Unpacking the Summer Economy Provided by Marc Aarons In the financial world, some weeks are more important than others, and we just lived through a big one. Let’s unpack each of the four key stats:   The Fed. As expected, the Fed bumped up short-term rates again at its July meeting. But the markets breathed […]

Required Minimum Distributions 101 Understanding mandatory retirement account withdrawals. Provided by Marc Aarons If you are approaching your seventies, get ready for required minimum distributions. You may soon have to take RMDs, as they are called, from one or more of your retirement accounts. You can now take some RMDs a bit later in life, […]

What Happens When There Are No Beneficiaries Where do those accounts and policies end up? Provided by Marc Aarons Some accounts have no designated beneficiary. Rarely, the same thing occurs with insurance policies. This is usually an oversight. In exceptional circumstances, it is a choice. What happens to these accounts and policies when the original […]

Getting Disability Income The facts about applying for SSDI and SSDI benefits. Provided by Marc Aarons   If you cannot work due to a disability, you might be eligible for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI). These federal government payments could offer you a degree of financial relief.1 Most SSDI recipients get paid between $700-1,400 per […]

How SECURE 2.0 Might Change Retirement -Bipartisan Backed Retirement Legislation- Provided by Marc Aarons   The SECURE Act of 2019 represented the biggest update to retirement law in over a decade, designed to grow American’s savings. Now, Congress is deliberating on what “SECURE 2.0” legislation might entail. In March, the House passed the Securing a […]

Searching for the Goldilocks Economy Provided by Marc Aarons Last week, the Federal Reserve took an aggressive stance toward inflation by raising the key interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point.  A move unseen since 1994. With consumer prices soaring, pushing short-term rates higher is the Fed’s attempt to slow economic growth and rein […]

The Behavior Gap and Your Financial Health How might it affect you? Provided by Marc Aarons   “It turns out my job was not to find great investments but to help create great investors,” writes Carl Richards, author of “The Behavior Gap.” From increasing our budget mindfulness to taking a steadier approach to investing, Richards […]

Creating a Retirement Strategy Most people just invest for the future. You have a chance to do more. Provided by Marc Aarons   Across the country, people are saving for that “someday” called retirement. Someday, their careers will end. Someday, they may live off their savings or investments, plus Social Security.  They know this, but […]

Rehearsing for Retirement Try living as a “retiree” for a month or two before you commit to leaving your career.   Provided by Marc Aarons   Imagine if you could preview your retirement in advance. In a sense, you can. Financially and mentally, you can “rehearse” for the third act of your life, while still […]

Couples Retiring on the Same Page Agreeing about what you want from retirement is crucial.   Provided by Marc Aarons   What does a good retirement look like to you? Does it resemble the retirement that your spouse or partner has in mind? It is at least roughly similar? The Social Security Administration currently projects […]