For Mark Roberts' Use: We have happily seen signs of a growing economy this year, but even with the inflation rate remaining quite low, many Americans have expressed concerns that their incomes are falling behind the rising cost of living. Often, our own expenditures on items like gas or food can fluctuate, and it feels as [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Like most people, you're probably quite busy at this time of year. We hope you're enjoying a wonderful holiday season! But since many financial planning actions must be taken before the end of the year, let's pause for a moment and discuss five things you need to do before December 31. If [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: It's that time of year once again! We're all quite busy with shopping, planning parties, and maybe even traveling, but you should also be taking a few moments to wrap up this year's financial planning by December 31. In particular, all charitable donations must be made by the end of the [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: One day, Social Security benefits will comprise an important part of your retirement plan. But most of us tend to assume our benefits will be there when we planned, and forget to stay updated on important news about the program. While no one has made any drastic changes to Social Security [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: During your working years, much of your focus probably revolved around meeting a retirement savings goal. Once you retire, though, your focus will shift to strategies that will help that money last (hopefully) for the rest of your life. Now that your focus is on budgeting and spending, rather than saving, [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Ideally, we set retirement goals and then spend the next thirty or so years working to meet those goals. In reality, though, we often neglect to save for retirement early in our careers, and then we have to play catch-up later. Sound familiar? If you’re counting down to retirement, you might [...]
Given that the cost of long-term care can quickly deplete your life’s savings, you should seriously consider adding long-term care insurance to your financial plan. Plus, there’s about a 70% chance you’ll need some type of long-term care after age 65. Should you ever require it, a home health aide visit costs about $19 an [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: As you plan and prepare for retirement, you’re probably thinking a lot about your future budget. After you retire, you will be living off of the retirement income you’ve established for yourself, along with your Social Security benefits. You might be eyeing your retirement fund, anticipating the income you can withdraw from [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: For many people, an annuity is a good choice for generating retirement income. But because there are so many different types of annuities out there, it’s tough to know whether you’re choosing the right product. It’s important to evaluate whether your annuity will really provide for your retirement income needs. Annuities are [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: As with other social issues during election season, the wage disparity between men and women has been a big topic in the news this year. Statistics say that women earn less money than men, so it probably doesn’t surprise you to hear that retirement savings differ as well. In 2014, a study [...]