Rainy Day & Emergency Funds
Could your car need repairs? Might your water heater go out? Is it possible you might lose your job during a corporate reorganization? Sure they can. Wouldn’t you like to reduce your stress and avoid going into debt by being ready for the unexpected? Fortunately, there are two financial planning tools to help you deal […]
A Hidden Expense: Subscription Services
Are there any of us who don’t subscribe to a number of subscription services, probably not. Just think about it. Do you have a cell phone plan, do you subscribe to Netflix or Amazon Prime. Many of us do. And the companies love you for doing so. Companies call this annuity-based or recurring revenue. It […]
Dealing with Debt
Did you know that 77% of Americans carry some amount of debt? Now part of that is to be expected. For most of us, we simply can’t purchase a home without borrowing. However, a 2018 Northwestern Mutual study showed that, exclusive of mortgages, average household debt is $38,000. Credit card debt makes up the largest […]
Talking Money with Your Partner
Whether you’re married, living together or in some other type of committed relationship, it’s important to have good communications about relationship issues. This might include how to parent the kids, life goals, finances and so on. In many surveys, money is included in the list of topics that can be difficult for couples. For example, […]
Adjusting Withholding for Taxes
You probably remember that the government passed some extensive tax law changes late in 2017. These were called the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Early in 2018, the IRS reduced withholding rates to account for some, but not most, of the tax law changes. (For many of us, this resulted in higher take-home pay which […]
Higher 401(k) and IRA Limits for 2019
I know you’re familiar with 401(k) and IRA plans. Hopefully you’re already contributing to both of them! If you’d like to reread some previous articles on these savings plans, please check out 2018 Financial Resolutions, Financial Planning Resolutions and Plan Now to Minimize Your Taxes. As of January 1, you can sock away even more […]
Lifestyle Creep
Lifestyle creep is simply using income increases to finance a more lavish lifestyle. It’s natural to want to enjoy increases in your income, but some discipline here can reap large rewards down the road. Some advisors advocate saving all of your future increases since you’ve gotten along without them so far. This approach neglects the […]
What to Do With an Inheritance
Many of us, but actually not most of us, will receive an inheritance at some point in our lives. And about one in three of us will have spent/lost that inheritance within two years. If you inherit $10,000 this may not be a big deal. But if you inherit $100,000 or even $1,000,000, you may […]
Where to Keep Cash?
We should all have some very liquid assets (cash-like investments) to pay bills and to allow us to pay for life’s inevitable surprises (auto work, appliance repairs, etc.). Often we keep these funds in a checking or a savings account. This is absolutely the right approach for money that we know we’ll need in the […]
Investing in Gold
There are two schools of thought on investing in gold. Those who like the idea say that it is a hedge against inflation, a safe haven in a calamitous world and that it offers protection against a weakening dollar. The most famous advocate against investing in gold is Warren Buffett. His basic grievance is that […]