Although it was passed back in 2022, SECURE ACT 2.0 will create some big changes for retirement plans in 2025. Pretty much all of these changes are positive, but they could take a little legwork on your part to take advantage of them, so here’s what you need to know! ...
Navigating Election Season: A Financial Transitionist’s Perspective
As we find ourselves in the midst of another election season, it's natural to feel a mix of emotions and concerns about the future. As a Certified Financial Transitionist, I'd like to offer a unique perspective on how to approach this period of potential change. ...
Car Payment or Roth IRA Payment?
I wanted to share a financial insight I had recently while helping a client. We observed that her car payment was over $500/month. That’s a significant amount, for any budget. So I looked it up. According to 2024 Experian data, the average car payment for a new car...
Maximizing Social Security Income in an Inflationary World
Inflation has become a hot topic lately, with many of us experiencing sticker shock when purchasing everyday items or resuming normal activities. For retirees living on Social Security or a fixed pension, this challenge is particularly daunting. Let's explore some...
Navigating Life Insurance Questions
Life insurance can be pretty confusing. As a financial planner, I often get asked about it. Probably the most common question I hear is: in my case, should I even have life insurance? It’s a good question. You are probably familiar with the prevalent ads showing...
Summer Savings: Paying Off Debt While Making Memories
According to a GOBankingRates survey, 41% of respondents said their #1 financial goal is to pay off debt this summer. That’s great! But can you prioritize debt while still enjoying your summer? The answer is, YES! Paying off debt doesn't mean you have to sacrifice...
Does Saying “I Do” Mean Combining Your Finances?
Did you know that June is traditionally the most popular month for weddings? May also makes the list, so I wanted to celebrate this season of love and commitment by dusting off a blog post from a few years ago. It’s still highly relevant and I still get asked this...
5 Things to Do if You Win the Lottery
Every week, people play the lottery hoping that a big win will solve all of their problems. But sudden money is trickier than that. It comes with both new opportunities and new problems. And a whole lot of new territory for you to navigate, often in public. Here are 5...
IRS Scams – Don’t Fall for Them!
During tax season, taxpayers (meaning, most of us!) are often bombarded with documents and overwhelmed by a load of information. This creates an environment where scammers can easily step in and take advantage of even the most diligent. Tax season scams are becoming...
3 Questions to Ask Yourself at Tax Time
We see plenty of confusion and questions at this time of year regarding tax forms. And it’s no wonder! Not only do you get an influx of confounding forms in January and February; you also get increasingly gray interpretations of the new tax laws from Congress and...
Gamify Money Management
I was recently asked to contribute to an article for GoBanking Rates on “Frugal Living Tips Millennials Should Focus On in 2024.” It was fun to think about this topic and I was honored to be quoted in the final version. You can read the full article here: “Frugal...
News and Insights for 2024
It’s that time of year… the IRS has announced the new rules for IRAs and Retirement plans for 2024. Staying on top of these changes each year is an excellent way to improve your financial health. Often the annual adjustments are rather small, making it relatively easy...