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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2. Take care of your Four Walls first. When setting up your budget, write down your monthly income first. Then you’ll subtract your monthly expenses—starting with the essentials. The Four Walls are your top priority, so make sure your budget is ready to cover these things before anything else (in this…
For over three years, federal student loan payments were on hold. But that’s no longer the case. Federal student loan payments started back in October 2023—and interest restarted on September 1, 2023.1 Yep, like Twitter and the show Riverdale, the student loan payment pause has come to an end. And…
We all have 24 hours in a day. And after the hours we spend sleeping, the biggest chunk of our day is spent working—eight hours every weekday and another five or so on the weekend.1 Imagine if all that time at work felt like being trapped in a soul-sucking pit filled…
The people in your life have a profound impact on your well-being. We’ll all experience the ups and downs of living with and loving imperfect people, but ultimately, our relationships should be a source of joy—not ongoing frustration or fear. A toxic relationship is one that consistently leaves you feeling…
Did you know that if you had $1 million in dollar bills, it would literally weigh a ton and take you about 12 days to count it all? No matter how you slice it, that’s a lot of money! Market chaos, inflation, your future—work with a pro to navigate this…
Remember the day you got accepted into college? Your bright-eyed younger self couldn’t wait to take on the world. So, when you signed up for a student loan, you didn’t look too closely at the fine print. (If you’re like me, you were more concerned about making sure there was…
3. Cut back your spending. Remember how I said paying off my student loans took some sacrifice? Here’s where it comes into play. Look at your lifestyle. What extra stuff have you been paying for that you can do without? Bye-bye, cable package. See ya, bougie subscription boxes. Ditch the $7…
Student loan forgiveness scams are the worst. It’s bad enough you’ve got student loans you need to pay off. Now, you’ve also got to watch out for scumbags trying to pull one over on you. But you don’t have to fall for it! The sooner you can recognize student loan…
“I don’t understand why our retention rates are so low . . . we give them challenging, important work, and we let them do it for 40 hours a week.” Sound familiar? Maybe you’ve heard something like that at work—or even thought it yourself. Here’s the deal: Employee retention (aka…
We know what you’re thinking: The used car market is crazy right now! But believe it or not, reliable used cars aren’t extinct. There are still plenty of options available—even in your price range! We’re going to walk you through the best way to buy a used car (because, trust…
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