Women are increasingly taking responsibility for managing their own money. That includes those who in the past may have left investing to a spouse because they were busy raising a family or had no interest in the subject, but who have since found that divorce, a spouse’s death, or the need to help a parent
Ever since a legal secretary named Ida May Fuller received the first retirement benefit check in 1940, women have been counting on Social Security to provide much-needed retirement income. Social Security provides other important benefits too, including disability and survivor benefits, that can help women of all ages and their family members. 1. How does
If your financial plan for 2017 didn’t work out the way you wanted it to, don’t beat yourself up. Instead, ask yourself the following questions to determine what you can learn from reflecting on your financial situation in the last year. Did you meet your financial goals and expectations for 2017? Perhaps you started the
Selecting beneficiaries for retirement benefits is different from choosing beneficiaries for other assets such as life insurance. With retirement benefits, you need to know the impact of income tax and estate tax laws in order to select the right beneficiaries. Although taxes shouldn’t be the sole determining factor in naming your beneficiaries, ignoring the impact
Women in the workforce generally earn less than men. While the gender pay gap is narrowing, it is still significant. The difference in wages, coupled with other factors, can lead to a shortfall in retirement savings for women. Statistically speaking Generally, women work fewer years and contribute less toward their retirement than men, resulting in
Incapacity means that you are either mentally or physically unable to take care of yourself or your day-to-day affairs. Incapacity can result from serious physical injury, mental or physical illness, advancing age, and alcohol or drug abuse. Incapacity can strike anyone at anytime Even with today’s medical miracles, it’s a real possibility that you or
How much do you know about market basics? Put your investing IQ to the test with this quiz on stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Questions 1. What does it mean to buy stock in a company? a. The investor loans money to the company b. The investor becomes a part owner of the company c.
At any age, health care is a priority. When you retire, however, you will probably focus more on health care than ever before. Staying healthy is your goal, and this can mean more visits to the doctor for preventive tests and routine checkups. There’s also a chance that your health will decline as you grow
When it comes to estate planning, women have unique concerns. The fact is that women live an average of 5.0 years longer than men.* That’s important because it means that there’s a greater chance that you’ll need your assets to last for a longer period of time and a greater need to plan for incapacity.
Nowadays, it’s easier than ever to get caught up in the cycle of credit card debt. In fact, it’s become a growing problem for many Americans. According to the Federal Reserve, total U.S. credit card payments reached 111.1 billion in 2016, up 7.4% from 2015.1 If you find that you are struggling to pay down
