I know many of you are working on building your emergency savings fund, and that it will take time to reach that goal. I am thrilled you are committed to this essential foundation of financial
Retirement should be a time to relax and live your life on your terms. But I know for many of you it can be stressful to figure out a strategy for how to invest and how much you can safely withdraw fr
The rapid meltdown in global investments as the economic severity of the coronavirus takes hold is indeed unsettling.
One of the reasons I was eager to write The Ultimate Retirement Guide for 50+ is because today’s retirement is so very challenging.
Welcome to week 3 of You Ask, I Tell. The question this week is one I hear over-and-over with slightly different specifics
I know many of you are dedicated Costco and Sam’s Club shoppers. You are all about getting deals and saving money.
There’s a wonderful fight going on that will make winners of investors who are paying attention.
I have said this over and over again, but I really think it bears repeating. When the stock market goes down we all get scared. But, as soon as it goes up for a day or two, we want to believe and...
The stock markets delivered a lump of coal at the end of 2018. December was one of the worst months for investors in years, and when you take a glance at your year-end statements, you will likely...
Happy New Year! I know this is a popular time of year to make resolutions, and for many of you that can include financial goal-setting. It’s also the time of year when we are hit with all sorts...
I am not a big believer in making New Year’s resolutions. I think it puts too much focus on making goals at a specific time of year. Most resolutions that start in January tend to be...
Well, after more than 10 years of a very strong bull market, I can’t say I am surprised at the recent decline in stocks. I understand it can be unsettling. And you may be thinking you need to...
I have always said that if you are looking for the best financial advisor, just look into the mirror. You have everything it takes to manage your financial life, and there is no one more motivated
You know I am all for investing money you won’t need for decades in low-cost stock index mutual funds or exchange-traded funds.
**SOLD OUT**The time has never been more right for women to finally take control of their finances.
When was the last time you checked that your investments still reflected your long-term investment strategy?
If your child or grandchild is getting paid for a summer job, it is an amazing opportunity for you to teach two of the most powerful financial lessons.
More than eight in 10 Americans at least 65 years old own a home. And surveys report that not moving is the later-life American Dream: older homeowners report that they intend to “age in place” rather
When stocks fall at least 20 percent it signals a bear market. One of the best investment tips I can offer you is to root for a bear market for stocks.
Ladies, the jig is up. You can moan all you want about how you’re not “good” at investing, or it’s too confusing. I’ve long told you those are just excuses you have talked yourself into, yet that have no logical basis.
More than nine in 10 Americans think it is important for financial advisors who dispense retirement advice to act in the clients’ best interest. And more than half of Americans think this logical assumption is in fact legally required within the financial service industry.
If you have been invested in U.S. stocks the past few years you have no doubt made some serious money. The U.S. markets are up more than 300% since this bull market began in 2009. But I want you to understand that great returns are in no way a guarantee going forward. Yes, stocks are always the smart investment if you are a long-term investor, but I hope you realize that over the next 10 years we might not see such robust U.S. stocks returns, simply because they have had such an incredible run.
If you have recently moved to a new job, or one of your 2017 resolutions is to make a move, I want you to be super smart with how you handle your retirement savings account you built at your old job.
You know I am a big believer that a Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is the best way to save for retirement. And for my money, I think Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are an ideal way to invest the money in your IRA.
It’s been a great stretch for investors. Stocks have gained more than 250% in the bull market that stretches all the way back to 2009. I am always a big believer that dollar cost averaging-investing on a regular basis-is a great strategy for long-term investors. So don’t take what I am about to say as a reason to give up on stocks: Returns over the next seven to 10 years probably won’t be as good as what we’ve had the past seven years.
You may have heard or read recently about some high profile retirement plan sponsors being sued by plan participants for high fees in the plan. Financial service firms-yep, folks who run mutual funds-have been hit with lawsuits, as have the plans run by MIT, NYU and Yale.
When it comes to planning for a secure retirement I bet you have the major strategies covered: -Invest in your 401(k) or 403(b) up to point of the match? Check -Save in a Roth IRA? Check -Aim to have your mortgage paid off before you retire? Check -Commit to getting plenty of exercise?
The fall open enrollment period is just around the corner. If you’re like most people you’ll give it little attention and just stick with whatever you have this year. Big mistake. I want you to take the time to carefully comb through the details of every benefit and make sure you are making the best choices that will help build security in 2017 and beyond.
Sitting down with your children once a month and having them help you pay the family bills is an incredibly valuable life-lesson opportunity that sadly few families use.
My absolute best advice is to strive to make a 20% down payment when you buy a home. I know that can be a lot of money. But hear me out. What you need to understand is that a small down payment can end up costing you big time.
I am on the record that only couples in great financial shape should spend money on an expensive/large wedding. But for those of you who are just going to plow ahead despite shaky finances, please at least make the most of my money-saving wedding tips.
If you have a child or grandchild who is going to get paid for work this summer, I want you to consider a way to gift them a valuable retirement stake.
Nobody likes to see the value of their investment accounts fall, but whether it’s a correction (a drop of at least 10% but less than 20%) or a full-on bear market (a decline of 20% or more) the reality is that markets go through rough periods. Always have, and always will.
With the Spring home buying rush just around the corner, I want to make sure that you don’t buy into a very big mistake.
I don’t know about you, but if I see or hear of one more survey about how panicked most Americans are about their retirement, I will scream. That we have a national fear of retirement preparedness is abundantly clear. What we need now are less surveys and more advice on how to conquer retirement fears. Here are my key steps to start down your road to retirement financial freedom.
It’s estimated that Americans spend more than $20 billion a year renting space in a self-storage facility. According to the Self Storage Association, the number of households renting out a storage facility has grown 65% over the past 20 years. It’s hard to drive more than a few miles in urban areas and not spy at least one self-storage business (and often more). The aggregate land mass for U.S. storage facilities spans a total of 78 square miles, or more than three times the size of Manhattan.
We’re heading into the dangerous money season. With the holidays quickly approaching it’s that annual time of year when the goodness of your heart can lead to very bad results: You overspend on gifts, dining out, or nights out on the town.
Please don’t keep your health insurance on autopilot. I know it’s tempting just to ignore the annual “open enrollment” communications from your employer to review your choices, and just stick with the plan you have. That could be a costly mistake. Here are 4 reasons to spend some time reviewing your employer-provided health insurance choices:
About half of large employers now offer a high-deductible health insurance plan (HDHP). I know the mere mention of “high deductible” might send your blood pressure skyward, but please listen to me. For many of you, a HDHP may be the smartest health insurance.
Attention all college freshman, and returning students! If you have taken out an unsubsidized federal Stafford loan to help pay for college, I am betting you are making a big financial
Saving for retirement is a no-brainer. But knowing the smartest ways to do that saving is anything but easy to figure out, given all the choices. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Here’s exactly what you should do, in the order I list:
I am a big believer in home ownership, but only if it makes financial sense. If you answer yes to any of these questions you are better off renting:
By Randall Kenneth Jones Originally published in the Naples Daily News It’s practically impossible to write about time spent with personal-finance wizard Suze Orman using a detached, third-person journalistic voice. Why? Suze Orman excels at leaving no financial or emotional stone unturned—she lives to get personal.
Spring is in the air! Springtime is about renewal and rebirth, and therefore a perfect to take stock of your life, and take charge of your finances. It’s time to get off the fence and spring clean your finances, ladies!
Far from aspirations that would lead a reporter to refer to me as “a force in personal finance,” my career is the result of a hot tub dream gone bad.
A recent paper from the influential Research Affiliates investment management firm (more than $140 billion in assets managed) takes the provocative stance that young adults saving for
Listen up my 60 something friends (and those of you heading to that milestone soon) we need to have a talk about your retirement planning.
Congress’ shenanigans to shut down the government for 16 days this month has many Americans rightfully concerned about their personal finances.“If you don’t want to be affected by the actions—or lack of actions—in Washington, you and you alone are going to have to save yourself,” insists Suze Orman.
In her last book, The Money Class, Orman urged readers to keep their emergency savings not in a money market fund, but in an interest-bearing checking account. Her reasoning: