By Elaine Floyd, CFP ® The most accurate and reliable way to determine your spending needs in retirement is to sit down and make up a budget projecting costs in the areas of housing, utilities, food, transportation, leisure activities and so on. Depending on how your life will change (or not) after retirement, you can base […]
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By Nicole O. Coulter Discover what it means to be wealthy or successful. If you’re like most, it takes a few hard knocks to understand what life truly has to offer. Several years ago at the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder’s meeting in Omaha, Neb., a precocious 10-year-old investor stood bravely in front of a microphone
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By Elaine Floyd, CFP ® Most people tend to underestimate their life expectancy. But thinking you might live to a very old age might lead to better planning decisions. Life expectancy is a critical element in Social Security planning. Because benefits continue for life, the total amount you stand to receive over your lifetime hinges on
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By Debra Taylor, CPA/PFS, JD, CDFA With these year-end giving strategies, you can make charitable donations in ways that are most beneficial to your financial situation. Many people have charitable inclinations, however, they do not realize the variety of ways they can donate or that through donating they can receive significant tax breaks. Even though
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By Elaine Floyd, CFP ® Social Security is more complicated than most people think. Here are six of the most common questions that come up on Social Security. With the baby boom generation entering retirement, there’s a lot of demand for good Social Security information. People are confused—both about how the system works, and how these
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By Bryan Mills A week hardly passes without news of credit card and identity theft. Here are some security measures you can take, including some you’ve not likely heard of before now. A few years ago, I was sitting down to dinner with my family when I got a phone call from a department store
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By Jennifer ReimerHorsesmouth Editorial Assistant How do you know when loved ones are ready for assisted living? Use these guidelines to help spot the warning signs of aging and illness. Rosalyn Carter once said: “There are only four kinds of people in the world—those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who
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By Charles Sherry, MSC Here is what you need to know to navigate the 3.8% surtax on unearned investment income and the 0.9% additional tax on wages. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was designed to make health insurance more affordable, expand coverage, expand Medicaid, and help lower the overall cost of health care. The law
By Elaine Floyd, CFP ® Divorce is never easy, but collecting information and thinking through some of the issues before you even meet with an attorney can help you move through this life transition as smoothly as possible. Here’s a checklist outlining the information you’ll need to gather and why. Divorce can be devastating—both emotionally and
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By Edward E. Klink What would happen if your earliest childhood dreams actually powered your life and business plans? What if you integrated fun into your weekly, monthly, and life goals? If you’re spending time on things that don’t matter, here’s a chance to rethink your plan. What life lessons would you share with the
No-Regrets Lessons from a Man at Death’s Door Read More »