My Comments: Worrying about your money is a normal activity. At least it is for me. That being said, to the extent you have money somewhere where your principal is not guaranteed, I think there is a high probability you will soon suffer some losses. Actually, unless you sell at a loss, you really haven’t …
Continue reading Here’s How You Know The Stock Market Is Hugely Overvalued
My Comments: This is pretty basic stuff but for many of you who have yet to seriously think about where the money is going to come from when you retire, this is a must read. I also encourage you to go to the ssa.gov web site and register yourself. by Diane Archer June 30, 2016 …
Continue reading Social Security: What to know before claiming benefits
My Comments: More ideas about the ongoing saga of when and how to best apply for Social Security benefits. 02/24/2016 There are many benefits to marriage, but one you may not yet have considered is the flexibility married couples enjoy when deciding how and when to claim Social Security. Even though the basic rules apply …
My Comments: If you are approaching the age when retirement is on your mind, a critical question is always “how are you going to pay for it?”. Experts are telling us there is a new risk to be aware of, and it’s called longevity risk. Simply put, it’s the threat posed by living beyond your …
Continue reading Saving enough to live to age 100 not a very useful goal
My Comments: If you have not yet signed up to receive your Social Security benefits, you would be well served to better understand the rules associated with Social Security. Believe me, it’s confusing to experts like me, much less someone with an aversion to thinking about money. Here’s a start to your journey. Kristin Wong, …
Continue reading What You Should Know About the New Social Security Rules
My Comments: As someone who teaches people how to maximize their social security benefits, a major fear that surfaces during a workshop is whether there is enough in the system to guarantee future benefits. The quick answer is “not without some changes to the system”, which leads to more questions about when it will run …
My Comments: Too many people choose to take early benefits. If you need the money, hate your job, don’t have a job, plan to die soon, or simply don’t have confidence in your life, then maybe it’s OK. But it usually turns out to be a mistake. There is a do over, but you have …
Continue reading Will You Regret Taking Social Security ASAP?
My Comments: Many of you know that I’ve recently started a series of workshops that focuses on how the Social Security system works. It’s an attempt to help those who will soon become eligible, or are already eligible, better understand a very complex and not user friendly institution in American life. One assumption that is …
My Comments: The default decision for many is to simply sign up for benefits when they reach age 62. The argument is they’ve put money in the system for years, the system might go broke, and it’s time to get rather than give before it's too late. But the demographics suggest this may not be …
Continue reading Social Security Recipients May Regret This Decision
My Comments: In days past, estate planning was associated with having lots of money. This was because the IRS had their fingers in your financial pie if you died owning what is today considered a modest estate, anything more than $550,000. Since that existential threat has largely diminished for almost all of us, estate planning …
Continue reading How To Talk to Your Family About Your Estate Plan
Helping Define Your Financial Future 