During your saving years, your main goal is to accumulate wealth so that you have the resources to achieve a comfortable retirement. But that is just half the battle. How you use your savings to cover your living costs is the real key to living the retirement you dream of. You may have done some research on what strategies you can use to provide yourself with the income and liquid cash you need to cover your [...]
For decades, the name of the personal finances game has been an asset or equity growth. High-growth tech stocks grew to dominate the market, some of which have grown to be among the largest companies in the world. And if you owned stock in those companies while they made their meteoric rise, your overall wealth may have ballooned in the process. But how confident do you feel with your wealth in those stocks? Would you feel [...]
When the winter season comes around, you’ll likely have to adjust your routines and prepare for the cold. If you’re in colder states, you may be looking to purchase a new winter coat or snow boots, or skiing equipment for your winter holidays. Or you may be restocking your snow salt for what are soon-to-be icy sidewalks and driveways. If you live in warmer states, maybe you’ve closed your windows and patios and put your fans [...]
Nowadays, the word “volatility” seems thrown around more than ever. Usually, when it comes to financial talk, “volatility” is used to describe a downward trend. But that’s not what volatility really means! Volatility is technically referring to large up and down swings in the market over short periods of time. It doesn’t just mean a downward trend. The Ups and the Downs It’s important to make sure your financial plan is protected against downward trends. When [...]
Saving for retirement is a long-term endeavor. It’s not about finding the next hottest stock or trying to get rich quickly. It requires a different perspective on your wealth and income that accounts for your needs in different stages of your life, from the beginning of your working years through your retirement. These five key components will help simplify the bucket strategy so you can understand it and apply it to your retirement strategy. The Risk [...]
In 1960, a gallon of conventional whole milk was 31 cents, and today it’s $4.21 on average.[1] A few dollars might not seem like much, but that’s a 1,258% increase! Now that we’re seeing high inflation, the buying power of your money – including your retirement savings – could be seriously impacted. When calculating how much money you need to retire, consider what you’re left with after inflation. The Value of Money Over Time When you [...]
There’s no doubt that people have been feeling the effects of inflation on their wallets. Everything from food to gas to home repair products seems to be increasing every day. Federal Reserve Chairman, Jerome Powell, is taking inflation very seriously, raising interest rates to combat the explosion of inflation. And although the moves have made an impact, the Federal Reserve noted that inflation is stickier than it had predicted.[1] This is all to say that inflation [...]
If you’ve followed markets or financial news, especially in the past few years, you may have come across the term “fear of missing out,” commonly abbreviated to FOMO. When markets keep going up, FOMO can start to creep in. It can start to feel like you’re leaving gains on the table by not rebalancing your portfolio to include the ultra-high growth assets that saw big jumps. The desire to get as much as you can from [...]
If your weekly grocery bill is noticeably higher or you can’t believe how expensive gas is, you’re not alone. Inflation is at 40-year highs,[1] and a recent poll found that 52% of Americans said the most important issue facing the country is inflation.[2] It’s significant that so many Americans recognized inflation as a major threat considering how unpredictable that market has been. Inflation presents unique risks, so it’s important to know how you’ll respond to them. [...]
You’ll likely have several sources of income in retirement that can be taxed, such as IRA distributions and Social Security benefits. But, do you have any after-tax “buckets” that you can use strategically in retirement to help reduce your tax bill? There may be a few options available to you, so know how they work. How is a Roth IRA Different from a Traditional IRA? Many people contribute pre-tax dollars to a traditional IRA during their [...]