Summertime is often when teens land their first meaningful jobs, and recent college grads head into the permanent workforce. That means they become eligible to save for retirement in a Roth IRA. Now you and I both know that retirement savings may not be at the top of their to-do list. Can’t really blame them,…
If you have a newly minted college graduate in the family, I want to say: Congratulations! That is a tremendous accomplishment. For them, and for you. Yes, I know it is a tough job market for young adults right now. But I hope your family will take a beat and celebrate what has been accomplished,…
With the April 15th tax deadline just passed, I know many of you are now eagerly awaiting a federal tax refund. And it could be a big chunk of money. The average federal refund this year is about $3,500, which is more than 10% higher than the average for the previous year. So what is…
There is a lot of unsettling news right now, and so much of it can hurt us financially. Higher gas prices and lower stock prices are a challenge to even the calmest among us. And what makes the stress even more troubling is that academic research has documented that we’re all emotionally wired to feel…
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…
