Weekly Newsletter

“Third-party Posts”

Five new retirement numbers to know in 2024

Five new retirement numbers to know in 2024

The new year has brought some new math for anyone running their retirement planning numbers. Social Security checks are a bit higher this month, thanks to the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) - but higher Medicare Part B premiums will take a bite out of the...

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Can Remote Work Get You a Head Start on Retirement?

Can Remote Work Get You a Head Start on Retirement?

If you have a dream destination in mind, careful planning and a willing boss could help you make the move ahead of schedule Rob Nehrbas was winding up his career as an executive at an Arizona-based laser device company he’d sold to a bigger competitor when he realized...

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What’s Changing for Retirement in 2024?

What’s Changing for Retirement in 2024?

Inflation adjustments and the phase-in of Secure 2.0 provisions have implications for retirement savers and retirees alike. The dawning of 2024 will usher in more changes than usual on the retirement-planning front. As is typical with the turn of the calendar page,...

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Want to retire early? Make these 5 moves in 2024

Want to retire early? Make these 5 moves in 2024

As 2023 comes to a close, many Americans are turning their attention to 2024 and contemplating resolutions for the new year. Many focus on financial resolutions. as people seek to earn more or create breathing room in their budget. For some, making a commitment...

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5 Reasons To Buy an Annuity

5 Reasons To Buy an Annuity

A few reasons to consider buying an annuity include the tax advantages, income for life and customization options for added benefits. The Annuity.org editorial team interviewed annuity buyers and financial experts to understand the best reasons to purchase one and how...

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Don’t Make This Big Retirement Mistake

Don’t Make This Big Retirement Mistake

A recent survey of Americans who have yet to retire found that just 10% have made plans to receive the biggest possible Social Security payout. And it’s not because people don’t know that Social Security pays bigger benefits the longer you wait to claim. More than 90%...

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What Is a Fixed Index Annuity?

What Is a Fixed Index Annuity?

The S&P 500 represents about 80% of the total market capitalization of large-cap U.S. stocks (market price per common share multiplied by the number of common shares outstanding). As it is so widespread, many market analysts use it as an indicator of the overall...

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12 Things to Tell Your Kids About Your Money

12 Things to Tell Your Kids About Your Money

You don’t have to tell them some things, but others are very important You’ve probably taught your kids a whole bunch about money over the years, like how to stretch an allowance through an entire week and how to balance a debit account — or, most challenging of all,...

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7 Money Leaks — and How to Plug Them

7 Money Leaks — and How to Plug Them

These stealthy cash drainers could be costing you big bucks Yes, you can save a lot by cutting out the little pleasures in life. Nonessentials like caffe lattes and premium channels can really add up. But life is too short for mediocre coffee! The good news is that...

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Why Gen X Is Freaking Out About Retirement

Why Gen X Is Freaking Out About Retirement

Facing an insecure financial future, America's 'neglected middle child' may have to chart a different path to post-work life For years, Mike Cundall Jr. thought he was on the proper path to retirement. A professor of philosophy at North Carolina A&T University,...

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5 Retirement Fears Keeping Us Up at Night

5 Retirement Fears Keeping Us Up at Night

Inflation, stock swings and more erode Americans’ confidence in future financial security When it comes to retirement readiness, many Americans are feeling disillusioned. A spring Gallup poll found that only 43 percent of nonretired adults expect to live out their...

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8 Ways to Recover Faster From a Disaster

8 Ways to Recover Faster From a Disaster

A little planning can ease the financial hardship You may not think a disaster can hit you, but a disaster of some sort can occur just about any place, at any time, with little or no warning. Garrett Sorensen knows that. His car was totaled when a powerful tornado hit...

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10 Biggest Expenses in Retirement

10 Biggest Expenses in Retirement

You may think that your big expenses in retirement will be for greens fees at golf clubs, spa charges at that resort in Crete, and taking the kids out for avocado toast on weekends. And that may well be true. But some of your biggest expenses may surprise you —...

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Choosing the Safest Investment Path

Choosing the Safest Investment Path

3 ways to ensure you’ll be able to afford your essential retirement expenses If your safe investments won't produce enough income to cover your "floor" expenses, the answer is to rethink and reduce your expenses. When you're young, you can't be too aggressive when...

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Taxation of Retirement Income

Taxation of Retirement Income

When you retire, you leave behind many things—the daily grind, commuting, maybe your old home—but one thing you keep is a tax bill. In fact, income taxes can be your single largest expense in retirement. Taxation of Social Security Benefits Many older Americans are...

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6 Things to Do If You’re Nearing Retirement

6 Things to Do If You’re Nearing Retirement

Planning to retire in 10 years or less? Find out what you need to know and do for a smoother transition. If you're thinking of retiring within the next 10 years, you may feel like you're confronting quite a few "what ifs" and unknowns. "Many retirees say transitioning...

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What Is the Ideal Retirement Age for Your Health?

What Is the Ideal Retirement Age for Your Health?

Average life expectancy has risen by 16 years since the national retirement age was set at 65. We asked health experts when they think people should stop working now. In 1881, the conservative German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, plagued by a rise in socialist...

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What Is the Ideal Retirement Age for Your Health?

What Is the Ideal Retirement Age for Your Health?

Average life expectancy has risen by 16 years since the national retirement age was set at 65. We asked health experts when they think people should stop working now. In 1881, the conservative German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, plagued by a rise in socialist...

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10 Things You Need to Know About Social Security

10 Things You Need to Know About Social Security

Answers to frequently asked questions about your retirement benefits Social Security provides benefits to more than 66 million people, and those monthly payments have an enormous impact on older Americans’ financial health. According to Census Bureau data: • Social...

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Are Annuities A Good Investment?

Are Annuities A Good Investment?

The first question you need to ask yourself is, what are your financial goals? An annuity may be a good option if you are looking for stability in retirement. There are 13 types of annuities, each with its pros and cons. Reasons why an annuity makes a good investment...

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Can Remote Work Get You a Head Start on Retirement?

Can Remote Work Get You a Head Start on Retirement?

If you have a dream destination in mind, careful planning and a willing boss could help you make the move ahead of schedule Rob Nehrbas was winding up his career as an executive at an Arizona-based laser device company he’d sold to a bigger competitor when he realized...

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7 Ways Retirement Will Be Different in 2023

7 Ways Retirement Will Be Different in 2023

Tax changes, RMD rules, Social Security COLA and more will affect older Americans’ finances You might have heard about big changes coming to retirement finance due to Secure 2.0, a package of provisions included in the massive spending bill enacted by Congress and...

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2 Big Changes to RMDs That Will Affect Retirees in 2023

2 Big Changes to RMDs That Will Affect Retirees in 2023

KEY POINTS Retirees can push back RMDs to age 73 in 2023. The penalties for not taking RMDs will drop significantly. A big change is coming to workplace accounts with a Roth designation in 2024. The $1.7 trillion spending bill that Congress passed last week includes...

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How much life insurance do I need?

How much life insurance do I need?

In most cases, if you have no dependents and have enough money to pay your final expenses, you don’t need any life insurance. If you want to create an inheritance or make a charitable contribution, buy enough life insurance to achieve those goals. If you have...

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7 Ways Retirement Will Be Different in 2023

7 Ways Retirement Will Be Different in 2023

Tax changes, RMD rules, Social Security COLA and more will affect older Americans’ finances You might have heard about big changes coming to retirement finance due to Secure 2.0, a package of provisions included in the massive spending bill enacted by Congress and...

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12 Tax Rules Linked to Inflation

12 Tax Rules Linked to Inflation

IRS adjustments may save you some money in 2023 Are expensive gas and groceries busting your budget? The Internal Revenue Service feels your pain. In one of the few silver linings of the highest inflation rates in four decades, the IRS announced inflation-adjusted...

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Your 2023 Tax Brackets vs. 2022 Tax Brackets

Your 2023 Tax Brackets vs. 2022 Tax Brackets

The income ranges, adjusted annually for inflation, determine which tax rates apply to you Even though we’re still in the 2022 tax year, and you filed your 2021 tax returns back in April, you’re probably thinking to yourself, “Gosh! I wonder what the tax brackets are...

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50 Years of Inflation: What Things Cost in 1972

50 Years of Inflation: What Things Cost in 1972

Surprisingly, some things are bargains today — but not many Remember 1972? Richard Nixon was president, the Oakland Athletics were on the way to winning the first of three consecutive World Series and All in the Family was the number 1 television show. Still, what you...

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Bah, Humbug: Inflation Drives Christmas Tree Prices Up

Bah, Humbug: Inflation Drives Christmas Tree Prices Up

Whether you opt for a real or a faux one, expect to pay 5 to 15 percent more this holiday season Christmas tree prices, whether for faux or real ones, are rising this holiday season as inflation spills over into decorations. How bad? Expect to pay anywhere from 5 to...

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A Recession Survival Guide for Retirees

A Recession Survival Guide for Retirees

Economic downturns are inevitable. Here's how to protect your retirement nest egg Is the U.S. in a recession? The media was filled with speculation after the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) announced that the nation's economy had contracted in the first and second...

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7 Ways You’re Blowing Your Retirement Savings

7 Ways You’re Blowing Your Retirement Savings

If these actions sound familiar, you may want to make some changes If worrying about running out of money in retirement is keeping you up at night, you aren’t alone. Untold numbers of older adults have that concern, and for good reason. Inflation is soaring, gas...

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Should You Delay Retiring in a Down Market?

Should You Delay Retiring in a Down Market?

The answer requires a realistic look at your savings and spending Inflation is soaring and the stock market is falling, putting a wrench in many people’s retirement plans. That’s particularly true of those gearing up to retire this year. Instead of planning their...

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What to Do If You Receive a Financial Windfall

What to Do If You Receive a Financial Windfall

How to prepare for those rare occasions when a large sum falls into your lap For most of your life, money comes in at a slow and somewhat steady pace. Maybe you get a paycheck every two weeks or a Social Security payment once a month. Now and then you might get a bump...

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Your Inflation Cheat Sheet

Your Inflation Cheat Sheet

Answers to your most pressing questions about the rising cost of living — past, present and future Prices crept up, then surged higher in the first half of this year. In June, the consumer price index rose to become 9.1 percent higher than it had been a year earlier —...

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7 Things Singles Nearing Retirement Should Know

7 Things Singles Nearing Retirement Should Know

Your needs are unique if you are divorced, widowed or never married Ah, the single life. You can do as you like. There’s no need to deal with a spouse who has opposing views, a different vision of retirement. A spouse who spends too little or too much, or has...

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5 Tips for Retiring in the Next 12 Months

You’ll be retired by this time next year. Here’s what to do now You’ve scrimped and saved and planned for decades, through good times and bad. Now your goal is to retire in this uncertain environment, perhaps in the next year — even though the last six months have...

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7 Reasons You Should Retire Already

7 Reasons You Should Retire Already

Sometimes the writing is on the wall Retirement may seem untenable with inflation soaring and gas prices skyrocketing, but for some older adults, hanging on to their job can cause more harm than good. Sure, you still have money coming in, but at what price to your...

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7 Surprisingly Valuable Assets for a Happy Retirement

7 Surprisingly Valuable Assets for a Happy Retirement

A long and happy retirement takes more than just money. Here are seven things happy retirees do – besides dutifully saving the money they’ll need to quit the 9-to-5 grind. Retirement planning is all about numbers. It centers around one question: Do my financial assets...

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‘Solo Ager’ Needs Help Handling Her Financial Affairs

With no spouse and no children, she's looking elsewhere for backup The Problem Elizabeth Spiegler, 68, a retired office manager in New York City, was thinking ahead. She wrote me wondering who could handle her financial affairs if someday she can't. Spiegler isn't...

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Happy Retirees Have These 7 Habits in Common

A long and fulfilling retirement takes more than just money. Here are seven things happy retirees do – besides dutifully saving the money they’ll need to finally quit the 9-to-5 grind. Retirement planning is all about numbers. It centers around one question: Do my...

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10 Things No One Tells You About Early Retirement

The reality of quitting work can be far different from the fantasy. Here's what you need to know Even if you love your job, there are times when you'd rather be alphabetizing the spice shelf than riding a packed train alongside hundreds of sniffling fellow commuters....

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The Financial Penalty of Losing Your Spouse

Prepare for the monetary shock of widowhood When you lose your mate, you lose so much—your best friend, your equilibrium, your future together. And just when you’re at your lowest, it hits you: You could lose a lot of money, too. Your finances may crash in myriad ways...

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A Recession Survival Guide for Retirees

Economic downturns are inevitable. Here's how to protect your retirement nest egg Sooner or later, the economy will fall into a recession, because that’s the nature of the economy: Busts follow booms. For many retirees, the biggest challenge is the investment...

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Tax Breaks After 50 You Can’t Afford to Miss

IRS tax code offers perks to taxpayers of a certain age If you’re 50 or older, there is one benefit to reaching this milestone that you may be overlooking: tax breaks aimed right at you. Now you can contribute more to your Roth or traditional individual retirement...

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Social Security Resource Center

Social Security retirement benefits are primarily based on two factors: your average income over your working life and your age when you claim them. You get to decide when to start collecting benefits, within an eight-year window from age 62 to age 70. The longer you...

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3 Steps to Help You Get out of Debt

How to get control of what you owe For Gail and Tony Dean, the crisis came as they approached 50. Living in South Florida, they decided to move north, near Orlando, where they bought land and began to build their dream home. Then the debts piled up. The couple — she...

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What Happens to Your Debts After You Die?

5 things loved ones will have to do to settle your accounts How many times have you told your loved ones that you don’t want to be a burden, and saddle them with a financial mess at the end of your life? It’s a common sentiment. Despite their good intentions, however,...

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How Long Do You Have to Keep Tax Records?

For many financial documents, just 3 years — for others, practically forever You may be starting at a heap of paperwork when you finish filing your 2021 federal taxes, which are due April 18. Your first urge may be to sweep them all into a paper bag and put the bag...

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How the Fed’s Rate Hikes Will Affect Your Finances

You'll get better savings rates but higher borrowing costs this year The Federal Reserve is raising borrowing costs to cool the hottest inflation readings in 40 years. The Fed on Wednesday hiked its key short-term fed funds rate to a range of 0.75 to 1 percent, the...

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Biggest Social Security Changes for 2022

Benefits are going up, but so are the Medicare premiums deducted from monthly checks Social Security beneficiaries will have a lot to cheer about in 2022 — but they may have a few things to grouse about as well. Here’s a rundown of what will change for Social Security...

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Fixed index annuities: potential plus protection

Fixed index annuities can help you accumulate money for retirement and provide guaranteed income after you retire. A fixed index annuity may be a good choice if you want the opportunity to earn indexed interest, but don’t want to risk losing money in the market. What...

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Facts About Life Insurance: Must-Know Statistics in 2022

Purchasing life insurance is a big deal. If you want to be sure your family is covered if something happens to you, choosing the right policy is imperative. Whether you’re looking for the average policy cost or more in-depth knowledge, such as the largest life...

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What Every Retirement Saver Needs to Know About 2022

Changes in contribution limits, taxes, Social Security benefits, Medicare premiums and more We all get sentimental from time to time, but unless you hit the lottery or found true love, you probably won't be looking back on 2021 all too fondly. The COVID-19 pandemic is...

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2022: The Year Consumers Discover Annuities

What You Need to Know The government is confusing. Stock market gains are high, for now. The Secure Act is turning employer-sponsored retirement plans into income-planning educators. Have you ever experienced the solution to a problem being in plain sight, only to...

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How to Retire Like a Millionaire with $500,000

As volatility creeps back into the marketplace the need for the guarantees that only annuities provide is only going to increase. Retire with $500,000 but Spend Like a Millionaire Inflation (CPI) went up 7 percent in 2021, the highest annual inflation increase since...

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22 Uses for Annuities in 2022

As we head toward 2022 and see more Americans reaching their mid- to late 60s, it is a great time to revisit how annuity products can be used to meet consumer financial challenges. In anticipation of the new year, here are 22 ideas on how consumers can use annuity...

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Expenses You Can Eliminate in Retirement

Eliminating these expenses means substantial savings in retirement. Lower your expenses. Many retirees are tempted to spend more money on leisure activities in retirement. Health care costs also tend to increase as people age. But there are many costs that decline in...

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Social Security Survivors Benefits

Social Security survivors benefits are paid to widows, widowers, and dependents of eligible workers. This benefit is particularly important for young families with children. This page provides detailed information about survivors benefits and can help you understand...

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2022 Is The Year Consumers Discover Value Of Annuities

Harry N. Stout, author and podcast host at the FinancialVerse says that 2022 will be the year that consumers proactively reach out for information and advice to explore the solutions that annuity products can provide to address some of their financial challenges. Here...

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An Overview of Annuities

Understanding the various types of annuities and how they work If you are considering buying an annuity to provide steady income during retirement, it's important to understand the different types and how they work. Here's a look at the fundamentals of annuities and...

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Why Is Inflation Rising Right Now?

Inflation is here. The most recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation report showed that prices rose across the board in November. By a lot. Overall, prices climbed 6.8% year-over-year, the largest increase since June 1982, and rose 0.8% over the past month. Higher...

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Should COVID-19 Change Your Retirement Strategy?

What to do now, as the pandemic surges yet again in the U.S. COVID-19 is still raging throughout the U.S., and in much of the world it has never stopped doing so. Safe and highly effective vaccines are available, but not everywhere, and even where they are, not...

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Top Retirement Savings Tips for 55-to-64-Year-Olds

There's still time to give your savings a good boost before you retire If you're between 55 and 64 years old, you still have time to boost your retirement savings. Whether you plan to retire early, late, or never ever, having an adequate amount of money saved can make...

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Budgeting for the 4 Financial Phases of Retirement

Different phases call for different strategies If you’re physically healthy and financially prepared, your retirement could last for decades. During that time, it may go through several distinct phases, with changing levels of income and expenses that require...

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Retirement: The Best Timing Strategies for Couples

Staggering your retirement date from your spouse may benefit you both Many working couples dream of the day when they can retire and sail off into the sunset together. However, couples should consider whether retiring at the same time is the wise choice. There are...

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Your 2022 Tax Brackets vs. 2021 Tax Brackets

The income ranges, adjusted annually for inflation, determine which tax rates apply to you You may be making plans for filing your 2021 income taxes, but in a few short weeks you'll be living in tax year 2022, and tax year 2022 will differ substantially from 2021....

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Planning for Retirement: Four Factors to Consider

Planning ahead is one of the best ways to prepare for a comfortable retirement. From keeping track of your savings to adopting strategies for generating income, a thoughtful approach can help you sustain your lifestyle as you move into the next phase of your life....

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5 Mistakes Couples Make When Planning for Retirement

Steps you can take to avoid disagreements over spending and much more You've looked forward to retirement for decades — the chance to slow down the pace, to live in a different place, to see parts of the world you've only dreamed of, to spoil the grandkids just a bit....

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Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE)

What Is Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE)? Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) is a movement of people devoted to a program of extreme savings and investment that aims to allow them to retire far earlier than traditional budgets and retirement plans...

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