For Mark Roberts' Use: Social Security will provide an important part of retirement plans for just about everyone, and yet a recent poll uncovered a shocking truth. Among those age 50 and older, a surprising 91 percent did not know how the amount of a person’s Social Security benefit is determined! Social Security is a [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: In response to concerns about the state of retirement planning in the US, President Trump signed the SECURE Act last month. The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act aims to address the fact that one-quarter of Americans have no retirement savings whatsoever. Meanwhile, those who are saving for retirement [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Retirement planning advice abounds on the internet (and in personal talks with family and friends). Obviously, we caution you to consult with us first, before making any big decisions, so that we can help you separate fact from fiction. But two old pieces of advice circulate regularly, that are certainly worthwhile: [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Some people view the new year as the perfect time to make changes to their habits. Others eschew resolutions, saying you can change your life any time you decide to do so. Technically, that is true, but with regard to retirement planning January 1 actually marks an important date on the [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Throughout most of our lives, housing is often the biggest expense we face. That often changes in retirement, with healthcare becoming the most expensive monthly item in our budget. A 65-year-old couple retiring this year can expect to spend $285,000 on healthcare over the course of their retirement years. And yes, [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: After working and paying taxes throughout your career, along with paying into Social Security for all of that time, it might surprise you to learn that your Social Security benefits can actually be taxed in retirement. Depending upon your provisional income, you might owe income taxes to Uncle Sam. Currently, a [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: With millions of Americans currently accessing Medicare benefits, and 10,000 new Baby Boomers turning 65 each day, the system is obviously experiencing some growing pains. Retirees, too, are often burdened with considerable out-of-pocket expenses, despite the affordability of Medicare premiums in general. A new bill, currently moving through Congress, seeks to [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: For retirement planning options, it’s hard to beat the advantages of a 401(k) plan. But if you’re one of the 42 million Americans who work for a smaller business, you probably don’t have access to one. Ditto for the self employed. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have retirement planning options. [...]
Building wealth is one of the primary tenets of financial planning, but do you ever wonder how your net worth compares to the rest of the world? We can talk about financial security all day, but what does that really mean in the grand scheme of things? Bloomberg Businessweek sought to answer this question, and [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Now that October has arrived, the weather is finally beginning to change from summer to more autumn-like. This might come as a welcome reprieve from this year’s unusually long, hot summer… Or, you might be feeling a sense of dread. Some people simply do not enjoy winter, at all, and can’t [...]