Fall is here; have you reviewed your workplace benefits yet? For most American employees, open enrollment kicks off in October and November, and wraps up in January. This is your opportunity to assess your benefits and make any changes as you head into the new year. Here are five steps to review your benefits in 2025: Review Your Benefits: Reflect on the Past Year Many people re-enroll Continue Reading
Physician Retirement Planning: How to Prepare
On average, physicians are the highest paid professionals in the U.S. But even the best paid physicians need to plan carefully for their retirement, and make sure they’re truly putting away enough to be comfortable in their golden years. Here are some ways to assess your own savings, and retire without financial strain: How much should you save? Despite the higher earning Continue Reading
Retirement Planning: What Will Work Best for You?
Do you have a plan in place for your retirement? For many people, the extent of their retirement planning includes signing up for the plan at work – which is often more of a starting point than a comprehensive retirement plan. Let’s demystify the lingo and break down some of the most common retirement plans, so you can determine the best retirement plan for you: Common Retirement Continue Reading
You Maxed Out Your 401(k) – What Should You Do Next?
Your 401(k) is a valuable part of your retirement plan, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. There are many benefits that come along with a 401(k,) including pretax or Roth 401(k) salary contributions (or both,) company matching, and tax-deferred accruals. And for many people, a 401(k) is where they focus most of their retirement savings. That being said, there are some downsides to Continue Reading
Spousal IRA Contributions: Who’s Eligible?
In certain situations, a working spouse can contribute to an individual retirement account, or IRA, in the name of a spouse with little to no income. This is called a spousal IRA contribution. But it’s actually a bit more complicated than that, and many people find that they’re ineligible for this strategy. So if you’ve considered making a spousal IRA contribution, read on first to find out if it Continue Reading
Personal Finance Habits of a Successful Retiree
You’ve spent your career saving and preparing for retirement, and when the time comes, it can feel like you’ve crossed a sort of finish line. While retirement might mark the end of your typical work life, it’s also the start of a brand new way of living. In retirement, you’ll have to pick up new ways of spending, saving, budgeting and investing to support your new lifestyle. Here are some of the Continue Reading
Should You Retire Early?
Many people think of retiring early as something that would be nice, but isn’t realistic. However, more and more professionals are leaving work sooner and getting a jump on retirement. A common phrase you might have heard about this is the FIRE movement - also known as “financial independence, retire early.” It packs a lot of appeal, but there are some serious considerations you should make before Continue Reading
Should You Save for Retirement or Pay Off Student Loans?
If you’ve got student loans outstanding, it’s a common predicament - should you pay off those loans as quickly as possible first, or save for retirement? The short answer is this: save for retirement, usually. You can't use a loan to pay for your retirement. But I’ll break that down and explain why that’s important, and when you might want to focus on paying off debt instead: Save for Continue Reading
Are your 401(k) Savings Enough?
A 401(k) is a retirement savings plan offered by your employer. Employees make contributions out of their paycheck, usually automatically. Their employer may match that contribution up to a certain percentage. It’s a 40-year-old system that most people consider the foundation of their retirement plan. But too many people assume it will cover all of their expenses, and don’t look into what Continue Reading
6 Financial Planning Moves for your 40s
The financial planning moves that helped you build a foundation or support your family awhile ago may not be enough now that you’re in your forties. This decade might be the first time you really feel the pressure of a looming retirement, send your kids off to college, or debate downsizing your family home. Wherever you are in your forties, there are some universal money moves Continue Reading