Our Weekend Word

As the days get shorter and colder, a good glass of wine become a must to enjoy with the flavors of the season. Hmm, do I pick a nice dry Red? Or maybe a sweet White? Maybe feeling adventurous for a Rose?

This time of year presents a choice for more than just wine drinkers though as Medicare enrollees have to review their plans and make sure that their pairing is up to snuff for the upcoming year.

Did you know Americans change jobs an average of 12 times in their lifetime? If you have changed jobs and left behind 401(k) accounts with prior employers, you know firsthand that managing retirement accounts spread among different custodians and financial services providers can be a big headache. Let’s look at four reasons why consolidating your retirement plan accounts may be the cure.

Looking ahead to retirement is exciting for some and troubling for others. Regardless of what camp you fall in, there are some important Milestone ages you should look out for as retirement gets closer.

The last installment in our recent series about using debt wisely is to talk about another key difference you’ll see among types of loans: the interest rate. There are two main types of interest rates you may run into on loans: fixed and variable.

Last week we talked about different ways to look at your debt and how not all debt is equal. This week we wanted to talk about ways you can organize your debt to put yourself in a better financial situation without necessarily paying any of it off. One way to do this is using secured debt to consolidate any unsecured debt you may have.

Debt is not typically looked at as a good thing in the world of personal finances, but the reality is that whether it’s using a credit card, or buying a house, managing debt is an important part of managing your overall finances.  After all, there are only two things on our balance sheet: assets and liabilities. We put a lot of effort into managing the assets, but managing the liabilities column can be just as important for getting you and your family where you want to go.

Last year started a whole bunch of things that we were kind of counting on being over by now, among those was a massive global supply chain disruption. And not only is it not going away, but it looks like it’s actually getting worse.

Earlier this month El Salvador made headlines by being the first country to officially accept Bitcoin as legal tender. This would seem like a great thing for the overall value of Bitcoin, but strangely the price dropped 10% on the announcement.

For many Bitcoin investors an event like this would seem like the ultimate proof of concept that the cryptocurrency has a permanent place in world finance. However, many challenges still remain for widespread adoption acceptance of the currency even after hitting this milestone.

As summer vacation season comes to a close, many of us are fighting off thoughts of colder months with the fresh memories of our recent getaways. And for some, those glowing images of our favorite places may bring about an urge to make sure those good times continue by buying a vacation home.  Although the idea of having a permanent “home away from home” may sound appealing, purchasing a vacation property isn’t something to be entered into lightly. If you’re considering this major commitment, here are some important questions to ask yourself.

Most people carry some amount of debt, whether in the form of a student loan, a mortgage, or a car loan. Indeed, making large purchases using someone else’s money is often a smart financial move. Borrowing is convenient, allowing you to purchase big-ticket items with less out-of-pocket cash. And, with today’s attractive interest rates, it’s relatively low cost. But taking on any amount of debt comes with risk. A financial setback can reduce your ability to repay a loan, and any amount of debt may prevent you from taking advantage of other financial opportunities.