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Which Graduate Degrees Are the Best Investment? (Why I Skipped My MBA)

Which Graduate Degrees Are the Best Investment? (Why I Skipped My MBA)

By Nick Maggiulli, originally published at Of Dollars And Data. When I was 27 years old I was at a crossroads. I was five years into my career, yet I was stagnating. Though I was making six figures, which was great for my 20s, I knew I couldn’t make much more at my job. Without […]

Nick Maggiulli
This Might Be the Best Financial Decision You Make This Year

This Might Be the Best Financial Decision You Make This Year

By The White Coat Investor, originally published at The White Coat Investor. By Jim Dahle, WCI Founder <!–You likely make more money than almost everyone else in your life. Your friends outside of medicine thought you were rich as soon as you started residency, despite the negative net worth. Your family doesn’t understand why you’re […]

The White Coat Investor
Your Social Security Checks Won’t Be the Only Thing Changing in 2027. 3 Other Program Updates to Expect Next Year.

Your Social Security Checks Won’t Be the Only Thing Changing in 2027. 3 Other Program Updates to Expect Next Year.

Key Points The Social Security Administration makes key program updates annually to reflect inflation changes. These changes affect benefit eligibility, payroll taxes, and the size of certain seniors’ checks. We’ll learn about all these updates and the COLA on Oct. 14, 2026. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › The 2027 Social […]

The Motley Fool
Using A “Pillow Test” To Make The Hard Business Decisions On The Way To $3.5B AUM: #FASuccess Ep 505 With Andrew Rosen

Using A “Pillow Test” To Make The Hard Business Decisions On The Way To $3.5B AUM: #FASuccess Ep 505 With Andrew Rosen

Welcome everyone! Welcome to the 505th episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast! My guest on today’s podcast is Andrew Rosen. Andrew is the executive chairman of Diversified, LLC, an RIA based in Wilmington, Delaware, that oversees approximately $3.6 billion in assets under management for 2,500 client households. What’s unique about Andrew, though, is how […]

Michael Kitces
3 Situations Where Claiming Social Security at 62 Actually Makes the Most Sense

3 Situations Where Claiming Social Security at 62 Actually Makes the Most Sense

Key Points Claiming Social Security at 62 can result in benefits shrinking. While experts generally recommend waiting until age 70 to start benefits, sometimes a claim at 62 makes sense. If you don’t have a long life expectancy or if you’re opening up the door for your spouse to delay their own claim, waiting until […]

The Motley Fool
Can You Really Work While Collecting Social Security? The Key Rule You Need to Know.

Can You Really Work While Collecting Social Security? The Key Rule You Need to Know.

Key Points Seniors are permitted to work while collecting Social Security. Depending on your age, you may be subject to an earnings limit. If your wages exceed a certain threshold, you could have benefits withheld. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › For many older Americans, claiming Social Security can make it […]

The Motley Fool
Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller Just Issued a Blunt Warning to Social Security Retirees

Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller Just Issued a Blunt Warning to Social Security Retirees

Key Points Stanley Druckenmiller has long believed that Social Security reform is needed to preserve the benefits for future generations. While lawmakers continue to punt on the issue, surging U.S. government debt and bond yields are making the matter difficult to ignore. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › The Social Security […]

The Motley Fool
How Might Declining Population Affect Your Social Security?

How Might Declining Population Affect Your Social Security?

By Rick Kahler, originally published at Financial Awakenings. If you are under 50, will Social Security still be there when you retire? The answer starts with a number, 2.1, that demographers call the replacement rate. When women have an average of about 2.1 children, a country’s population stays level. Below that, without immigration, the population […]

Rick Kahler
The Average 401(k) Balance Is $155,800. Here’s What That Doesn’t Tell You.

The Average 401(k) Balance Is $155,800. Here’s What That Doesn’t Tell You.

Key Points The average 401(k) balance has reached a high of $155,800, according to Fidelity. Being at or above this average doesn’t tell you whether you’re on track for a comfortable retirement. You need a personalized savings target to aim for. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › The average 401(k) balance […]

The Motley Fool
50 or Older? Forgetting About This 2026 401(k) Rule Change Could Cost You Big-Time.

50 or Older? Forgetting About This 2026 401(k) Rule Change Could Cost You Big-Time.

Key Points You must make Roth catch-up contributions if you earn $150,000 or more in 2026 rather than make pre-tax contributions. This will likely lead to a larger tax bill this year, but it could also give you greater control later on over your retirement tax bills. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely […]

The Motley Fool
The 6 Financial Stages of Retirement

The 6 Financial Stages of Retirement

By The White Coat Investor, originally published at The White Coat Investor. By Jim Dahle, WCI Founder <!–Retirement is classically divided into three stages based on the activity level of the retiree: The go-go years The slow-go years The no-go years Financially speaking, people tend to spend more during the go-go years (often on travel) […]

The White Coat Investor
Improving The Scalability Of Flat-Fee Models To Capture The ‘Whole Value’ Of Advice

Improving The Scalability Of Flat-Fee Models To Capture The ‘Whole Value’ Of Advice

Over the decades, the work that financial advisors do has changed considerably &ndash; from product sales to investment management to more ‘holistic’ financial advice and behavioral coaching. As the advisor’s offerings have shifted, so too have their fee models: product sales have evolved towards an assets under management (AUM) model. Some of today’s advisors, facing […]

Michael Kitces
Jerry Seinfeld’s Evergreen Career Advice

Jerry Seinfeld’s Evergreen Career Advice

By Ben Carlson, originally published at A Wealth of Common Sense. A lot of people are worried about the impact of artificial intelligence For good reason. Here’s something Bill Gates said this week: “In private, people who understand how good this stuff is, and how much better it’s getting, they’re very worried,” he said. But […]

Ben Carlson
Facing RMDs in Retirement? 2 Key Moves to Reduce Your Financial Stress.

Facing RMDs in Retirement? 2 Key Moves to Reduce Your Financial Stress.

Key Points Required minimum distributions (RMDs) apply to non-Roth retirement accounts. Failing to take RMDs could leave you facing steep penalties, but there’s a way around that. RMDs could drive up your taxes, but one strategy could minimize the sting. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › There’s a reason people are […]

The Motley Fool