Introduction Retirement security is top of mind for millions of Americans, especially as the Social Security Administration (SSA) projects future funding challenges and changing benefit levels. According to the Federal Reserve and EBRI (Employee Benefit Research Institute), total U.S. retirement assets have surpassed $40 trillion in 2025, yet the average household remains underprepared for retirement. …
What If Your Social Security Check Suddenly Disappeared? It’s the first of the month, and you’re expecting your Social Security check or Medicare coverage to kick in like it always does. But instead of a deposit, you see a government notice: “Due to efficiency improvements, the federal retirement system has been restructured. All benefits will …
Yes, I’m a consumer debt expert. But in personal finance, the debt might be stressful, but it is not the ultimate personal finance killer. The lack of retirement savings is. It is human nature to discount a crisis in the future to worry about a bump in the road today. Technically it is called Hyperbolic …
Most seniors don’t know that federal and state laws protect their Social Security, almost all pensions, 401k, IRA, disability, and VA benefits from debt collectors. Those forms of income can’t be garnished or taken from them. This money is available for their needs, like food, medicine, and housing. If they are sued, there are laws …
Sleeping in until noon. Spoiling the grandkids with gifts and freshly baked cookies. Traveling around Western Europe to sip wine and eat croissants. Many people dream about how their retirement years will play out. These goals are 100% attainable—as long as retirees have saved enough during their working years. Unfortunately, not all Americans know what …
If you ask any financial advisor when to start saving for retirement, their answer would likely be simple: Now. It’s certainly not easy prioritizing investing for retirement. If you’re in your 20s or 30s, you might have student loans or other goals that seem more “immediate,” such as a down payment on a house or …
Whether your retirement plans involve writing your memoir from a lovely little seaside cottage, a heated game of bocce against your (*ahem* sore loser) neighbor, or hitting up every farmers market in a 50-mile radius, a 401(k) is one savings strategy you can use to save money to get you there. Simply put, a 401(k) …