Personal Finance

Social Security: What is it, how did it start, and will it last? by Emily Lucero Key Takeaways: The Past: The Social Security program was introduced in 1935 during the Great Depression to help retired workers support themselves. The Present: Since then, Social Security has been expanded to help more and more people– in 2022,…

Strategies to reduce taxes from Required Minimum Distributions Tax planning is a key part of being a successful investor and consideration should be paid when planning around IRA Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) in retirement. RMDs are minimum amounts that you must withdraw annually from your IRA once you have reached the mandatory age, which is…

To Buy or Not to Buy Travel Insurance One of the most popular goals our clients have for both pre and post-retirement is to travel.  Recent shakeups in the travel industry due to Covid and problems with flights have made the decision to buy or not to buy travel insurance of greater consequence when planning…

Thinking back to my high school days, I knew I wanted to go to college after graduation. My considerations for college were location, campus life and what I wanted to study. Cost was not at the top of my list. Now that I’m a parent, that priority list has shifted, and I feel it is…

The Fed’s strategy to tame inflation by increasing interest rates has had widespread effects on the economy so far.  The Fed began raising interest rates in March 2022, with the goal of slowing down an overheated economy by making it more expensive to buy goods and services, discouraging consumer spending and business expansion.  There are…

Growing up with a mother who loved antique furniture meant that over the years of her life I ended up with several antique pieces of which I dutifully took pictures and then stashed the pictures in our safe deposit box years ago.  Recently, when forced to evacuate our home due to a wildfire, it became…

According to a July 2021 Bankrate study, 25% of Americans surveyed have no emergency fund. An emergency fund acts as a buffer that you can use without relying on credit cards or high-interest loans in the event of an unexpected expense or life event.  If there is anything that the last 2 years have taught…