As the government raises interest rates to avoid runaway inflation, this will result in a slowing of the economy. Along with this, businesses may find a need to lay off employees. Employee payroll is often the largest expense a business has, so this is where cuts are taken. If you find yourself to be one of those let go, here are a few tips to manage money during this period of time. Use Savings and […]
Continue readingMoving To Another State For Grandkids May Be More Costly Than You Think
For someone just retired, a thought might be to move closer to children or grandchildren now that the job no longer is a factor. This can be a compelling idea, particularly as one thinks about spending more time with others. Another thought would be that living close to relatives provides a source of care when that is needed. Before pulling the trigger and making that move, it is wise to review living costs both where […]
Continue readingWould You Like That Hurricane For Take Out?
The hurricane season runs from June through November each year. However, much like deer do not always cross at deer crossing signs, hurricanes do not limit themselves to just these months. There is also a known correlation between the solar cycle of sunspots and the intensity of hurricanes, and the next solar maximum will occur next year. Given we are in the midst of the 2023 hurricane season, this is the time for those living […]
Continue readingSCAM CORNER: FTC Ramping Up Enforcement of Illegal Dark Pattern Websites
What do the companies Vonage, Epic Games, and Amazon have in common? All have been fined by the Federal Trade Commission for dark patterns that went afoul of FTC rules against websites that misdirect, or otherwise result in charges for which the consumer did not intend to make. Epic Games (the company that makes Fortnite) and Amazon were both taken to task for offering free applications, but which contained in-app purchase capability in ways that […]
Continue readingAvoiding A Crisis of Finances As An Older Adult
When I get a new older adult client, more often than not, their finances are a mess. There are missed payments, accounts that have gone to collections, a large spend of assets, bounced checks and more. These are people who tell me (or family tell me) that they were always on top of their finances, had a good credit rating and never had credit card balances or bounced checks. The difference between an easy resolution […]
Continue readingWays Young Couples Can Avoid Money Strife
Young couples face many sources of stress in their lives today. Money is one of the top causes of stress and relationship issues between couples. There are, however, a number of ways to circumvent the levels of stress related to personal finances. Couples should plan time to have uninterrupted conversations around a number of topics. Talk About Financial Goals For The Future Moving from past to future, a couple should spend time discussing what their […]
Continue readingCan Your Spouse Make It Financially After You Pass?
Married couples looking to retire, or already in retirement, may be living comfortably on income from both spouses. Planning for the post-retirement years often involves reviewing what the income will be as a couple in retirement. However, what will the financial situation be after one spouse (often the husband) passes away? Sources of Income For The Couple Another source, particularly for younger retirees, is the 401(k) or an IRA created by rolling over 401(k) money. […]
Continue readingHow To Save For Christmas Without Going Into Debt
Okay, so we’re in the middle of the holiday season and gift-giving is in full swing. So perhaps this isn’t the best time to talk about how to keep from overspending at Christmas in 2022. However, it isn’t too early to take the pain of seeing the January statements and apply this toward better stewardship in 2023. Here are a few ways to make 2023 holidays more joyful and less stressful when it comes to […]
Continue readingYou’re the Executor of a Will! Do You Know What To Do?
Have you been named to be an Executor (or Executrix) in someone’s Will? If so, do you have any idea of what you’ve signed up for? At a high level, you probably know that it means going through all of the deceased’s worldly possessions and distributing them the way they wanted. But it is more than that. I’ll let a fictional friend, Sandra, describe her experience of being an Executrix for a cousin. Prepare The […]
Continue readingWant Your Children To Do Well As Adults? Teach Them About Finances
As we parent our children, we only have so much time to spend with them. And we all want them to turn out well as independent adults once they leave home and set out on their own. It makes sense to spend time with children on the topics that will make them good adults later in life. One of those areas that can make a big difference is teaching about money management. Financial Literacy Improves […]
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