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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Becoming a homeowner is super exciting, you guys! There are so many fun decisions to make. City or country? Ranch house or townhome? Fixer-upper or move-in ready? But no matter how you answer those questions, the most important thing is buying a house you can actually afford—and making a good…
So, you’re getting set for a home renovation project. That’s exciting! But you need to be careful. Why? Because it can be really easy for the cost of renovating your house to get out of control. Find expert agents to help you sell your home. All the time, folks plan…
Sometimes, renting is a much better option than buying a house. Yep, it’s true! When you’re just starting out after leaving your parents’ house, working hard to get out of debt, or newly married, renting is a great idea. And renters are definitely in good company—more than 100 million people…
Hey, I know it’s tough renting—especially when you’ve been dreaming of owning your own home for years. You might even clench your teeth a little when you see pics of friends standing next to Sold signs. But whether you should buy or rent a house in 2025 really depends on…
So, you’re eager to pay off your mortgage early? That’s a great financial goal to set for yourself! Not only is there huge freedom in being completely debt-free and living in a paid-for house, but it’s also a great way to build wealth—getting rid of your house payment leaves you…
It might feel impossible to save a down payment while renting. After all, rent is expensive! And it’s not getting any cheaper. The national median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,370.1 Avoid overpaying for your home with a RamseyTrusted® agent. So, how in the world are you supposed to…
Ever heard someone say everyone should buy a house? Or that renting is a lot like flushing a whole bunch of money down the toilet every month? Yeah, we’ve heard that stuff too. And it’s nonsense! The truth is, not everyone should buy a house. Because, if you sign the…
Saving for a house is no walk in the park—unless that park is a mountain. In fact, 3 of every 10 first-time home buyers say the most difficult step in the home-buying process is saving for a down payment.1 But once you set a clear goal, you’ll be able to see the…
You’ve scrimped and saved like Uncle Scrooge, and now you’re ready to put that pile of cash toward buying a house. Congrats! But dropping hundreds of thousands of dollars on a home can feel about as high-stakes as putting all your chips on black and spinning the roulette wheel—especially if…
Between the washer, the dryer, the fridge, the dishwasher, the soothing salt lamp and all our plugged-in devices, we use a lot of energy every day. In fact, Americans spend an average of $142.26 on electricity per month, or $1,707.12 per year.1 The good news? You have way more control over your…
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