Posts Tagged ‘Budgeting and Saving’
When Planning, Focus More on Goals, Less on Numbers
Financial planning is a complex, lifelong process that people tend to approach with a numbers orientation. What rate of return do I need to reach my goal? How much insurance do I need? Can I afford a bigger house? How much money do I need to save for retirement? To support their pursuit of the…
Read MoreBack to School Bonus: Interest Rates Drop on Federal Student Loans
Families with students heading off to college this fall take note: The interest rates on all newly-issued federal loans have been reduced for the coming academic year — but those reductions are much more pronounced for student borrowers than for their parents.1 For instance, the interest rate on Stafford subsidized and unsubsidized loans for undergraduates…
Read MoreCollege Planning — It’s About More Than Money
Choosing a way to save for your child’s education expenses may be your family’s first college planning decision, but it certainly won’t be the last. From making that first deposit, to selecting a college, to choosing a course of study, you and your child will be making choices that can have a financial impact for…
Read MoreHealth Savings Accounts: Get to Know These Versatile Savings Tools
The number of Americans covered by high-deductible health plans (HDHPs)/health savings accounts (HSAs) rose to about 19.7 million in 2015 — up from 17.4 million in 2014. On average, enrollment in HDHPs/HSAs has risen nearly 22% over the past two years.1 If you are new to HSAs and eager to take advantage of all the…
Read MoreWill Debt Hinder Your Retirement Outlook?
The number of Americans in or nearing retirement who are still holding significant mortgage, auto, even student loan debt has been rising in recent years. According to recent data released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the average 65-year-old borrower has 47% more mortgage debt and 29% more auto debt than 65-year-olds had…
Read MoreGet in the Habit — Smart Investing Habits to Adopt This Year
Some of your New Year’s resolutions may be to break a few of your bad habits and to take on some new, positive habits. If you’d like to improve your investing habits, setting up daily, monthly, and yearly routines may help. Daily Investment Habits Simple day-to-day routines may be the key to your investment success.…
Read MorePlanning 2016: New Realities, New Expectations
Financial resolutions often fall prey to the same procrastination that hinders personal aspirations. Yet current volatility in the financial markets along with other unsettling factors such as the impending presidential election and widespread geopolitical unrest may have led investors to pause, rethink their financial situations, and set new expectations for the future. Resolutions typically fall…
Read MoreTen Reasons to Consider Tapping Home Equity Now
The Federal Reserve has set the wheels in motion and for the first time in nearly a decade, interest rates are on an upward trajectory. The initial hike was a modest one quarter of one percentage point — not a game changer for most investors or consumers. And from what Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen telegraphed…
Read MorePlan Ahead for Gift Giving
Special occasions often call for gift giving: a graduation in May, a wedding in June, an anniversary in July, and birthdays throughout the year. Each event seems to sneak up on us — and our budgets. Retailers plan for holidays and seasonal sales, so why not do a little gift planning of your own? Here…
Read MoreHome Equity Loans Versus Lines of Credit: What’s the Difference?
Thinking of tapping the equity in your home to do a renovation, buy a second home, or consolidate debt? Before you decide which borrowing option is right for you, it’s important to understand the main differences between the two options. Home Equity Loan Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) Fixed interest rate for the life…
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