For Mark Roberts' Use: Retirement sure isn’t what it used to be. Previous generations often accessed retirement income through a pension offered by their employers. The pension, along with Social Security benefits and any personal savings, provided enough funds to sustain a retirement that lasted a decade or so. But now, lifespans are increasing and pensions [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: For most of us, life insurance is an integral component of our financial strategy. We want our families to be protected in the event of our untimely death, so that they won’t be left helpless without the income they need to support their lifestyle. It’s unpleasant to think about, but preparing [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: As an investor, one of your main goals is, of course, building a nest egg for your future. This will involve not only making difficult decisions at times, but also learning a bit about investing itself so that you can make those decisions wisely. Benjamin Graham, considered to be the father of [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Did you max out your retirement plan contributions this year? If so, good for you! You're earning a valuable tax deduction while also preparing for the future, but you don't have to stop there. There are other ways to prepare for a comfortable retirement, and one of them offers valuable protection to [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: We have happily seen signs of a growing economy this year, but even with the inflation rate remaining quite low, many Americans have expressed concerns that their incomes are falling behind the rising cost of living. Often, our own expenditures on items like gas or food can fluctuate, and it feels as [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Like most people, you're probably quite busy at this time of year. We hope you're enjoying a wonderful holiday season! But since many financial planning actions must be taken before the end of the year, let's pause for a moment and discuss five things you need to do before December 31. If [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: It's that time of year once again! We're all quite busy with shopping, planning parties, and maybe even traveling, but you should also be taking a few moments to wrap up this year's financial planning by December 31. In particular, all charitable donations must be made by the end of the [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: One day, Social Security benefits will comprise an important part of your retirement plan. But most of us tend to assume our benefits will be there when we planned, and forget to stay updated on important news about the program. While no one has made any drastic changes to Social Security [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: During your working years, much of your focus probably revolved around meeting a retirement savings goal. Once you retire, though, your focus will shift to strategies that will help that money last (hopefully) for the rest of your life. Now that your focus is on budgeting and spending, rather than saving, [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Ideally, we set retirement goals and then spend the next thirty or so years working to meet those goals. In reality, though, we often neglect to save for retirement early in our careers, and then we have to play catch-up later. Sound familiar? If you’re counting down to retirement, you might [...]