There’s an uptick in how many of us are choosing to get help with managing our finances. In fact, in the ten years between 2002 and 2012, the amount of money being managed by registered financial advisors more than doubled.¹ ...
The recent popularity of so-called "robo advisors" has left people wondering: how are they different from your average financial planner – you know, a human? Robo advisors and financial planners have some things in common. Both exist to help customers...
When it comes to saving for the future, Americans are lagging way behind. The median amount of retirement savings for working-age families in the U.S., those ages 32 to 61, is just $5,000. About a third, or 35%, of all...
To lower the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft and financial fraud after the data breach at Equifax, Americans should place a security "freeze" on their credit reports and delete any suspicious emails that could dupe them into...
Your home can't take the place of a retirement or college savings plan. Expecting it to do so will have horrible results. Buying a house is widely considered to be one of the best investments you can make. If you...
In 2007, the federal government created a program that would forgive student loans for people who worked in public service jobs for at least 10 years. Now, the first participants in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF) can start...
There is a lot to consider when evaluating current or prospective advisors. And you should ask them important questions like: How are you paid? What is your primary expertise? Are you a fivduciary? What are your investment beliefs? – to name...
Many adults dream of becoming homeowners one day, but some buyers may have to wait even longer to get their names on a mortgage — if they can manage to do so at all. According to the Federal Reserve Bank...
At the risk of sounding like a Facebook friend trying to fold you into my latest direct sales venture: Early retirement is possible. If you read the Internet, you might already know this is true. It’s been done; in fact,...
First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes … the visit to the financial advisor? Yes, getting married means sharing your financial life. And if you've been visiting a financial professional as a singleton, then tying the knot should include a rethink...
Forget the myths about Medicare being broke. Here's the truth. There are several popular misconceptions about the financial condition of Medicare, which virtually all American senior citizens rely on to cover health care expenses in retirement. Many people believe that...
Qualified retirement plans are designed to be used solely for retirement income. Taxable withdrawals from these plans before age 59.5 are generally assessed an additional 10% “early distribution tax” by the IRS. (The additional tax for SIMPLE IRA plans is...
Owning a small business isn't like owning stock in a publicly traded company. With stocks, you can always calculate the market value of the entire business just by multiplying the market price of the stock by the number of outstanding...
For many of us, retirement can seem like a problem for later. I need money now; why should I bother saving money for when I’m 70? I’ve got rent due and groceries to buy this week, not this week plus...
As Courtney Minor began a master's program in vocal performance, she made sure to heed some well-known advice: Stick to federal government student loans. In completing the two-year program at Longy School of Music of Bard College in Boston in 2009, Minor racked...
