With home values skyrocketing recently, your home may be one of your largest assets. Using home equity to help finance other financial objectives is a strategy many people consider, but before doing so be sure you understand the risks as well as the potential benefits. Home equity is the difference between how much your home […]
Should You Consider Tapping the Equity in Your Home? Read More »
Now that you’ve seen last year’s tax results and can see where this year is heading, it may be a good time to consider adjustments to your income tax withholding. Getting It Right If you have too much tax withheld, you will receive a refund when you file your income tax return, but it might
Adjusting Your Tax Withholding Read More »
The windfall elimination provision (WEP) and the government pension offset (GPO) were intended to correct a perceived unfair advantage in calculating Social Security benefits for people who earned a pension in noncovered employment — i.e., while not paying Social Security payroll taxes. In December 2020 (most recent data available), the WEP affected more than 1.9 million beneficiaries,
WEP and GPO Can Reduce Social Security Benefits Read More »
Probate is the process of proving the validity of a will and supervising the administration of an estate, usually in the probate court. State law governs the proceedings in the probate court, so the process can vary from state to state. Supervising the administration of an estate can result in additional expense, unwanted publicity, and
Imagine stepping into an elevator and realizing that you’re about to spend the 30-second ride with someone who could make your retirement dreams come true — if only you could explain them before the doors open again. How would you summarize your financial situation, outlook, aspirations, and plans if you had 30 seconds to make an
What’s Your Retirement Dream Elevator Pitch? Read More »
All of this means you may not save much (or any) money in the long run. Either way, there are features, benefits, and limitations to consider. Think about your viewing habits. Do you watch most of the cable channels you pay for on a regular basis, or just a few shows or networks that might be
Are You Ready to Cancel Your Cable TV? Read More »
If you get a call or text regarding unclaimed property that may belong to you, it’s probably from scammers trying to collect information about you and your finances. Many people lose track of old accounts or never receive checks mailed to an old address. However, you don’t need to pay anyone to retrieve unclaimed property
Where to Look for Lost and Forgotten Money Read More »
After dropping the benchmark federal funds rate to a range of 0%–0.25% early in the pandemic, the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve has begun raising the rate aggressively in response to high inflation and a stronger economy. Following an initial 0.25% increase in March 2022 and a 0.5% increase in May, the
Consider a Bond Ladder for Rising Interest Rates Read More »
Baseball stadiums are filled with optimists. Fans start each new season with the hope that even if last year ended badly, this year could finally be the year. After all, teams rally mid-season, curses are broken, and even underdogs sometimes make it to the World Series. As Yogi Berra famously put it, “It ain’t over till
Baseball Lessons That Might Help Change Up Your Finances Read More »
The COVID-19 recession and the continuing pandemic pushed many older workers into retirement earlier than they had anticipated. A little more than 50% of Americans age 55 and older said they were retired in Q3 2021, up from about 48% two years earlier, before the pandemic.1 For people age 62 and older, retiring from the
Working While Receiving Social Security Benefits Read More »
