Every fall, Social Security announces its cost-of-living adjustment for the coming year, and every fall, retirees brace for the Medicare premium announcement that follows shortly after. In 2026, the gap between the two numbers is worth paying close attention to, and if your income is...
Giving Smarter: How to Make Your Charitable Donations Work Harder Most people give to charity because they want to make a difference, not because of the tax benefits. But those two goals do not have to be mutually exclusive! With some straightforward planning, you can often...
In six of the past seven years, the S&P 500 has delivered double-digit returns. That kind of consistency speaks to the power of long-term investing, even in the face of frequent uncertainty. What made last year especially notable is that returns were not limited to...
It has been nearly three years since the arrival of OpenAI’s ChatGPT-3.5, marking generative AI’s watershed moment. Suddenly, algorithms could produce text, computer code and images comparable to human output—and an AI investment boom was underway. Fast-forward to today, when suddenly, nobody writes their own...
The final weeks of the year tend to blur together in a whirlwind of pie orders, last-minute shopping, school concerts, and cross-country flights. But amid the bustle, it’s worth pausing to take stock of your financial picture. A few thoughtful steps now can help you...
Inheritances come in all shapes and sizes, whether an heirloom left to you by a loved one or a life-changing financial windfall. Regardless of the form it takes, figuring out what to do next can be a crucial question. This is especially true with inherited...
Watching your child earn a college diploma is a proud moment for any parent. It also marks another great moment: No more tuition bills! But after all the saving and planning you’ve done, what if there’s still money left over in your child’s 529 plan?...
As individuals approach the culmination of their careers, concerns about financial stability and lifestyle transitions often come to the forefront. The journey of Evelyn and Thomas showcases the thoughtful preparation and sacrifices required to transition from demanding professional lives to a fulfilling retirement. Their meticulous...
The Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law in January 2025, removes two rules that previously reduced Social Security benefits for certain government workers. These rules were called the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). Who was affected by these rules? Government employees like...
When it comes to our finances, we’re only human. We make good decisions and sometimes, not-so-good decisions. Behavioral biases play a big role in our savings, spending and investing decisions. But there’s another reason behind some of the financial decisions we make: It’s how we...