Term vs Cash Value Life Insurance: Which Should I Buy?
Learn the difference between these two types of life insurance policies and discover which one may be right for you.
Are Bonds a Good Investment in Retirement?
With interest rates inevitably heading higher in the future, are bonds a good investment in retirement?
Reader Question: Do I Pay Taxes on Social Security Income?
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If the only income you had during the year was Social Security income, then your benefit generally isn’t taxable.
Social Security Death Benefits for Spouse and Children
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Some people think Social Security is just a retirement program, but in fact there are other benefits, including disability and death payouts.
Social Security Benefits May Not Provide Enough Income in Retirement
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MYTH #1: Social Security benefits will provide most of the income you need in retirement.
Will vs Living Trust: Which One is Right for Me?
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Will vs living trust? It all depends on what you are trying to accomplish.
Advance Directive vs. Living Will: Which One Do You Need?
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This is the one legal document everyone over 18 should have.
4 Reasons Setting Up a Will Should Be a Priority
Many adults do not understand why setting up a will should be a priority for them. I will help clear up this confusion with 4 reasons to get a will now.
What is the 2013 Max 401k Contribution Limit?
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We give you the facts from the IRS, PLUS 6 benefits of participating in your 401k plan at work.
Should I Buy Whole Life Insurance or an Annuity For My Grandchildren?
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If your goal is to accumulate money for a grandchild (or a child), both options are good, but let’s look at the pros and cons of each strategy.
How to Save for College AND Retirement With Small Children
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Is it possible to achieve both of these goals in today’s economic environment?
Qualified vs Non Qualified Retirement Plans: What’s the Difference?
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When it comes to your financial plan, it is important to understand the difference between “Qualified” money and “Non Qualified” money.
How to Weather Stock Market Volatility
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When dealing with a volatile market, sometimes the most difficult challenge is to manage your emotions.
How Much Money Should I Save For Retirement?
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Since people are living longer today, the greatest fear that most retirees have is the fear that they will outlive their assets.
Why Did My Paycheck Go Down in 2013?
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Despite media reports warning of the impending payroll tax increase, many Americans were caught off guard when they received their first paychecks in 2013.
What You Should Know When Starting a ROTH IRA
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Here are five key things you should know when starting a Roth IRA.
Improve Credit Report: 3 Steps to Take Now
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Improve Credit Report: 3 Steps to Take Now. First, how can I correct errors on my credit report? Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you have the right to have any incorrect or misleading information removed from your credit report.
4 Steps to Begin Retirement Planning
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Although most of us recognize the importance of sound retirement planning, few of us embrace the nitty-gritty work involved. With thousands of investment possibilities, complex rules governing retirement plans, and so on, most people don’t even know where to begin. Here are four suggestions to help you get started.
What Are Required Minimum Distributions?
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So exactly what are Required Minimum Distributions? Also known as RMDs, these are government imposed withdrawals that you are required to take at age 70 ½. Learn more here.
How Much Should You Save For Emergencies?
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If you lost your job, how much will you need to pay your regular monthly expenses?
Is it Better to Save or Pay Off Debt?
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Is it better to save your extra cash or pay off debt? To answer this question, you must decide how your money can work best for you.
3 Steps to Cutting Expenses
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The old financial adage is there are only two ways to make money. Either go out and earn more or cut your expenses so that you spend less. The best is if you can do both. So today, I thought I would share some thoughts on cutting expenses.
Using Medicare and Medicaid For Your Long Term Care Needs
If you were to go to the Nursing Home, do you believe that Medicare will pay for your long term care needs?
The Case for Long Term Care Insurance
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Have you ever known any one that has become impoverished as a result of going to the Nursing Home?
6 Reasons To Review Your Life Insurance Policy
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If it’s been more than five years since your last life insurance checkup, you may be missing opportunities to take advantage of newer life insurance policies that are more cost-effective and competitive.
The Help You Need to Retire Early
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An all too common retirement planning mistake is going it alone. This usually results in missed investment opportunities, sloppy planning, and lax savings schedules. Enlisting the help of a financial planner is a smart move at any age to avoid retirement planning pitfalls.
A Diversification Strategy that Leads to Early Retirement
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A common investment pitfall is spending far too much time trying to pick individual stocks that will increase in value. It’s much more important to understand proper diversification.
A Savings Strategy that Leads to Early Retirement
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Do you desire an early retirement? Today, I want to share with you a savings strategy that leads to early retirement. This strategy is simple to say, but can be harder to follow.
Do I Need Life Insurance in Retirement?
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Should you go out and buy life insurance as you near retirement? The answers depend largely on your particular circumstances.
Make Smart Decisions with Your Pension Plan
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“Should I choose a single life annuity payout from my pension or a joint and survivor annuity payout, which will make payments to my spouse when I die?”
How to Reduce (or Eliminate) the Taxes on your Social Security Income
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To reduce or eliminate the taxes on your social security income, you first need to understand the term “Reportable Income”. This is the total of all your incomes that is required to be reported to the IRS on your tax form.
Is it Too Late to Make an IRA Contribution for 2011?
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We recently got this question from an FTMWeekly radio listener: “I forgot to make my IRA Contribution for tax year 2011. Is it too late to make the contribution now?” NO. Here’s why…
Retirement Minute: Four Questions That Current Medicare Enrollees Should Be Asking Now
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The Medicare open enrollment period is now here and this is the time during which people with Medicare can make new choices and pick plans that work best for them. Here’s four questions to be asking now.
How to Borrow Money From Your Cash-Value Life Insurance Policy
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One of the main benefits of borrowing from your cash value life insurance policy is that the loan proceeds are generally not subject to income tax. But there are some caveats…
The Basics of Cash Value Life Insurance
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What exactly is cash value life insurance? What are the benefits of using cash value life insurance as a savings vehicle?
The Importance of Disability Income Insurance
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Did you know that most people believe that they are adequately insured against disability because they think they have coverage through their employer or through the government. That’s probably why 80 percent of Americans don’t own private disability income insurance.
This Week’s Financial Strategy – Recognizing the Dangers of Debt
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As we start the new year it has been exciting to see how many people are taking advantage of the Christian Financial Advisors Network. I have talked with many people around the country who do not have a financial advisor or would like a second opinion on the advice they are currently getting.
The Importance of Creating an Emergency Fund
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An emergency fund is one of the first things that people need to do immediately to help them build a successful financial plan. And no, your credit card is not an emergency fund.
This Week’s Financial Strategy – Creating a Budget
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I love this time of year because as I talk with people they are establishing new year’s resolutions. So I want to change our format a little bit. In the past I have given many ideas on ways you can safely grow your assets and how to protect them. But I would like to start this year, developing financial strategies that will help you achieve your goals.
Estate Planning 101 – Part 5
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Today let’s focus on the effects of Probate, liquidity issues, what happens if you become incapacitated and some goals you may want to consider in developing your estate plan.