Retirement

When to Take Social Security

Social Security may be the most valuable asset you have as you march toward financial independence

Dave GardnerSeptember 11, 2019 benefit, Retirement, Value

Use Tax Smarts to Hasten Retirement

There are superior alternatives to the conventional wisdom, and with some tweaks you could achieve a “portfolio longevity” increase of over three years.

Dave GardnerMarch 11, 2019March 11, 2019 Retirement, Taxes

Should You Care How Much Your Investments Cost?

Do you know how much your investments cost and, more importantly, should you care? After all if your returns are enough to achieve your financial goals isn’t that all you need? It turns out that the costs of your mutual funds, retirement plan choices, and other holdings are important to monitor.

Dave GardnerFebruary 25, 2019 Fees, Investment Strategy, Portfolio, Stock Market

Public and Nonprofit Employees Can Supercharge Their Savings

One less known benefit of being a Public or Nonprofit employee is that they can save much more of their income on a tax-advantaged basis than those in private industry. If through a combination of higher earnings and frugality you can live on far less than you earn, check out these retirement plans.

Dave GardnerFebruary 11, 2019 Retirement, Savings

Feel the Financial Burn

This column is another in a series on good financial habits within your control, as opposed to annual stock market returns, which are not. Last time we got to work on your estate plan, while today we’ll uncover in under an hour how much you spent and saved last year.

Dave GardnerJanuary 21, 2019 Budget, Savings

Should You Rebalance Your Portfolio?

With many investment categories currently down for the year, now could be an ideal time to rebalance your portfolio. If you’re a casual investor, you may have heard about rebalancing, wondered what it means, and questioned whether it applies to your situation. In this column we will cover the basics of rebalancing and also investigate whether your investments require it.

Dave GardnerNovember 28, 2018 Bear Market, Investment Strategy, Risk, Stock Market, target fund

Is a Target Retirement Fund Right for You?

Over the last few years, target retirement funds have become increasingly popular choices in retirement plans. In just one of these diversified funds, you can invest in both the US and international stock markets, along with safer bond-type investments. Target…

Dave GardnerAugust 7, 2018August 21, 2018 All

Retirement Is Not Just About the Money

You’ve probably heard that we Americans are largely doing a poor job of saving for retirement. A 2016 report by the Economic Policy Institute puts it in stark terms. By 2013, the mean investment wealth for families in their late 50s was about $164,000, which would generate close to $8,000 a year in retirement. When you combine that with the average Social Security benefit of under $17,000 a year, most are woefully unprepared to stop working in their 60s.

Dave GardnerJune 29, 2018 All, Articles