Helping pave the way towards financial freedom
One year ago there was a craze about I-Bonds. Many people inquired about them, and many people bought them. Perhaps you were one? I wrote about I Bonds in May 2022, and wanted to do an update on them now that we are in May 2023. What’s Changed? Well, the inflation rate over the past few…
In past posts – or perhaps conversations – we’ve been known to take aim at the media. That’s because bad things tend to happen to your personal wealth if you read, watch, or listen to too much news—or if you read too much into the news you’re reading. It’s human nature to react to the…
The first quarter of 2023 is in the books, and many wonder what to make of the recent headlines. The Fed raising interest rates to combat inflation was still at the forefront of the nightly news. Then came along some negative events in the financial world, dominated by Silicon Valley Bank and its meltdown. Geopolitical…
In planning for retirement, one topic is often top of mind: What if Social Security goes bust? As we covered in a related 2022 post, When Should You Take Your Social Security, most of us have been paying into the program our entire working life. We’re counting on receiving some of that money back in…
Ever heard of the 80/20 rule? It suggests 80% of an outcome is often the result of just 20% of the effort you put into it. This doesn’t always work. Sometimes, it’s worth going the extra mile. But often, by prioritizing the 20% of your efforts that make the biggest splash, you can reduce excess…
DO YOU THINK YOU’RE TOO SMART TO BE SCAMMED? About 4 out of 5 people say yes. Most also believe they’re better than others at spotting scams. Yet, scams work—and they’re more prevalent and profitable than ever before. In fact, every 15 seconds, someone’s getting scammed. Each year, billions are lost. Seniors are big targets,…
If you are like me, you were hoping to get a break from political news after the mid-term elections just ended. The break didn’t last long. The presidential campaign season is well underway, with former President Donald Trump already declaring his candidacy. In the coming weeks, we are sure to hear about other Republicans joining…
I am pretty sure that the Year 2022 will go down as the year when the Federal Reserve went to massive lengths to battle inflation. The highs we captured in 2021 quickly reversed as the Fed executed the most aggressive rate-hike path in decades. Granted, the war in Ukraine nor China’s zero Covid policy didn’t…
Nothing like year-end government planning! The original SECURE Act was signed into law on December 20th, 2019. Its “sequel,” the SECURE 2.0 Act, was similarly enacted at year-end on December 29th, 2022. Both pieces of legislation seek to reform how Americans prepare for retirement while juggling current spending needs. But a hard truth remains: Employers…
Ever since President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed off on the 1935 Social Security Act, most Americans have ended up pondering this critical question as they approach retirement: “When should I (or we) start taking my (or our) Social Security?” And yet, the “right” answer to this common query remains as elusive as ever. It depends…