My Retirement Blog

  • Debt Limit Limbo Could Mean Military Retirees See Changes

    August 2nd is the deadline for Congress to get their act together and figure out a way to pay the bills. That’s when, according to the Treasury Department, the cash reserves to pay government debts will run out and the ramifications of not extending the debt ceiling beyond 14.3 trillion will start to come to…

  • The Era of MCCU: Minimal Credit Card Use

    You no doubt have heard the warnings: Do not run up huge balances on a credit card (or cards). The interest charges are unbearable if you get behind in paying off those balances. And they create a false sense of financial well-being: If you earn $5000 a month but consistently spend $5500 per month, that’s…

  • 3 Reasons To Get A Cashback Credit Card

    The following is a guest post on behalf of Financial Facts. In today’s tough economic climate, everyone is looking for an edge. Every single penny counts in the face of rising gas and food prices, record foreclosures and bankruptcies combined with an uncertain financial outlook that is, quite frankly, rather frightening. If you are thinking…

  • 3 Ways To Save Money At A Butcher

    The following is a guest post on behalf of Financial Facts. If you’re lucky enough to live within shopping distance of a butcher, you are luckier than you realize. Buying meat in a grocery store may be convenient, but you might be surprised at how much money you can save at an old-fashioned butcher. What…

  • Talking With Your Family About Retirement

    Americans for Secure Retirement (ASR) has suggestions on how to discuss retirement with your family. The questions they suggest you use to guide your discussion are: When am I hoping to retire?, Am I making use of an employer-sponsored retirement plan?, Am I on-track with my retirement savings?, What will my expenses be in retirement?,Where…

  • The Best Time to Start Saving for Retirement

    Many people wonder when is the best time to start saving for retirement. You can ask someone about when they think is the best time to start saving for retirement and see what kind of answers you get. Generally the older generations will wish they had started saving sooner while the younger generations figure they…

  • Immediate vs Longevity Annuities

    Both of these products offer a guaranteed income for life. Immediate annuities, as the name suggests, immediately begin to generate lifetime income. Longevity annuities delay payments until the retiree hits an advanced age, such as 80 or 85. New research by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) finds that, generally, either type of annuity…

  • The Impact of the Economy on Retirement Risks

    A new report from the Society of Actuaries (SOA) assesses the impact of the recession on retirement planning based on findings from the 2009 Risks and Process of Retirement Survey Report, also from the SOA. The economic downturn made many respondents feel the need to take steps to improve their financial situation. While only one-quarter…

  • Social Security Ends Payback Option

    Last year I wrote about how you could take social security early and still receive the full benefit. The IRS has caught on to that option and is has established rules that keep it from being a viable option. The Social Security Administration published rules that limit the time period for beneficiaries to withdraw an…

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