Articles
Many workers look forward to the day they can finally retire, and for some, an early retirement would be a dream come true. Others are turning this dream into a reality by retiring in their 30s or 40s. But how are they able to do it?
A hot retirement trend called Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) has gained momentum among younger workers who are taking steps to leave traditional career paths and enjoy an early retirement. While an early retirement sounds ideal, it requires careful planning, savvy saving and investing habits, and potentially big sacrifices.
Can you work and receive Social Security retirement benefits at the same time? Yes, but the Social Security Administration (SSA) will apply an earnings test. Part or all of your monthly benefit may be withheld if you earn too much.
To help avoid surprises, take this quiz to find out what you know — and don't know — about Social Security earnings test rules.
Original Medicare — Part A hospital insurance and Part B medical insurance — offers broad coverage, but many services are not covered.
Some may be fully or partially covered by a Part C Medicare Advantage Plan, which replaces Original Medicare, or a Medigap policy, which supplements Original Medicare. Both are offered by Medicare-approved private insurers. (You cannot have both a Medicare Advantage Plan and a Medigap policy.)
Whether you are looking forward to Medicare in the future or are already enrolled, you should consider these potential expenses.
As you move through different stages of life, you will face new and unique financial situations. Did you just get engaged? Perhaps you are wondering how you and your partner are going to manage your money together. Do you have children? Maybe you are looking for ways to pay for their college education.
When you navigate through these various life events, you might seek professional guidance to help you make sound financial choices.
There is no magic formula to determine how much you or your child should borrow for college. But there is such a thing as borrowing too much. How much is too much? One guideline is for students to borrow no more than their expected first-year starting salary after college, which, in turn, depends on a student's particular major and/or job prospects.