Choosing between claiming Social Security at 62 or waiting until 70 can create a wide gap in your monthly income. Starting early gives you more years of payments, while delaying may increase the amount of each check. The tradeoff comes down to how long you expect to collect benefits and…
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…
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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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The 65-day rule can give certain trusts more flexibility when deciding when to distribute income to beneficiaries. The IRS may treat an eligible distribution made during the first 65 days of a new tax year as though it occurred in the prior year. This can…
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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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6. Child Tax Credit (CTC) Got kids? Well, here’s a tax credit just for you! The child tax credit lets you credit up to $2,200 per dependent child under the age of 17. The income limit is $400,000 for married filing jointly and $200,000 for all the other filing statuses. The CTC is also…
If you’re ready to start building wealth for retirement, you have more options today than ever before—but not all of them are good. On the one hand, you have risky get-rich-quick schemes that promise dazzling returns only to fizzle faster than you can say “Enron” or “Dogecoin.” On the other…
For people with a relatively simple tax situation, using the right online tax software can make a world of difference when it comes to getting your taxes filed—without suffering too many headaches. Tax software has been around since the 1980s, and today it’s the go-to choice for millions of Americans.…
If you feel like your grocery bill has gone up lately, you aren’t alone. Our research shows 58% of Americans are spending more on groceries this year over last year. It’s so true. Food prices have jumped 2.6% this past year.1 And they were already high before that! Get expert money advice…
If you’re facing a foreclosure, know this: You will get through it. Yes, it can be a long and hard road. But there is hope. We’re here to walk you through what happens during the foreclosure process, so you know what to expect—and so you can take steps to avoid…
We’ve got good news, folks: After a few years of mortgage interest rates constantly climbing and reaching highs we hadn’t seen in decades, rates have finally started coming back down! Yeah, that’s definitely a reason to celebrate. Find a Mortgage Lender You Can Trust! It’s also a reason to talk about something that could…
If you’ve been laid off, or if you’re worried your company is about to cut jobs, you’re not alone. Over the last few years, tons of companies large and small have made cuts to their staff. But don’t worry—you don’t have to be caught off guard. I’m going to walk…
Kids don’t have to wait until they’re 16 to start making money. Whether they’re 5 years old or 12 years old, kids of all ages can earn real cash right now! It just takes some effort and a little imagination. Whether it’s helping around the house, pitching in for a…
If you’re struggling with student loans, car payments or credit card debt, we know how overwhelming it can feel. Pay off debt fast and save more money with Financial Peace University. And with so many “debt relief” options out there, it’s hard to know which ones you should trust and…
You’ve probably heard of Murphy’s Law, right? It says that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Market chaos, inflation, your future—work with a pro to navigate this stuff. If Murphy has set up camp in your spare bedroom and you’re not sure how you’re going to cover those…
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