How Gen X’s ‘Latch Key Kid’ Mentality Propels Their Financial Success

Does this generation have a unique financial perspective because of how they were raised?  Find out here.

Why 8,000 Is The Most Important Number For Your Retirement Plan

Does the number 8,000 mean anything to you? Here’s what it has to do with retiring.

Learn more here.

How to wean grown kids off your payroll, freeing up more retirement cash

Are your adult children still relying on you financially? Here’s how to help them find independence.

Just because your kids have moved out of the house doesn’t mean they’re out of your financial life. Six out of 10 (61 percent) parents with at least one adult child over 18 said they provided them financial help, according to a Pew Research Center survey.

But, eventually, empty nesters face the delicate job of shifting the bill-paying burden to their grown children. Covering your kids’ cellphone bill, car payments, credit cards and other monthly costs can’t last forever. Doing away with those bills, if possible, is a budget-friendly move.

Learn how here.

A New Benefit: Some Companies Help Workers Pay Down Student Loans

Many companies now help employees pay off their student loans. Is this the wave of the future?

 

Student loan debt has not only become more common, but the size of the average loan has nearly doubled over the past decade or so. Collectively, Americans carry more than $1.5 trillion in student loan debt.

Learn more here.

Great Ideas for $1,000: Home, Travel, Gifts & Fitness

Do you have a few hundred dollars to spare? Want to make the most of it? Here are a few smart (and fun) ideas.

Maybe you received a bonus at work, got lucky on a scratch-off lottery ticket or—unlike many disappointed taxpayers this season—you scored a sizable tax refund. If you have a grand to spare, we have recommendations on ways to spend it, including buying travel upgrades, creating a smarter home, making a difference for local schoolkids and much more.

Learn more here.

How to Think Like a Billionaire, No Matter How Much Money You Have

If you truly want to join the ranks of the super-rich, you’ll need to start thinking like you’re already one of them.

Many ultra-wealthy people seem to share a few common traits. What do you think?

Click here to read more. 

The #1 Tip to Help Maximize Your 401(k) Investing

Investing is the most important element of our financial future.  Tony Robbins and Clark Howard recommend that people who have yet to invest in the stock market should ‘get in the game.’  Experts believe the financial market is still ‘winnable’. We agree.  Don’t wait to invest. Get started with whatever you have.

You can put off some small things in life without consequence, but when it comes to investing, sticking your head in the sand simply won’t cut it. If you don’t know how to start investing, when to start investing or why you should invest, now’s the time to learn. The sooner you get started, the more time and interest can help grow your money.

To learn more click here.

19 Tips to Get Financially Fit in 2019

For 2019, why not try something different by replacing that all-too-familiar promise to trim the waistline with a commitment to get your bottom line in shape.

Do you remember when you were young and would just close your eyes really tight so you could ignore something bad until it went away? That approach doesn’t work as a grown-up. Open your eyes and let 2019 be the year you sit down with a financial professional to get a detailed overview of your entire financial situation and what can be done to improve it.

Here are 19 ideas for a financially fit 2019.

Source: https://www.protective.com/learning-center/budgets-and-mon

When Is It Time to Cut Your Kids Off From Your Finances?

Deciding when to let your children stand on their own can be tough, especially when they’re contending with student loans, underpaying jobs, or sky-high rents. But easing your kid’s entry into adulthood could be undermining your own financial security.

According to a December survey from CreditCards.com, three-quarters of parents are providing financial support for their adult kids.

But at a time when the majority of Americans haven’t socked away nearly enough for retirement—the median retirement savings for all working families in the US is just $5,000, according to the Economic Policy Institute—it makes sense to do a little less for our offspring, so we can think a little more about ourselves.

So, how do you figure out when and how to cut your kids off financially?  Learn more below.

Source: https://www.thebalance.com/when-to-cut-your-kids-off-from-your-finances

Don’t bother wondering why your friends seem to have nicer homes, cars, and vacations — there’s only one measurement that matters

Basing your spending off how your friends spend their money is a huge mistake to make.  Large spenders may also be building crippling debt.

You won’t find a real answer to how you’re doing in a Federal Reserve survey or a social media feed.  You will find it by measuring yourself against rules of thumb, refined over decades and endorsed by financial pros  that point the way toward true financial health.

Start with these:

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/why-you-should-ignore-others-when-setting-personal-finance-goals