Update Beneficiaries via Baby Steps
A lot is running through your mind when you leave the hospital and bring home a new baby. Whether it is your first, second, etc., or last child, making sure that your beneficiary designations are up to date is likely not a thought on the forefront. Between bottles, diapers, and baby snuggles, it can be […]
Opportunities in a Complicated Economy
The second-quarter GDP report released July 28th raised a red flag – the economy shrank for the second consecutive quarter. However, the August 5th jobs report pegged unemployment at only 3.5%, a sign that the US economy is still strong. So what’s the deal? Are we in a recession or not? The answer is complicated. […]
Understanding TRS and Social Security
The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) and Social Security are both areas of confusion for many. In this article I hope to clarify how these work together and set the record straight. I have often heard from those in the TRS system that they believe they aren’t eligible for Social Security at all. Most […]
Virtually Unlimited Investment Platforms
Stock trading and virtual currency once had the stigma of only being available to the wealthy or those with a vast knowledge of Information Technology (IT). The platforms needed to access either investment had many barriers to entry for consumers. Over time, these entry barriers naturally worked themselves out. Access to PC’s became more prevalent, […]
The Go-To Guide for Saving Our Seniors
The month of June commemorates Elder Abuse Awareness Month. Millions of elders in the United States are becoming targets for elder abuse, particularly financial abuse and exploitation. It is estimated that elders in the United States lose at least $2.6 billion dollars on an annual basis as a result of financial exploitation. With such a […]
Making Lemonade out of Market Lemons
The stock and bond markets’ performance to date for calendar year 2022 has seen a sizable pullback in the markets and left investors searching for when things may improve. Elevated inflation levels, a Federal Reserve aggressively raising interest rates, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and energy market supply and demand uncertainty has left most investors feeling […]
Social Security – The Forty Year Decision
If you find yourself reading the business section of the Advocate every Sunday, specifically every other Sunday when our firm’s articles are published, you may have noticed a trend in our firm’s recent articles. We have been covering Social Security as a way to add insight from different perspectives within our firm. Our staff is […]
Thoughts on Reaching Retirement Age
I turned 64 earlier this year. On my birthday, I received a notice from our group health insurance provider that I should start thinking about what options I have regarding Medicare. I’ve only been working for 42 years since college! I graduated on a Saturday and went to work on Monday. I like to call […]
Social Security Considerations for the Self-Employed
This month my husband and I are celebrating one year of his self-employment. Last April he stepped away from the security of regular paychecks and employee benefits to start his own construction company. As his supportive wife and his financial advisor (package deal if you ask me), I’ve had my pen to paper for the […]
Social Security – Low Hanging Fruit
Claiming a correct social security filing strategy can be low hanging fruit – meaning that it’s an easy decision to make and can have an enormous positive impact on retirement if done correctly. However, be careful to navigate common pitfalls like filing too early (or too late), or else that low hanging fruit could turn […]