Annuities, Yeah…What Are Those Again?

In my (insert air quotes) financial portfolio, I have annuities.  I barely understand what they are.  I get it in the abstract, but not enough to explain it to anyone else. Fortunately, I have a great financial advisor that I trust so this lack of knowledge isn’t costing me money.  In fact, it’s making my [...]

Social Security: Not Enough to Retire On, Really Just Wine Money

About this time of the year, I get my annual letter from the Social Security Administration detailing how much (or little) my likely benefits will be once I meet retirement age. But to be clear, what the government gives, the government can take away. I guess that’s why there is this awkward disclaimer reminding us [...]

Happy Birthday Social (In)Security

Last week marked the 75th birthday of legislation creating Social Security.  While politicians traded barbs back and forth on how the other political party has ruined it, Social Security remains in dire straits.  The reality of a program designed to provide a supplement to retirement income has morphed into a belief that social security in itself will fund [...]

Save Some Money

Perhaps you missed the press release, but February 21-28, 2010 is America Saves Week.  As did I, you may ask yourself, what’s this and why should I care?  For me, it only took one glance at my not-so-much savings account for me to want more information.  I work best saving money when I don’t know [...]

Get Your (Financial) Papers in Order

Motley Fool features a great article on making sure you have your financial, medical, and personal papers in order. God forbid your life ends prematurely.  But would your loved ones have a clue as to what your financial or medical wishes are?  Of if you become incapacitated for awhile, who is going to handle your [...]

Finding Your Financial Soulmate

Picking a financial advisor is about as easy as picking a spouse.  The government’s General Services Administration is recommending readers take a look at Bankrate’s recent article on how to rate your financial advisor. Earlier this year, the stock market fell to a 12-year low, losing 54 percent of its peak value and taking a [...]

Money Matters: What to Read

Personal Finance blog, Get Rich Slowly, outlines 25 essential books to get your financial house in order organized neatly into categories such as debt reduction, everyday personal finance, investing, financial independence, and the “psychology of money.”  I shared a list of my favorite money books once before, but that was over two years ago. I’ve [...]

Disconnect Between Attitudes and Actions on Financial Planning

UrbanMecca.com reports on a new survey by The Smiley Group and Nationwide Insurance on the disconnect between attitudes and actions of African Americans when it comes to financial planning.

Don’t Hate on Your 401(k)

You would think that tax-free contributions to your 401(k) would mean nothing but love. Unfortunately, we avoid opening 401(k) statements like a crazy ex. Kiplinger suggests we show a little tender loving care to our “not once what it was” 401(k) accounts.

Saving Early for Your Retirement

In your 20s, retirement is a bit like global warming. You know the day of reckoning will come, but it’s still decades away. But those years have a way of creeping up on you. Better to develop good saving habits now than to be staring down the barrel of 50 with just your collection of [...]

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