The first month of 2018 is behind us but it is not too late to take stock of various aspects of our lives. One of the primary areas that is commonly reviewed each year is personal finance. If you are thinking about retiring within the next few years or longer, you may want to create…

Did you hear about the people that are mortgaging their home to invest in Bitcoin?  It seems that as more and more people become interested in Bitcoin, that more people are thinking about adding it to their portfolio. With the recent major price increase of this cryptocurrency, there seem to be two opinions; one side…

The start of a new year can have you thinking about your health.  Joining a gym can be a goal for some as we head into 2018 but if you are planning for retirement, there is another side of health that needs to be considered; medical debt.  We sometimes forgo the care we need because…

Retirement planning today can ensure you have the funds to live comfortably in retirement without worrying about going back to work. IRAs, HSAs, 401(k)s, and other accounts allow you to multiply your savings with unique tax benefits not available with other accounts.  One way to maximizing the amount you have when you retire is contributing…

The weather is getting cooler as 2017 is drawing near. We can all feel it. If you’re like many older Americans on a fixed income, you like to do a little planning ahead. If you’re wondering how large your Social Security check will be during 2018, your wait will be over soon. This month you…

If you are like many people, you may easily spend hundreds of dollars or more on holiday gifts and related holiday purchases each year. Some sources indicate that consumers may spend more money over the holiday season this year than they have in previous years. The cost of gifts is only one seasonable expense. For…

The United States Armed forces will unveil its new retirement planning system January 1, 2018. The new Blended Retirement System, or BRS for short, has so far drawn mixed reviews from those that understand it and puzzled looks by the many that do not. The changes to the system are discussed below and will hopefully…

We are in the final days of 2017 and for some that means closer than ever to retirement! After working 40-plus years, if not even longer, upcoming retirees should look forward to spending the latter years of their lives doing what they love in retirement. In some situations, being able to earn income following retirement…

Each fall, the Internal Revenue Service announces adjustments to individual taxes, deductions and credits. The IRS issued these inflation adjustments for 2018 on October 19, 2017. Inflationary pressure remained modest during 2017. As a result, the adjustment amounts are not large. Personal Exemption and Standard Deduction The new personal exemption and standard deduction amounts apply…