I need to have a frank chat with those of you at least 65 or so years old, who are married to a man, or in a long-term relationship where your finances are intertwined. I wish you continued years of a loving partnership, but I also need you to focus on the probability that you…
The rising cost of homeowner’s insurance is somewhat out of our control, as it reflects the rising cost of claims (and future risk of claims) caused by extreme weather. But in most states, insurers can use something that is in your control to help them decide what homeowner’s insurance premium to charge you. Insurance credit…
After years of carefully saving for and planning your retirement, I have to tell you there is a new responsibility you must take on: protecting yourself from being scammed. However, if you do find yourself the victim of a financial scam, there is to be no blame or shame. This is an out-of-control problem, and…
A recent national survey reported that just 1 in 3 Americans had no stress last year about being able to pay medical bills. That means 7 in 10 Americans had some stress. I think it’s fair to say that worrying about how to handle out-of-pocket medical costs is a national epidemic. And that can…
If you feel financially stressed, you’re not alone. More than 7 in 10 people surveyed in 2025 by the Employee Benefit Research Institute said thinking about their financial future was stressing them out. And there was the same amount of stress reported about a near-term concern: not having a solid emergency savings account to handle…
One of the hardest truths about investing is that our biggest challenge is often combating our own emotions. We tend to get overly nervous when markets fall and too giddy when things are going great, which can push us to make emotional decisions about whether to buy or sell. Emotions are not helpful when it…
You know my rule is to always hope for the best and plan for the worst. When it comes to your health, I think many of you may not be carefully planning for a year (or more) where you have high medical expenses. I bet you know exactly what your health insurance premiums cost you,…
Staying put is a very popular retirement strategy. And I totally understand that many of you want to stay in the home that you live in, rather than downsize or move someplace else. But from a financial standpoint, it can be tricky. You know I have always insisted that if your plan is to “age…
I want you to know that financial experts are expecting your household to be a big boost for the economy this year. My hope is that you will be smart and not behave as expected without careful consideration. Here’s what is going on: Economists are busy predicting that the average federal tax refund this year…
