It’s often reported that underfunded public employee pension systems create barriers to state and local governments’ ability to provide ample public services like education, parks, and libraries. Too often overlooked, however, is another looming fiscal challenge: the rising costs of paying for health...
About 64 million Americans rely on Social Security benefits as a major part of their income in retirement. Consider these facts: Approximately 50% of married couples and 70% of unmarried persons receive 50% or more of their income in retirement from Social Security,...
Getting out of debt isn’t easy. It usually requires a lot of time and sacrifice. But having a game plan can make the process easier no matter how much you owe.
If you’re not sure where to start, consider these six...
While saving is usually the focus of early retirement discussions, saving exists only in relation to spending. Everyone spends something, no matter how frugal your habits.
In early retirement books, blogs and podcasts, we tend to throw around the phrase...
While romance may be brewing ahead of Valentine’s Day, so are some dirty secrets.
About 44% of U.S. adults admit to hiding a bank account or debt, or to spending more money than their partner would be comfortable with,...
Financial advisers typically advise parents to create a college savings account when a child is young — but it’s the grandparents who should set one up.
When Grandma and Grandpa set up a 529 plan, which is a state-sponsored college...
Retirement is an expensive prospect, so much so that most seniors need about 70% to 80% of their former income to maintain a decent lifestyle. Social Security will provide about half that amount for anyone who’s an average wage-earner; but the rest...
Health savings accounts can be a great tool for retirement medical costs — if you don’t make any mistakes using them.
These accounts work alongside high-deductible health plans and they offer three major tax benefits.
First, you...
The 2020 income tax season officially started on Monday, January 27, when the IRS started accepting tax returns. Despite the stereotype of people hating doing their taxes, for millions of taxpayers, tax season means getting a refund. But there’s no reason to get...
“Turn off the lights.”
“Why would you go out and spend money for coffee?”
I grew up middle-class in the 1950s with a litany of lines like that from my Depression-era mother. Usually, I didn’t listen to...
