By Jonathan Ping, originally published at My Money Blog. GalaxyOne is a fintech super-app that combines a checking account, stock trading, and crypto. Checking account is through Cross River Bank, FDIC. Brokerage is through FIN2, a FINRA/SIPC member firm. Digital assets are held in custodial wallets with Paxos Trust Company, a New York State-chartered trust […]
Jonathan Ping
By Ben Carlson, originally published at A Wealth of Common Sense. A reader asks: What are top 10 prudent indicators a retail investor needs to know before stepping into equities? Well there are no indicators in the stock market that are foolproof so I’m going to give you 10 things you need to know about […]
Ben Carlson
By Wes Moss, originally published at Capital Investment Advisors. For years, retirement planning has been framed as a numbers game: Save a large enough nest egg, use a withdrawal rule, and hope your money lasts. The numbers matter, but they sure aren’t the whole story. My upcoming book, The Retire Sooner Method, explores what comes […]
Wes Moss
Image source: Getty Images More than 1 in 4 buy now, pay later (BNPL) users regret it once the full cost sinks in. That’s 26% of users, according to Motley Fool Money research — and it usually hits after checkout, not during. Another 57% admit they’ve used BNPL to buy something they couldn’t really afford. […]
Key Points A Roth conversion could lower your taxes in retirement and spare you from required minimum distributions (RMDs). Before doing a Roth conversion, ask yourself what your tax situation looks like. Also figure out how charitable you’re looking to be. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › If you like the […]
Key Points The annual COLA is set by examining year-over-year changes in the CPI-W from the third quarter. July’s CPI-W number was up 3.4% year over year, and providing an initial clue. Predictions suggest that 2027’s COLA could be among the largest in the past decade. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook […]
Image source: Getty Images The average credit card charges around 21% APR, according to Motley Fool Money research. On a $5,000 revolving balance, that debt costs a little over $1,160 each year in interest. Where the math gets really scary is only making minimum payments, or continuing to pile on new debt. Credit card interest […]
Key Points A 3.6% Social Security COLA could deplete the program’s trust funds much faster than expected. This could accelerate the timeline to possible Social Security benefit cuts. It’s likely Washington will intervene to avoid cuts, but it might have to raise payroll taxes. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › When […]
Key Points It’s common for Social Security recipients to hope their benefits increase a lot from year to year. Large COLAs aren’t actually the gift you might think they are. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › You’ll often hear that retiring on Social Security alone is no easy feat. Those benefits […]
By Thomas Mullooly, originally published at Mullooly Asset Management. ACAT Scam ACAT Scam Explained: How Thieves Can Transfer & Liquidate Your Brokerage Account Fast We discuss an “ACAT scam” involving the Automated Customer Account Transfer Service (ACAT). This system was created in 1985 to quickly move accounts from one broker to another. Tom describes how […]
Thomas Mullooly
By Jonathan Ping, originally published at My Money Blog. Vanguard has been a big part of building my net worth, and I’m always watching to see if they are keeping the culture. Barron’s last week ran the article Vanguard Conquered the ETF World. Where It’s Aiming Next, but it’s probably behind a paywall. Well, the […]
Jonathan Ping
One of the most challenging realities of retirement planning is the risk that long-term care needs in the final few years of life can consume a disproportionate amount of a household’s entire retirement savings. At best, this culminates in a fear that someone might not be able to afford their desired level of care in […]
Michael Kitces
Key Points Increasing your income today and verifying the accuracy of your earnings record can boost future benefits. Your earnings record tracks how much money you’ve paid Social Security taxes on throughout your career. Only the income that you pay Social Security payroll taxes on will boost your future benefits. The $23,760 Social Security bonus […]
Key Points A retirement income of $120,000 would be a generous income for most seniors. Investing enough to produce $120,000 in income may be within reach, especially if you start early. You need to set a savings goal based on a safe withdrawal rate to avoid draining your accounts too fast. The $23,760 Social Security […]
Key Points Retired workers born in 1960 or later get 70% of their primary insurance amount (PIA) if they claim Social Security at age 62, but they get 124% of their PIA at age 70. These retired workers can increase their monthly benefit payment by 77% if they simply claim Social Security at age 70 […]
Key Points At 67, you can collect your Social Security benefits without a reduction if you were born in 1960 or later. Filing at 67 could lead to more guaranteed income for life — and more peace of mind. It could also make life less complicated if you opt to continue working while getting benefits. […]
By Ben Carlson, originally published at A Wealth of Common Sense. One of the hard parts about using history as a playbook in the markets is we don’t have a huge sample size. In the past 100 years or so, there have really only been three secular bear markets and three secular bull markets. Since […]
Ben Carlson
By Jonathan Ping, originally published at My Money Blog. Groupon has brought back their limited-time deal on new Costco Gold Star or Executive Memberships. There are two options. $65 for Gold Star Membership Package 1-year Gold Star Membership (normally $65 by itself) Membership card for the Primary Cardholder and one additional Household Card for anyone […]
Jonathan Ping
Wes Moss, CFP, is Chief Investment Strategist and Managing Partner at Capital Investment Advisors in Atlanta. He hosts the Money Matters radio programme and the Retire Sooner podcast, and wrote You Can Retire Sooner Than You Think and What The Happiest Retirees Know.
