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’re struggling to cover your student loan payment every month, you’re not alone. But what would happen if you just . . . didn’t pay? Pay off debt fast and save more money with Financial Peace University. Unfortunately, ignoring your student loans will only make things way worse. Just…
“I hate my job. What do I do?” Get expert money advice to reach your money goals faster! It doesn’t matter how many times I hear that—it’s heartbreaking every single time. The unfortunate reality is, 12% of Americans aren’t satisfied with their current work situation.1 Now that might not seem like…
“Ugh . . . why is gas so expensive?” you yell at the sky as you cough up $50 to fill up. Here’s the short, nerdy answer: Most of the time, gas prices go up when the price of crude oil goes up. Lots of stuff affects the price of oil,…
You’ve probably heard it before: Nobody buys or sells a home in the winter, right? Well, if you check the numbers, you’d see that plenty of homes are sold during the coldest months of the year. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, over 13,000 homes are sold per day on average…
So you want to go to college (or maybe continue on to grad school). But you feel like the only way to make it happen is by taking out student loans. Hold it right there! Let me speak to you real quick before you sign on the dotted line. Hey,…
Do you ever see people who are living their retirement dreams and wonder, What the heck did they do to get there? There’s joy in their voices as they talk about their plans to travel the world or be outrageously generous. And it’s contagious! Market chaos, inflation, your future—work with a pro…
Illustration by Clay Laucella/Bankrate Asia Ore wants to be a homeowner, just not right now. The 28-year-old has other priorities: adjusting to life as a new mother and widow, chipping away at her student loans and charting the course of her career with her new master’s degree. Someday, she wants…
The world of budgeting and personal finance is all abuzz with the news: Mint is shutting down this year. If you’re currently a budgeter with Mint, we know you’ve got lots of questions. Many of them probably start with, what the heck? (or something stronger). Let’s answer at least two…
Taking out student loans to pay for college seemed like a great idea at the time (hey, everyone was doing it!). But now you’re out of school and struggling to make your loan payments. Maybe you’ve already defaulted on your student loans—or it’s just a matter of time before you…
Look, we get it—taxes are the worst. Just hearing the words “Tax Day” is enough to make you reach for a bottle of aspirin . . . or maybe a stiff drink. But here’s the thing: April always rolls around, and taxes aren’t going anywhere. Get expert money advice to…
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