When the weather in much of the country turns colder, people increasingly choose indoor activities. Weather affects activity on the housing market as well. Demand for houses often conforms to business-driven “on” or “off” seasons, so the sale of your home is affected both by nature and what we do during each season. Which season [...]
Family and money—the combination can be tricky, and when it comes to talking about finances with aging parents, years of communication and family culture can often get in the way. That’s why many financial professionals say that using a sensitive, respectful, and tactful tone with adult parents may make financial conversations easier. “It is a [...]
Maybe you wish you could save more money for a rainy day or to spend on a nice vacation, but the thought of giving up free time to work a second job doesn’t sound attractive to you. If so, it might be time to make some minor course corrections with your budget. You may be [...]
Americans are living longer, and people typically want to spend those extra years enjoying life and being happy. For some, that means divorce after retirement, a situation that brings with it a unique set of financial hurdles. A recent study from Bowling Green University found that the rate of divorce in Americans over age 50 [...]
Being your own boss offers a lot of flexibility and opportunity for financial growth. But saving for retirement when you’re self employed can be a difficult path to navigate. That’s why Douglas Goldstein, CFP®, director of Profile Investment Services, Ltd., equates the strategies of investing and creating a self-employment retirement savings plan to playing a [...]
This article was updated on 3/27/17. Buying a home in a competitive market is difficult. Inventory is low in hot sellers’ markets, attracting numerous buyers to the same handful of homes, and some buyers will pull out all the stops to get their offers accepted. Popular homes can launch bidding wars between buyers. In addition, [...]
Saving for retirement can be confusing—and even a little intimidating—yet it’s utterly essential. Though nearly every financial professional recommends opening a retirement savings account as early as possible, the myriad options and often-confusing financial terrain can cause many people to procrastinate. It used to be simpler. In 1970, 42 percent of Americans had a defined-benefit [...]
The process of selling a home is typically filled with questions, especially if it’s your first time as a seller. Finding answers to your home-selling questions and taking the right steps can help you complete the sale and walk away with as much cash as possible. To help you manage this process with minimal stress, [...]
Many resourceful parents aim to do everything they can to help their children through each stage of life: childhood, emerging adulthood, and, for some, even retirement. Before considering whether to save for your children’s retirement, it’s essential to first make sure you can finance your own post-work life chapter, says Chris Long, CFP®, of Chicago-based [...]
Saving for retirement during your lifetime is one of the smartest financial investment decisions you can make. In fact, the sooner you start, the further those hard-earned dollars go, thanks to the power of compound interest. However, many young people are more concerned about student loan debt than they are about retirement planning. According to [...]
