Social Security in 2014 Next years small COLA isnt the only adjustment related to the program. Here are six things you need to know about Social Security for 2014. For claritys sake, here is a rundown of what is changing next year, and what isnt. Social Security recipients are getting a raise but not much of one. Next year, the average monthly Social Security payment will increase by $19 due to a 1.5% cost-of-living adjustment, one of the smallest [...]
End-of-Life issues can be difficult for families to discuss but avoiding them can lead to unnecessary disputes and hurt feelings. Financial planner Jane Ricardi of North Light Financial Services encourages her clients to address the issues. Jane is quoted in Financial Planning magazine as a planner assisting families during difficult times. Click here to read more.
Entering the Yellen Years A look at the economist newly nominated to lead the Federal Reserve. Janet Yellen – currently the vice chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve – has been nominated to succeed Ben Bernanke at the helm of the world’s most important central bank. A former UC Berkeley and London School of Economics professor and San Francisco Fed president, Yellen is a globally admired economist with many fans on Wall Street. The way it [...]
Dividend Reinvestment & Compound Interest Their combined power must be recognized & appreciated. Why reroute dividends back into your investments? Isn’t taking the income the preferred outcome when a dividend is produced? Retirees and pre-retirees are eager for dividend income in this era of historically low interest rates. Even so, the choice to buy more shares has merit for the long run. Reinvestment & compounding may have profoundly positive effects. As a hypothetical example, let’s say you own 100 shares [...]
End-of-the-Year Money Moves Here are some things you might want to do before saying goodbye to 2013. What has changed for you in 2013? Did you start a new job – or leave a job behind? Did you retire? Did you start a family? If some notable changes occurred in your personal or professional life, then you will want to review your finances before this year ends and the next one begins. Even if your 2013 has been relatively uneventful, [...]