Bankruptcy is the worst black mark you can have on your credit report. It can make it impossible to get new loans or lines of credit for several years, and it may even affect your chances of landing a new job. Recovering from bankruptcy isn't easy, but if you're...
When Americans retire, they often move from expensive areas to cheaper ones. That frees up home equity that can rival or even exceed retirement funds held in 401(k) plans and the like.
Why it matters: People still need a place to live in retirement and rarely take advantage of reverse mortgages to...
Social Security Card
Most Americans know that one of the main attractions of the Social Security program is the payment of retirement benefits. However, there’s lots of confusion regarding how and when to claim Social Security benefits. Although it’s true that you may...
TRUST FUNDS ARE OFTEN associated with well-heeled individuals and affluent families looking to pass on their wealth to future heirs. But the reality is there are a variety of advantageous reasons to set up a trust, even if you aren't especially rich. Still, establishing up a trust fund isn't...
Required minimum distributions (RMDs) are the minimum amount that you must withdraw from certain tax-advantaged retirement accounts. They begin at age 72 or 73, depending on your circumstances and continue indefinitely. There is, unfortunately, no age when RMDs stop. You must...
It all begins with a first step. This is a commonly known saying, or mantra, which we’ve all heard at some point in our lifetimes. It is said to be supportive, to encourage you to just begin.
The difficulty comes...
Chances are, you work hard for your money and would like to make the most of it. Here are a few ways to ensure that the money you acquire is also working for you.
1. Save it
You won't grow a ton of wealth by housing money in a standard savings...
French workers are taking to the streets in protest as President Emmanuel Macron pushes through pension reforms that would raise the country’s retirement age from 62 to 64. More than 1 million people took part in demonstrations last week, piles of...
"In a perfect world, we would all begin saving from the time we receive our first paycheck,” says Nicole Gopoian Wirick, a certified financial planner (CFP) in Birmingham, Michigan. “But we know life isn't perfect, and sometimes a late start is...
More is not always better. Sitcoms, for example, have taught us that having two dates on the same night just creates chaos. It's nice to have choices, but how we handle those choices can have long-lasting ramifications.
When people search for a job, most cast wide nets. The goal is...
