Ways to Pay for College
Today’s average student borrower takes out more than $25K in loans. Education debt has reached record levels in America – more than $1 trillion. In the face of those numbers, parents and students are looking for assorted ways to pay for college without incurring big liabilities. In addition to grants, loans, merit-based aid and your student holding down a job, there are other ways to reduce college cost – some little recognized.
Major Retirement Planning Mistakes
Much has been written about the classic financial mistakes that plague start-ups, family businesses, corporations and charities. Aside from these blunders, there are also some classic financial missteps that plague retirees.
Reverse Mortgages Reconsidered
Is a reverse mortgage worth it? Before this last recession, couples who asked their retirement advisors if they should get a reverse mortgage were often given a quick answer: “No.”
Today, the answer to that question might be “yes”. In an environment with minimal interest rates, these loans can offer retired homeowners a source of tax-free cash, either in periodic payments or a lump sum.
Why is the Market Advancing?
On August 21, the S&P 500 hit a 4-year high. It climbed 3% in the first three weeks of the month following a 1.26% July gain. Across the past four weeks, the index’s total return has been just under 4%.1,2,3
Unexpected? You might say so. You can’t predict how the market will behave. This summer, stocks are managing to advance despite lingering threats.
Managing the Ups & Downs of Irregular Income
When your income stream is uneven, you must deal with some distinct financial issues. Besides cash flow, what do you do about your tax strategy? How should you try to save? If you are self-employed, what about health coverage?
Reasons to Recertify a Power of Attorney
Estate planning has many “fine points”, and there is one detail too often overlooked. It is a good idea to recertify a Durable Power of Attorney that is more than 60 days old.
NEXT Financial Group, Inc. Named 2012 Broker/Dealer of the Year
On Monday, August 20, 2012, NEXT Financial Group, Inc. (“NEXT”) was named “Broker-Dealer of the Year” by Investment Advisor magazine for an unprecedented eighth time*.
Financial Questions for the Retiring Homeowner
Do you see yourself retiring in the near future? In planning for that transition, you might want to consider the state of your mortgage, the state of your property taxes, and the state of your living quarters.
Identity Theft Warning Signs
According to data compiled by Norton, cybercrime hits over 74 million Americans annually. You know you have been victimized when you get that courtesy call or email from a bank or credit card issuer - but is there a way you can tell prior to that moment?1
There are warning signs of cybercrime. Watching out for them just might save you money and headaches. If you notice any of the following conditions, pay attention.
When Will Interest Rates Rise?
Here’s a trivia question for you: when was the last time the Federal Reserve raised the benchmark U.S. interest rate?
The answer...
Retiring Solo
Most retirement planning literature portrays a retirement transition in the context of a couple or a family – but what about those who retire alone? What particular challenges do they face, and how must their preparation for retirement differ? Retiring alone presents unique challenges...
In-Service 401k Withdrawals & Retirement Income Planning
Can you withdraw money from your 401(k) while you are still employed? Not everyone should; not everyone can. However, if you can, it may mean that you can effectively implement part of your retirement income plan before you retire. If your 401(k) plan permits it, you can take an in-service withdrawal and redirect some of your 401(k) funds into another investment vehicle that offers you income guarantees.
Looking at the New Estate Tax Laws
With 2013 approaching, many families and their financial, tax and legal consultants are weighing major estate planning decisions. A short-term window of opportunity may be closing. The relatively low estate tax rates we have now may soon disappear, along with one of the largest federal tax breaks available in decades.
What is a Reasonable Retirement Savings Rate?
How much salary should you defer into a retirement plan? Ultimately, the answer is “however much your budget allows you to contribute”. The big-picture question, however, is whether you need to contribute more to your retirement savings in order to maintain your lifestyle after your career is done.
The 2 Biggest Retirement Misconceptions
We’ve all heard about the “new retirement”, the mix of work and play that many of us assume we will have in our lives one day. We do not expect “retirement” to be all leisure. While this is becoming a cultural assumption among baby boomers, it is interesting to see that certain financial assumptions haven’t really changed with the times.
Can We Avert the "Fiscal Cliff"?
Recently, you may have heard about the “looming fiscal cliff”, the “coming fiscal cliff” and so forth. What exactly is it? Briefly stated, the “fiscal cliff” is a potential $7 trillion dilemma facing Congress this fall – a Congress not known for ready cooperation. If America goes over it, our economy could stumble.
The Retirement Reality Check
Decades ago, there was a popular book entitled What They Don’t Teach You at Harvard Business School. Perhaps someday, another book will appear to discuss certain aspects of the retirement experience that go unrecognized - the “fine print”, if you will. Here are some little things that can be frequently overlooked.
Shopping for a Bank or Credit Union
Moving your money to a smaller, better bank has become a trend. You can attribute it to poor service at the larger institutions, the promise of higher interest rates or more flexible business lending standards elsewhere, or even the Occupy movement. So what do you look for when you are shopping for a bank or a credit union? First, let’s detail the differences between the two.
Insurance Implications of the Affordable Care Act
By a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court has upheld the core of the 2010 Affordable Care Act. The law’s most controversial provision will stand – the mandate requiring every American citizen to buy individual health insurance coverage. The ruling carries profound implications for individuals, businesses and households.
Financial Impact of the Affordable Care Act
President Obama’s health care law has held up in the Supreme Court. So what impact might this have on the stock market, businesses, and investors in the coming months?