‘Tis the time of year to be thankful, but let’s face it, that isn’t always easy. Our nation – and the entire world actually – has had a pretty rough go of things over the past few years. COVID uprooted and changed our lives almost overnight. Many of us lost loved ones, friends, and neighbors.…
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It doesn’t take rocket science to employ time value of money – it’s simply the power of time and compound interest. If you started saving $1,000 a month at 20 years of age and it earns 8% a year, this would mean you would have almost 5.3 million dollars at age 65. But…. If you…
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Beginning January 2023, Social Security checks will increase a whopping 8.7%! This is the largest increase in 41 years… and comes on the heels of a 5.9% raise in 2022. To top that off, Medicare premiums will actually decrease a small amount in 2023. This is great news, but beware! Uncle Sam may think it’s…
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$1 million is enough…This might sound like it is, but most of the time it really isn’t enough. Life insurance needs are calculated in various ways, but experience has taught us that most individuals want their spouse to be taken care of for the rest of his/her life if death were to occur. Moreover, they…
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A recent speaker told a story that I think most of us can relate to: Whenever I get in the car, I have a driving companion named Tom. He warns me in advance and reminds me just before a turn comes. Even if I make a wrong turn, Tom patiently tells me to turn around…
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The markets are a little bit choppy if you haven’t noticed. The economy is carrying a bit of a shadowy forecast these days and money seems to be getting tighter and tighter. If you turn on the news, there is not much besides doom and gloom. Then there is you—the hard-working American that just wants…
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Can you remember the last time you bought a new mattress? The difference between shopping for most things and shopping for a mattress is that we’re not sure how to price one – for most of us it has been ages since we bought our last one and we have no reference point. Most folks…
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Anne Heche is yet another celebrity to die without a Will. When I read this fact, my heart sunk. Of course, I don’t know Anne Heche personally, but I do know what dying without a Will could possibly mean for her family—stress, chaos, conflict and quarrels, and interruptions to daily life for her family in…
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You were probably hoping to click on this article and finally get a straight and simple answer…And looking to your friends and relatives, you think you know the answer already. Over 80% of the people eligible to start taking Social Security file their claim before their Full Retirement Age (which is most commonly age 67).1…
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If you’re taking the time to read this, odds are you’re the planner in the family. You take care of most of the financial duties for your family, and your spouse looks to you for the final say on these matters. If that is a fairly accurate portrayal, it is important that you continue reading…
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