Financial Planning
New Benefit and Investment Thresholds
Each year, the U.S. government changes a variety of thresholds impacting benefits and investment contributions. These increases are usually tied to the inflation rate. For the past ten years, since inflation has been pretty low, most of the increases have been modest.
Below is a summary of the 2019 levels.
The contribution […]
Delaying Marriage
While no one seems to have a good explanation, American adults are increasingly delaying marriage. Based on the latest population survey by the U.S. Census bureau, the median age at first marriage in the U.S. is almost 30. (29.8 for men and 27.8 for women). For reference, in 2003, the median first […]
Have Economic Benefits Reached Everyone?
America seems to be at near peak prosperity, as the stock market has boomed (until recently) for the last 10 years and the previous recession occurred over 10 years ago. The unemployment rate is near a historic low. While there are disagreements about which President is responsible for this wonderful news, most Americans are […]
How Can I Tell if a Crowdsourcing Campaign is a Scam?
Crowdsourcing can be an effective way to raise funds for a variety of causes, but it’s also a great opportunity for scam artists to take advantage of your goodwill. Before you donate to a crowdsourcing campaign, help protect yourself from being scammed by following these tips.
Check the campaign creator’s credibility.
If you don’t personally know the […]
What is Individual Crowdsourcing?
Individual crowdsourcing (also known as personal crowdsourcing) refers to a process of raising money for a personal cause or project using an online platform such as GoFundMe. But how exactly does the process work? Here are some answers to common questions about individual crowdsourcing.
What causes can be supported via individual crowdsourcing?
Individual crowdsourcing can help raise […]
Four Tips for Planning a Career Change
Changing careers can be rewarding for many reasons, but career transitions don’t always go smoothly. Your career shift may take longer than expected, or you may find yourself temporarily out of work if you need to go back to school or can’t immediately find a job. Consider these four tips to help make the financial […]
Famous People Who Failed to Plan Properly
It’s almost impossible to overstate the importance of taking the time to plan your estate. Nevertheless, it’s surprising how many American adults haven’t done so. You might think that those who are rich and famous would be way ahead of the curve when it comes to planning their estates properly, considering the resources and lawyers […]
Key Retirement and Tax Numbers for 2019
Every year, the Internal Revenue Service announces cost-of-living adjustments that affect contribution limits for retirement plans and various tax deduction, exclusion, exemption, and threshold amounts. Here are a few of the key adjustments for 2019.
Employer retirement plans
- Employees who participate in 401(k), 403(b), and most 457 plans can defer up to $19,000 in compensation in 2019 […]
Are My Student Loans Eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness?
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. The PSLF, which began in 2007, forgives the remaining balance on federal Direct Loans after you have made 120 monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time […]
Should I Consider Requesting A Deferment or Forbearance for My Federal Student Loan?
Did you take on a large amount of debt to pay for college, and are you struggling to pay it off? If so, you are not alone. According to the Federal Reserve, 20% of individuals with outstanding student loans were behind on their payments in 2017.1 You may want to consider requesting a deferment or […]
