Choices for Your 401(K) at a Former Employer

One of the common threads of a mobile workforce is that many individuals who leave their job are faced with a decision about what to do with their 401(k) account.¹ Individuals have four choices with the 401(k) account they accrued at a previous employer.2 CHOICE 1: LEAVE IT WITH YOUR PREVIOUS EMPLOYER You may choose … Read more

Categories

Social Security: The Elephant in the Room

For most Americans, Social Security has represented nothing more than some unavoidable payroll deduction with the positively cryptic initials of “FICA” and “OASDI” (Federal Insurance Contributions Act and Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance). It hinted at a future that seemed both intangible and far away. Yet, many Americans now sit on the cusp of … Read more

Categories

Social Security: Five Facts You Need to Know

Social Security can be complicated, and as a result many individuals don’t have a full understanding of the choices they may have. Here are five facts about Social Security that are important to keep in mind. 1. SOCIAL SECURITY IS A CRITICAL SOURCE OF RETIREMENT INCOME Some have the perception that Social Security is of … Read more

Categories

Social Security: The 64,000 Dollar Question

One of the most common questions people ask about Social Security is when they should start taking benefits. This is the $64,000 question. Making the right decision for you can have a meaningful impact on your financial income in retirement. Before considering how personal circumstances and objectives may play into your decision, it may be … Read more

Categories

Social Security: Maximizing Benefits

Most understand that waiting to claim Social Security benefits can result in higher monthly payments. However, many don’t know that there are other ways to maximize their benefits, some of which depend on their marital status. Understanding the strategies for maximizing your Social Security retirement income benefits should be prefaced with a review of the … Read more

Categories

Social Security Benefits: How Much Will I Receive

Next to “When should I claim Social Security benefits?”, one of the more common questions people have is “How much will I receive?” Calculating your potential Social Security benefit is a three-step process: 1. Calculate Your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME): The highest 35 years of indexed earnings is added together. It is then divided by … Read more

Categories

Volunteering in Retirement

“This generation got no destination to hold…We are volunteers of America”“Volunteers” by Jefferson Airplane Those of a certain age will recall these Jefferson Airplane lyrics as a call to action, though for a different period and place. Even with the passage of time and through a lifetime of changes, the desire of baby boomers to make … Read more

Categories

Should You Borrow from Your 401(K)?

The average household with revolving credit card debt had a balance of $6,006 in 2021. For the average household carrying credit card debt in 2021, this equated to an annual interest of $1,029. With the average credit card annual percentage rate sitting at 20.48%, it represents an expensive way to fund spending.1,2 Which leads many … Read more

Categories

Money That Buys Good Health Is Never Ill Spent

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average person covered by Medicare has out-of-pocket medical expenses in excess of $5,400 a year. Premium costs accounted for 42% of the total, while long-term facility costs, medical supplies, prescription drugs, and dental care claim most of the rest of the costs.1 With healthcare expenses in the spotlight, … Read more

Categories

Inflation – Back to the Future

Inflation sometimes seems like one of those afflictions of an era long since passed into the history books. While it’s true that double-digit inflation has been absent for the last 30 years or more, you may remember the high inflation years of the 1970s.¹ Will the levels of U.S. public debt and loose monetary policy … Read more

Categories

Orchestrating Your Retirement Accounts

An orchestra is merely a collection of instruments, each creating a unique sound. It is only when a conductor leads them that they produce the beautiful music imagined by the composer. The same can be said about your retirement strategy. The typical retirement strategy is built on the pillars of your 401(k) plan, your Traditional … Read more

Categories

Is a Sep-IRA Right for Your Business?

If you’re like many small business owners, running your own business is an all-consuming endeavor. In the face of everyday demands, choosing a retirement strategy for your business can become a casualty. The idea of establishing a plan could evoke worries about complicated reporting and administration. If this sounds familiar, then you may want to … Read more

Categories