Each year, Social Security benefits may increase with a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), but higher Medicare premiums can reduce how much of that raise reaches your monthly budget. Since both are calculated differently, they do not necessarily move at the same rate. Comparing the dollar value of your COLA with changes…
If you’re 65 with $900,000 and no pension, the income your portfolio can provide depends on how much you withdraw and the number of years your savings need to last. Taking too large a withdrawal early in retirement could increase the risk of running short later, while spending too little…
At age 45, skipping your 401(k) match means giving up more than your employer’s contribution. You also lose the potential investment growth this money could earn over the next 20 years. Depending on the size of the match and the investment-return assumptions used, that could leave you with almost $115,000…
Home improvements can make your home more comfortable, raise its value and lower energy costs over time. Some projects may also qualify for tax credits or deductions. These tax breaks can reduce what you owe when you file your taxes. In other cases, the cost of improvements can increase your…
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Major changes to federal student loan repayment rules went into effect this month and are rippling across the system. Many…
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How Does Medical Debt Happen? Some health costs don’t fit into a monthly budget. A major dental procedure or a new health problem can be hard to plan for. It’s common to end up financing the gap, whether that’s a clinic’s own payment plan, a…
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By Carmen Chan You’ve got your mortgage and car loan to pay, credit card bills and HELOC payments, and a running list of…
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Team Name: Musgrave Dunn & AssociatesFirm: Merrill Wealth ManagementSenior Members: Travis Musgrave, Timothy Dunn, Valerie MarshallLocation: Lexington, KYTeam Custodied Assets: $1.4 billionBackground: Travis…
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If you want to send shivers down an economist’s spine, all you have to do is say one strange-sounding word—stagflation. Get expert money advice to reach your money goals faster! We can hear the calculators dropping and balance sheets tearing right now. Stagflation is an economic term that’s used to…
We’ve all probably heard a grandparent or parent reminisce about “the good old days”: Get expert money advice to reach your money goals faster! “I remember when gas was a quarter and hamburgers were 15 cents.” “I made 50 bucks a week at my first job.” Well, we’re a long…
Remember when you were first trying to figure out life after high school? People were expecting you to make all these life-altering decisions—like what college to go to, what major to choose, and what dream job to chase after. Somewhere along the way, you were probably sold the idea of…
Nothing says “I’ve reached adulthood” like opening up your own checking account. Maybe you just got your first real job and have to set one up for the direct deposit of your paycheck, or maybe you just realized you’re sick of carrying around your life’s savings in your sock all…
Not sure which funds to invest in for retirement? We hear you. You’ve probably heard a lot about S&P 500 index funds. It’s a bit of an investing buzzword. But what are S&P 500 index funds and are they a good place to invest your money? Basically, the S&P 500…
Did you know the national average cost of car insurance per household is $1,993?2 (That works out to about $166 for your monthly car insurance bill.) Home and auto insurance aren’t just about low rates—they’re about the right coverage level. Talk to a trusted pro who can help you get both.…
Feeling stuck in a Parent PLUS Loan? You’re probably looking for the easiest way out of it, including getting the whole debt forgiven. But is Parent PLUS Loan forgiveness real? And what are your options to get rid of this thing for good? Time to find out! Is Parent PLUS…
Things were looking pretty good for cryptocurrencies and the folks who went all in to “invest” in them . . . for a little while, at least. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum and even joke coins like Dogecoin all shot up in value in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic.…
It’s the middle of summer, and your AC suddenly goes out. You don’t have a couple thousand dollars to get it fixed, but the temperature is rising, the kids are screaming, and you’re sweating from more than just the heat. So, you race down to your local credit union and…
Whether you’re switching banks or starting fresh, opening a bank account is a big step. So it’s important to get everything in order before you try setting up the account. But how do you prepare? What do you need to open a bank account? And in this digital age, do…
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