Spending

Can I make withdrawals from my retirement funds to pay for COVID-19 related expenses? Yes, if your plan allows, you can withdraw up to $100,000 without paying a penalty if you make your withdrawal between January 1 to December 31, 2020. Who is eligible to make COVID-19 related withdrawals? You, your spouse or dependent must […]

So how will the SECURE Act effect your retirement savings? Below are a few of the major provisions and how they might affect you. Don’t Miss: Retirement planning is more than saving No Age Restrictions on IRA Contributions Currently, contributions to a traditional IRA are not allowed if you are a working taxpayer over the age […]

The most common type of fraud is called “Phishing”, a social act in which the sender tries to impersonate a legitimate service or company to gain either your personal information or access to personal websites. This is accomplished by the fraudsters creating identical websites to the legitimate ones and prompt you to “update” or “verify” […]

Don’t miss: How do I know how much I’m spending You don’t have to match the gifts others give you. Your friends and family do not want you to go into debt for you to get them a fancy gift. If you are purchasing gifts for multiple friends, narrow your list down. “Naughty vs Nice”, […]

We’re big fans of giving to charity, but there’s also an income tax deduction you can take advantage of if you do so—the kind of deduction you get upfront in year one. If you donate property or something that has a big capital gain to it, you don’t have to pay capital gains tax. If you have an […]

Don’t miss: Staying proactive with your finances First, consider whether your household will consist of either one or two incomes. Will that change at some point? This will have a great impact on your budget, which in turn will affect your lifestyle. Secondly, lay any large debts on the table. Credit cards, student loans, auto financing […]

Don’t miss: Do you need life insurance?  These choices not only impact your finances today but potentially the rest of your life. The best time to learn good spending and financial habits is now – and we are happy to bring you a few pieces of advice given our years of experience and expertise in […]

According to the 2019 Insurance Barometer Study (Life Happens/LIMRA), 40% of those without insurance coverage would have immediate trouble paying living expenses if the primary wage earner died. When evaluating your insurance needs it’s best to think about what financial obligations need to be taken care of in the event of your death. Are you […]

1. Your spouse doesn’t work So long as you have earned income, your non-working spouse can maintain a separate IRA in his or her name—funded from your earnings—effectively doubling your savings potential. Don’t miss: Should you lease or buy your next car? 2. You freelance or have a side business If you earn income from freelance work or a […]

First, let’s look at your options: Option #1: Buy New  New cars are expensive, the average new car is $36,000. Most people can’t pay cash for that new car and would need to finance the purchase. That average car over a six-year term at 3.25% interest would be about $551.00/month (for a total cost of […]