Social Security Benefits: How Much Will I Receive
Next to “When should I claim Social Security benefits?”, one of the more common questions people have is “How much will I receive?” Calculating your potential Social Security benefit is a three-step process: 1. Calculate Your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME): The highest 35 years of indexed earnings is added together. It is then divided by […]
ViewDo Our Biases Affect Our Financial Choices?
Investors are routinely warned about allowing their emotions to influence their decisions. However, they are not often cautioned about their preconceptions and biases that may color their financial choices. In a battle between facts & biases, our biases may win. If we acknowledge this tendency, we may be able to avoid some unexamined choices when […]
ViewEstate Management Checklist
Do you have a will? A will enables you to specify who you want to inherit your property and other assets. A will also enables you to name a guardian for your minor children. Do you have healthcare documents in place? Healthcare documents spell out your wishes for health care if you become unable to […]
ViewCritical Estate Documents
Financial Documents Joint Ownership Durable Power of Attorney Living Trust What does it do? Enables you to own property jointly with another person Authorizes someone to handle legal and financial decisions if you become incapacitated Holds your belongings until your death Can it authorize someone to handle your financial affairs if you are unable […]
ViewVolunteering in Retirement
“This generation got no destination to hold…We are volunteers of America”“Volunteers” by Jefferson Airplane Those of a certain age will recall these Jefferson Airplane lyrics as a call to action, though for a different period and place. Even with the passage of time and through a lifetime of changes, the desire of baby boomers to make […]
ViewHow Boomers and Millennials Differ
We are in the midst of an unprecedented transfer of wealth, with trillions of dollars being moved from one generation to the next. This transfer challenges many commonly held notions as new values and interests become more prominent. In short, the economy is changing, and while some of these new practices might raise an eyebrow […]
ViewInflation and the Real Rate of Return
The real rate of return is an important personal finance concept to understand. It’s the rate of return on your investments after inflation. The real rate of return indicates whether you are gaining or losing purchasing power with your money. So if inflation checks in at a rate of 6%, does that mean any investment […]
ViewFinancial Aid for Students 101
Preparing for college while still in high school can be difficult for even the most academically-minded student. These days, you need to excel in the classroom, make sure you’re involved in extracurricular activities, and enroll in challenging classes to impress a college admissions board. On top of that, the financial cost of higher education may […]
ViewData Breach: Your Security To-Do List
According to recent statistics, data breaches have become common in today’s digital world. In fact, it is estimated that more than 111.7 million Americans have their personal information exposed to data breaches every year. Whether it’s a major retailer, a subscription service, or another online platform, the risk of a data breach is a reality […]
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