Archive for July 2021
Financial Lessons from Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was the first Secretary of the Treasury: He created the first national bank, consolidated the new country’s war debts, and established federal credit. You could say he was America’s first Chief Financial Officer. He was also a self-taught immigrant who started with no wealth but ended up on the $10 bill. Hamilton never…
Read MoreWhere Could Your Retirement Income Come From?
You’re used to receiving a paycheck, and perhaps you’ve been used to it steadily increasing over the course of your career. You may have experienced what’s known as “lifestyle inflation” and may not plan to downgrade in retirement. Whatever the case, it’s important to know where your retirement income will come from. It could come…
Read MorePost-COVID Decluttering
If your nest isn’t as full as it once was, or you find you’ve accumulated a few too many things during COVID, consider decluttering. Having less clutter in your living space and better organization can help make a world of difference. If you’ve accumulated more possessions than you need over the last year and a…
Read MoreThe Most Important Ages for Your Retirement Accounts
If you have a 401(k), IRA, or other retirement accounts, it’s important to keep a few things top of mind: Know how much you’re contributing, how your investments are performing, and how much you’re paying in fees. You should also note important milestone ages and their recent changes. Here are the most important ages for…
Read MoreWords of Wisdom from George Washington on Retirement
Aim to retire to something, not just from something. Retirement is the beginning of a new stage of life that can be active and fulfilling if we do it right. We can learn a lot about how to do this from George Washington and his farewell address: I anticipate with pleasing expectation that retreat in…
Read MoreRetirement Has Changed – Have Your Plans?
People are retiring differently today than in the past – just think, will you retire exactly like your parents did? Probably not. Retirement is no longer about the end of a career; it’s about the beginning of a new, often quite active phase of life that could last decades. And while this is something to…
Read MorePractical Tips for Starting Your Retirement Off on the Right Foot
Retirement planning can be stressful because there are a lot of things to keep track of. One of the steps that often gets overlooked is announcing to your employer that you are going to retire. This may require writing a letter to explain your plans while also choosing a date for your last day of…
Read MoreBe Part of the 4% When it Comes to Social Security
According to a recent study, only 4% of retirees claim Social Security benefits at the optimal time, losing out on an average of $111,000 per household.[1] There are many things to consider when choosing how to claim your benefit, and there’s no one-size-fits-all formula for maximizing it. Consider your unique situation and read these tips…
Read More3 Important Lessons from The Beverly Hillbillies
Although you may not have ever struck oil, you’ve already won the retirement lottery by working hard to save and benefiting from market growth and home appreciation. Now the question is how you’ll make your small fortune last the rest of your life. We can learn three important lessons from The Beverly Hillbillies as to…
Read More