The yield on 10-year Treasury notes has dropped back below 2% and, at the same time, the S&P 500 Index recorded a 15-year average return of 9% (for the period ending September 30, 2019). Many economists are predicting that we may be facing a time of increasing inflation. This scenario
Planning for retirement is like running a marathon. Set a steady pace and keep going. It is also important to have a strategy in place to reach retirement and do something each year that moves you closer to realizing it. Here are some dos and don’ts to help you reach
Capital One Financial Corporation confirmed that personal information was breached by a hacker accessing their customer records in July. Roughly 140,000 Social Security numbers and 80,000 linked bank account numbers belonging to Capital One credit card customers were compromised. The Capital One incident is just the latest among a growing
Long-term capital gains and qualified dividends have retained their preferential tax treatment following the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA). Tax rates for both types of income range from 0% for taxpayers in the lowest tax brackets to 20% for the top income earners. This compares to tax
Where do you want to live after you’ve reached financial independence? For many people, where they live is dictated by their career. That restraint ends once you have built your net worth and no longer need to work for a living. Do you want to live near the ocean or
Social Security gives workers the option to take benefits anytime between the ages of 62 and 70, and it offers some incentives to those who are willing to wait. Waiting eight years to claim Social Security at 70 instead of 62 can boost monthly payments by more than 75%. Yet
One of the most important retirement planning decisions to make will be deciding when to draw Social Security benefits. It is a difficult decision in general because there are a lot of factors to consider. This newsletter will look at three important factors to think about when taking Social Security
Owning a bank account jointly with another individual or individuals can be a useful, convenient way to manage your finances in certain situations. However, with the many changes that life can bring, there may be circumstances were you want to get out of a joint bank account or an account
Life insurance and retirement plans compose the largest part of the estate for many people. Insurance death benefits, IRAs, Annuities, and 401(k)s do not pass under your will. They pass under contract law to those persons or organizations who are designated as the beneficiary. Yet many people don’t review their
Identity theft is a serious and very personal crime, affecting every aspect of your life. Thieves can empty your bank account, max out your credit cards, open new accounts in your name, and make big purchase such as cars, furniture or even homes. They may even give your personal information
