Facebook

Who is Middle Class in the US?

Although we read and hear many references to the “middle class,” there is no official definition of who qualifies as middle class. Many people assume it means a certain level of income, homeownership, and a steady income. A recent study by the Pew Research Center defined middle class in relation to the median U.S. income…

A plan for your digital legacy

“When thinking about your digital legacy consider: social networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn blogs and licensed domain names your presence in online communities or listserves music, photos, or other files that you store online seller’s accounts on Amazon, eBay, or Itsy, and access to financial accounts or utilities.”  As part of your estate…

Do you have enough money to retire?

A common question for pre-retirees is whether they have enough money to retire. Of course, the most accurate answer is: “It depends.” How long are you likely to live? What lifestyle do you desire? What “guaranteed” sources of income do you have and how secure are those sources? What health expenses will you face? Will…

Got credit card complaints? Call your card issuer!

“The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau received more than 26,000 complaints regarding credit cards last year, with billing the most common reason. But intense competition in the industry means credit card companies can be responsive if cardholders call.” Read : Here’s proof that disputing your credit-card bill could be worth it http://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-proof-that-disputing-your-credit-card-bill-could-be-worth-it-2017-04-13The CFPB is the consumer’s…

13 Questions to help plan your retirement

“Many pre-retirees spend more time planning vacations than they do preparing for retirement, resulting in a lack of financial readiness. But planning is essential to avoid the worst, and Life Income Management founder Melody Juge reviews 13 questions to ponder to move toward sound retirement.”“What is your target retirement date? • What are your monthly…

Almost everything you need to know to plan for retirement

Almost everything you need to know to plan for retirement is available on the blog post by Joseph Hogue, author of the PeerFinance101 blog: 7 Retirement X-Factors for Your Nest Egg. It’s never as simple as accumulating X times your salary or other “rules of thumb.” Check out: http://peerfinance101.com/retirement-x-factors-how-much-need/ Source: Financial Planning for Women

A visual representation of investment diversification

Check out the Squared Away blog for an effective visualization of investment diversification. I used the Callan Table in teaching diversification to my university students. It’s a great way to understand why no one can predict future investment returns. http://squaredawayblog.bc.edu/squared-away/the-picture-of-investment-diversity/ Source: Financial Planning for Women

What mom REALLY needs for Mother’s Day

My New York City sister sent me an email about a Mother’s Day Brunch for “only” $105 per adult and $45 per child! Obviously that’s what the 1% (or 10%) does to celebrate Mother’s Day. What mom really needs is not an expensive restaurant meal, flowers, or another kitchen gadget. What most mothers need, especially…

Avoiding Surprise Medical Bills

“Surprise medical bills can happen from nearly any encounter with the health-care system” according to Emma Court for MarketWatch. “Awareness of so-called “surprise medical bills,” which occur when an insured patient receives an unexpected bill for out-of-network care, has grown in recent years. Emergency room horror stories, in which one or some of the medical…

Why not Medicare for all? HR bill 676

With all the debate and animosity about overhauling the Affordable Care Act (which, BTW IS the same as “Obamacare” although 30% of Americans do NOT know this simple fact), why not Medicare for all Americans?  Most people, both consumers and members of Congress, don’t seem to realize that under our current system of health insurance,…