Everyone knows that December starts the holiday season, but for movie fans, it’s also the start of awards season. A slew of great movies are coming to theaters near you, from the historical thriller Marshall to the crime satire Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri. But few movies have gotten more press than Lady Bird, a coming-of-age story that’s now the [...]
Although one of the most common retirement planning questions is, “How much money will I need for a successful retirement?”, it may be more important to focus on how much income you’ll need during each of your retirement years. And, in order to do that in an effective manner, you’ll want to try and create [...]
Philanthropy is an important aspect in many people’s lives because there’s no better feeling than knowing you’re doing your part to help a great cause, and to help improve the lives of those less fortunate than you. And, giving your hard-earned retirement dollars to charity can be a highly tax-efficient use of your savings. But, [...]
Today, the median price for a single-family home is now 23% higher than it was in 2007, right before the financial crash. If the sound of that has you concerned, just remember that there are dozens of ways to invest in real estate without exposing yourself to direct, unnecessary risk. Real estate investments have always [...]
Everyone knows that you can’t buy happiness. It’s a saying as old as money itself, and despite what decades of advertising have tried to tell us, it’s mostly correct. There isn’t a single soft drink, or car, or perfume that’s going to make everyone feel happier over a long period of time. And yet, it [...]
The 4th of July, a celebration of our great nation’s independence, is here! That also means you’ll be bombarded with all the big sales on everything from outdoor grills and cars, to mattresses and televisions. Unfortunately, for many the 4th seems to have evolved into nothing more than a big retail holiday, but let’s not forget the true meaning of the day. At [...]
In case you haven’t noticed, the first day of summer just passed. Don’t feel bad if you missed it because it seems to be getting harder to tell when spring ends and summer begins. A change of seasons is a great reminder to check things in your life like your air conditioning system. You’d [...]
According to a recent TIAA – CREF Institute study, those individuals that have some source of guaranteed income in retirement are 60% more likely to report higher retirement satisfaction. Both immediate and longevity annuities can provide a guaranteed income stream in retirement in exchange for a lump sum payment, yet the two work in different [...]
It’s the best time of the year for lots of sports fans, particularly those who love college basketball. More than 70 million brackets are filled out during The College Basketball Championships with everyone hoping they are this year’s expert, balancing said expertise with risk, reward, and future expectations. While perfection is unlikely (a 1 in [...]
Retiring early can be extremely challenging, but not impossible. You may be able to achieve your goal of an early retirement if you follow certain steps to help get you on the right path. However, it will require you to cut down on your expenses, increase your retirement savings, or find a combination of the [...]
