The world of trusts is not one-size-fits-all. The type of trust you choose should reflect your unique wishes for how your assets are handled now and in the future. “A trust can help you navigate specific tax concerns or creditor protection, ensure your wealth supports your family, or leave a legacy for a charitable cause … Read more
Saving for retirement at a typical retirement age, like 67, can be difficult. Saving for early retirement—with fewer years to earn and invest plus more years of retirement to fund—can be even more challenging. But life is all about choices. Once you’ve made the choice to prioritize early retirement, it all comes down to planning—and … Read more
Alden and Dena Swartz draw nearly $4,000 a month from Social Security, the government program designed to support Americans in retirement. And they are struggling. Gail Randle and her partner, Mike DellaVolpe, collect only $2,400 a month in Social Security benefits: Not quite $30,000 a year. And they are doing all right. “We are frugal … Read more
Americans have lofty goals for their retirement, with the typical worker believing they need $1.46 million to retire comfortably — a jump of 53% from their savings target in 2020, according to a new survey from Northwestern Mutual. But most people are far from reaching that objective, with the study finding that the average amount … Read more
It’s hard enough for people to wrap their heads around saving and investing for retirement in normal economic times, so it’s no surprise how overwhelmed so many feel about their financial futures today. With inflation increasing the costs of everyday items and rising interest rates affecting mortgage and other borrowing costs, budgets have gotten out … Read more
Can Social Security benefits be garnished? The answer is a definite no in some situations, but in others, it becomes a distinct possibility. Ultimately, it depends on who’s doing the garnishing. Certain government entities, such as the U.S. Treasury and the Social Security Administration, can garnish your wages for unpaid debts, such as child support, … Read more
Keep this ten-year retirement planning checklist on hand as you navigate saving, investing and other retirement decisions. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Are you ready to retire? Have you even started a retirement planning checklist? By 2030, one out of five Americans … Read more
A 401(k) is worth it for most people, but are you one of them? There are seven pros and four cons to consider. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Is a 401(k) worth it for most Americans? 401(k)s are now the go-to retirement … Read more
Yes, Married Couples Can Both Receive Social Security Benefits! If you’re approaching retirement age and wondering about Social Security benefits for you and your spouse I’ve got good news for you. The simple answer is YES – both spouses in a marriage can absolutely receive Social Security benefits simultaneously. But there’s a lot more to … Read more
Understanding the Tax Implications of Your LGPS Retirement Benefits So you’ve been diligently contributing to your Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) for years, and now you’re wondering about the tax situation when it’s time to cash in on those hard-earned benefits I totally get it – nobody likes surprises when it comes to taxes, especially … Read more
