mainly to your principal residence — different rules apply to second homes and investment …
Take a Swing at Investing Like a Golfer
Golfing and investing may not seem to share much common ground at first glance. But the more you think about it, a successful golfer and a successful investor share a number of traits such as patience, perseverance, attention to detail, and intellectual curiosity. Below, we discuss a few areas investing and golf have in common—as well as a couple of …
Retirement Annuities Explained
Having enough retirement income is a top concern for many Americans nearing or in retirement. Even though they may have saved consistently throughout the working years, they may be concerned that their retirement plans will succeed. A successful retirement plan provides the ability to maintain your lifestyle for the duration of your life. Having enough retirement income for what you …
401(k) Rollovers Can Make or Break Retirement
Making informed decisions about retirement is crucial to financial independence. In an era characterized by high job turnover, it is more important than ever for employees to carefully manage their retirement savings. With a significant portion of Americans withdrawing money from their 401(k)s when they change employers, understanding the value of 401(k) rollovers is essential to preserving a confident financial …