It’s never too late to transform your financial life. We wrote this article several years ago, but the advice is just as good today as it was back then, so we’re re-posting it. If you didn’t read it the first time it came along, or if you weren’t ready to implement this simple-yet-amazingly-effective advice, now …
Seven Simple Secrets to Transform Your Financial Life Read More »
Resolve to have a more prosperous new year by creating good financial habits that will last a lifetime. Good financial habits are truly a gift to yourself that keeps on giving — and they are much more fun than vowing not to eat another piece of chocolate cake! I Will Monitor My Spending Pick three …
The holiday season is coming fast upon us, along with many demands on our time (there are just so many cookies to eat, it’s hard to know where to start!), and demands for our money. According to the American Research Group, the average American plans to spend $851 on holiday gifts in 2020…and that’s only …
Ten Tips to Save Time and Money This Holiday Season Read More »
Ten topics to Discuss on “Contingency Day.” And they lived happily ever after… or did they? It happens in fairy tales, but in real life, every marriage ends someday. Fifty percent of marriages end in divorce, and 35% end in widowhood, usually with the death of the husband. On average, women will be on their …
Being self-employed has its downsides and its benefits. Downsides include no paid vacation or holidays and the never-ending need to continually find customers. Benefits include an ability to set your own hours, no limits on your income, and lots of potential business deductions. These deductions can help you save lots of money on your taxes, …
Are You a Solopreneur Looking to Buy a Home? Here’s What You Need to Know Read More »
Looking for perfect gift for your children or grandchildren? Instead of giving them cash or the latest gadget, try giving a financial gift. These gifts will help the next generation develop valuable money skills that will last long into the future. Mutual funds: Giving shares in a mutual fund can be an excellent way to …
Volatility can make your stomach churn, and the volatility of an unstable stock market causes even the most-savvy investors to reach for the Pepto-Bismol. So you may be surprised to hear stock market volatility can actually be a good thing — at least for your retirement savings. Say you are investing $500 in a stock mutual …
Does your month last longer than your money? Don’t berate yourself for stupidity! When financial stress gets you down, your mind is slower as well, scientists have found. Most people tested lost about 13 IQ points when they were worried about money. That’s because stress slows your brain and makes thinking more difficult, the same …
Are financial problems making you feel stupid? Scientists have figured out why. Read More »
Ask savvy investors how they learned their first lessons about money, and they’ll probably tell you lessons their parents taught them. The money values we learn as children stay with us the rest of our lives. If you are a parent, teaching your children the value of saving and investing will benefit them the rest …
Teaching Your Children the Value of Saving and Investing Read More »
The U.S. military offers one of the best retirement systems in the world. After 20 years of service, a service member can retire and receive 50% of their base pay for the rest of their lives, with cost-of-living increases thrown in just for fun. If you are (or were) married to one of the estimated …
Can I Get a Piece of My Husband’s Military Pension After Divorce? Read More »
I recently heard that I may be entitled to collect Social Security benefits when I retire based on my ex-husband’s earnings. But I looked at my divorce decree and it doesn’t say anything about it. Did I miss the boat? Here’s some good news about your divorce. If you were married to your ex-spouse for …
The way we earn, spend, and save money is a practical expression of our most fundamental beliefs. When our priorities are out of sync, money can become the great divide in an otherwise harmonious relationship. By working together toward financial freedom, money can cease being a source of conflict and become a way to express …
You can’t blame your real estate agent. The bigger the house she can put you in, the higher her commission. When the bank comes back with your loan approval, you can bet that your agent will take one look at that number and try to find you every single house in that price range, but …
Want to Save $70,000? Then Don’t Listen to Your Real Estate Agent! Read More »
It’s what you think you know that really isn’t true that can hurt you. A study by the American Institute of CPAs identified twelve misconceptions that taxpayers have about their income taxes. Myth #1 If you apply for an extension to file your taxes, you’re more likely to be audited. Studies have never found any …
For many women, the realization that their marriage is failing is a long, agonizing road. Oftentimes, a woman will know the truth in her heart for months before she builds up the courage to have that difficult conversation with her husband. If you are nearing that point, it is time to start planning for the …
If your husband owns a business, you may have a right to a portion of that business’s value if you get divorced. The key question then becomes, how much is the business worth? This can be a very difficult question to answer. A business is more than just the value of its equipment and furniture. …
How to Evaluate Your Husband’s Business During a Divorce Read More »
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit.” —Aristotle Make this New Year a great year by living your life well every day. By incorporating these good habits into your life moment by moment, you will have a wonderful year to celebrate. Slow down Take time in each moment …
Eight Steps from the Experts on Handling the Holidays when Your Marriage No Longer Feels Like a “Gift” Thinking about shopping lists, presents, parties, and…divorce? Holidays are usually a time for reconnecting, but if you are married — and not so happily — seasonal preparations can put major strain on relationships that are already teetering …
My husband and I have drawn up a list of what we own and we have tentatively agreed on how to split everything in our divorce. I’m afraid we might have missed listing something. Can you help? As a financial divorce consultant, I often review final property settlements to determine additional tax and financial considerations …
Here are Six Important Assets You Can’t Afford to Overlook During Your Divorce Read More »
My nine-year marriage has been rocky for quite some time, and my husband and I periodically talk about divorce. A friend told me I should stick it out a while longer since there are benefits to being married ten years or longer. What are those benefits?
My husband and I are divorcing, and he says that unless I agree to split the property the way he wants, he’ll take me to court and the judge will order us to sell everything. Can he do that? First, we’re sorry that your husband has resorted to divorce threats instead of working with you …
What to Do When Your Husband Makes Divorce Threats Read More »
If you are in the middle of a divorce, it can be confusing to know what tax filing status to use. With that in mind, we’re re-posting this helpful article from last year, which breaks down all your different options. Even after the emotional turmoil of a divorce, life goes on, and so do taxes. …
Getting Divorced? What Tax Filing Status Should You Use? Read More »
When you start digging into the tax code – not something we’d recommend unless you are suffering from severe insomnia – you’ll quickly notice that there are a seemingly endless number of taxes. Fortunately, many of these taxes are highly specialized and don’t affect most people. However, some of these taxes occasionally pop up in …
Aren’t tax refunds the best? It’s like a little tax refund fairy just dropped a wad of money on your pillow in the middle of the night, letting you finally buy those adorable kid boots you’ve always wanted or take that girl’s weekend to Tahoe your friends have been talking about forever. You know that …
Here’s How You Can Grow Your Tax Refund into a Behemoth Read More »
Divorce is expensive, so anything you can save on your taxes can help you rebuild your new post-divorce life. If your divorce was completed by December 31st of the prior year, then you may be able to take advantage of big tax savings if you meet the IRS’s qualifications as a “head of household.” By …
Can I Claim Head of Household Status After a Divorce? Read More »
Taxes are, unfortunately, a part of every financial decision. Like it or not, Uncle Sam’s greedy fingers reach into your pocket with every paycheck and each dollar of investment earnings.
I am thinking of divorce, and I don’t know what to do about my credit cards. Will I be able to get credit after I divorce, or will I have to start over?
If your husband has recently passed away, you may decide it’s time to sell your home. Maybe it holds too many sad memories, or it’s just too big for you to handle on your own, or you simply want to live closer to your children. Whatever your reason, if your house has increased in value …
When I was divorced, I didn’t change my name, but now I want to resume my former name and drop my ex-husband’s name. Is it too late to do this without an expensive attorney? Divorce is very unsettling, to say the least. It is difficult to think about changing one’s name when there are so …
Think about all of the things that you own, from every dollar sitting in your retirement account, to the home you just bought, or the business that you’ve slowly grown into a successful enterprise over the last ten years. Now, think about how much time, effort, blood, and sweat went into earning the money in …
If you are in a position to receive alimony as a part of your divorce, the settlement (or the judge) may specify exactly how much your ex-spouse is obligated to pay and over what time period. Normally, your ex would be required to send you a monthly alimony payment, but you can attempt to negotiate …
Five Reasons Why You Should Request Alimony as a Lump Sum During Your Divorce Read More »
When you join your life with another in marriage, you make the promise to share all the joys and challenges of the future together…but does that include debt? What if you are a diligent saver while your husband comes into the marriage with $50,000 in student loan debt? What if he dreams of starting his …
In Sickness, Health…and Debt? Are You Responsible for Your Spouse’s Debts? Read More »
If you were married to your ex-spouse for ten or more years, then you are eligible for very important Social Security benefits that could drastically increase how much Social Security you receive each month. Who doesn’t want a bigger Social Security check each month? No one, that’s right! So keep reading. Even if you are …
As Congress and the White House consider cutting spending and raising taxes, I hope they consider what creative entrepreneurs do when tax rates get too high. Here’s an example: When a special sales tax on theater ticket sales were raised to 21%, a theater owner in Spain put on his thinking cap. He noticed that …
At WIFE.org, we don’t think retiring smart has to be complicated. A few good habits can make the difference between working a part-time job in retirement to make ends meet or spending more time with your grandchildren and taking a cruise each year. Here are three simple things you can start doing today to get …
Three Things Women Need To Do Right Now To Protect Their Retirement Read More »
Ladies, we know that “one size doesn’t fit all,” and that is especially true when it comes to planning for retirement. When we look to the future and retirement, we can’t think like men. Let’s look at three unique challenges that force women to think differently about retirement: A Longer Retirement Congratulations! If you were …
Why Women Need To Think Differently About Retirement Read More »
The popular saying is that the only guarantees in life are death and taxes, but do Americans really understand just how many taxes they pay? We don’t just mean all those ugly negatives on your pay stub. Taxes hit us everywhere, even when we do amazing things (getting married), normal things (drive to work), and …
February is the month for hopeless — and hopeful – romantics. Here is a roadmap to the courting process, courtesy of our friends at Turbotax. Love is grand, it’s true. But as you head down the road to everlasting love, you’d better start saving – the cost of a wedding averages almost $30 grand. It …
Here are four top financial resolutions that will help you get on track in the new year. Follow these and by the end of the year you’ll be set for the future.
Ever wonder what the twelve days of Christmas would cost in today’s dollars? Well, believe it or not PNC Wealth Management has been tracking exactly that for 30 years. The cost of the gifts in song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is $27,393.17 in 2013, almost $1,200 more than last year. Build the gifts from …
A cartoon I saw recently shows a male advisor pitching a woman prospect from across the desk. He’s explaining all the facts and figures about markets and indices and asset allocation models. Next panel: She’s left his office, and he’s pumping his fist in the air saying, “Nailed it! I told her everything she needed …
Want to Attract More Women Clients? It’s a Science. Read More »
Can you spot a financial scam. The new Financial Fraud and Susceptibility survey bets you can’t. About 40% of the 2,400 people surveyed recently said they’d be enticed by a fully guaranteed investment, especially if it offered an annual return of 110%. Really? Bernie Madoff’s guaranteed return rate was only 12%, and that was clearly …
There are three parties to every divorce: the husband, the wife, and Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam is very picky about interest deductions on home mortgages, and a misstep can cost your client a tax deduction. Here’s a common situation that can trip you up, and ways to get around it. Your client agrees to transfer …
Home transfers in divorce can render mortgage interest non-deductible. Read More »
If an older cash-challenged client wants to borrow funds to buy their spouse out of the home, they are often told that if they use a reverse mortgage they’ll never have to make a mortgage payment again. Here’s how it works: A reverse mortgage converts equity into cash, as a one-time payout, ongoing monthly payments …
College kids and their parents are having a tough time of it financially, and it’s going to get a whole lot worse with government cost-cutting, I’m afraid. Public colleges have always been the low-cost alternative to private schools (such as Harvard, Yale and Stanford), but the words “low-cost” don’t really apply any more. The tuition …
It’s tax time again, and many are wondering whether they should file jointly with their soon-to-be-ex-spouse. There are many factors that I consider when I meet with clients to determine their best course of action for filing taxes. If you suspect your spouse is cheating on taxes by under-reporting income or over-reporting deductions, you can …
That’s the conventional wisdom, but it may not be true. It is true that COBRA, which applies to companies with 20 or more employees, only requires 36 months of group health plan coverage for divorced spouses. But an employer’s plan isn’t limited to providing only 36 months of coverage, and it may provide for a …
When I was growing up, I remember hearing my parents discuss money. It wasn’t usually pleasant: my father loved to find bargains, while my mother’s nickname was “Mrs. Rockefeller” for the way she spent. Now that I am grown, it is difficult for me to feel neutral about money. I always have the struggle within …
The headlines are abuzz with predictions of lower holiday spending this year, which the pundits say will mean the recession is a long way from being over. So if we shop ‘til we drop this December, will that improve our national economy? That makes no sense, and here’s why. If you spend $100 on dinner …
If You Shop ’til You Drop, Will America Prosper? Read More »
If you decide to start your own business, you will need an idea, a plan, and financial backing. Your business is unlikely to succeed without all three, and while most people who go into business start with an idea, most businesses that fail do so because they were undertaken without enough financing to sustain them …
Here’s something that is more promising than a lottery ticket – an unclaimed property that may be waiting for you. And now it’s easier than ever to find that property using the Internet. Unclaimed property comes in many varieties. Perhaps it’s a savings or checking account you’ve forgotten about. Or it could be an uncashed …
Health care has been on Congress’s menu lately, from prescription drugs for Medicare recipients to HMO legislation. But regardless of what Congress decides to do, there are four steps that you can take right now to protect yourself from the high costs of health care. Step one: Become an educated consumer. Remember that you are …
Excerpted from the booklet “150 Ways to Divorce Without Going Broke“ Divorce is the largest single financial transaction of most people’s lives, raising important questions that demand immediate answers. Here are some helpful tips on every aspect of divorce, including: before the divorce, gathering records, alimony, tax returns, navigating the divorce, accumulating cash, hiring an …
“If Only I Had More Money….I could _______ (fill in the blank).” It’s true that money can’t buy happiness, but it certainly can help you live the life of your dreams. You don’t fancy investment strategies to become financially secure, and you don’t need to win the lottery either. Here are five simple steps you …
A catastrophic loss can scuttle any financial plan, and bring your savings to its knees. You need insurance to protect yourself against medical costs, sudden loss of life, and loss of property or earning power. Many people are mostly in the dark when it comes to insurance coverage. They worry that they are underinsured, but …
It’s that time again! Whether you prepare your own tax return or employ a tax preparer, it’s time to gather information about your income and deductions. Ugh! Compiling tax information is not the most fun thing in the world- but you gotta do what you gotta do, right? First, gather all of the statements you …
The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 was the answer for permanent relief from income taxes on the sale of a principal residence. The rules are simple — if you sell your home and the gain on the sale is $250,000 or less ($500,000 on a joint income tax return), there’s no tax due when you …
When you receive a plain brown envelope marked “Official US Business” from the Internal Revenue Service, it’s enough to strike terror in your heart. Your first instinct to the deficiency notice inside might be to pay them whatever they want, but don’t do it. There are four common notices that you might receive from the …
This time of year, most Americans have income taxes on their minds, but some people hurt themselves financially by putting tax savings first and economic benefits second. Here are some tax-reduction schemes that may end up costing you more than you save: Municipal bonds The interest paid by municipal bonds issued within your state are tax …
Now that your tax return is prepared, it’s time for some spring cleaning. How long must you keep records before you can throw them out? It depends. You must keep the records needed to substantiate all your income and deductions available for inspection by the Internal Revenue Service. You don’t have to spread them out …
Only one percent of all tax returns are audited each year. Even if you are audited, you should encounter few problems if you have reported all of your income and have kept careful records of your deductions. If the information reported by payers on W-2s and 1099s does not match what you reported on your …
Wouldn’t you think that Congress had fiddled enough with the tax laws? Not hardly, it seems. Each year they find some new tax lever to pull that will “improve the economy” and 2003 was no exception. No matter whether you think the changes to the tax law are right or wrong, you can’t afford to …
That big check you get in the mailbox after April 15 is your fun money, right? It’s your free gift from your kind Uncle Sam, who has so thoughtfully given you this chance to go on vacation or have fun at the mall. Not really. That check is the repayment of interest-free loan that you …
If you have a small business and you want to deduct your expenses, the IRS says you must be able to show that you are engaged in a trade or business for profit. But that doesn’t mean your business has to be profitable every year. If you can show that you are trying to make …
Even if you don’t have your own business, you may have some expenses that are tax deductible. If you are a salaried professional, teacher or other employee, here are some deductions you shouldn’t overlook. Dues for professional organizations Personal supplies, such as pens, pencils, briefcases, calculators, executive diaries, etc. Fees for credit cards used exclusively …
In the wake of the excitement from the “biggest tax reduction in 20 years”, we taxpayers are left with the daunting task of figuring out exactly what was reduced. Take the estate tax “repeal” promised by President Bush—please. From all of the hype, you might think that the estate tax is being slowly phased out …
Estate Planning is Dead! Long Live Estate Planning! Read More »
“The sky is falling, the sky is falling” cried Chicken Little. Some investors may agree. What should you do If you find the stock market plummeting. 1. Don’t panic. Remember that panic is not an effective, long-term investment strategy. But when the Nasdaq plunges as much as 5% a day for several days running, it’s hard …
These are the times that test investor’s souls, or at least their tolerance for risk. If you invest in technology, biotech and other stocks that trade on NASDAQ, you’ve seen quite a bit of volatility this year. What does the future hold?More volatility, which means risk. In stock market terminology, risk is the chance that …
Would you like to earn 8% or more on your money, guaranteed and risk-free? Like to trim your future expenses so you can retire early? Want to save thousands of dollars in interest expense? One simple investment can do it all: prepay your mortgage. To trim five years off a 30 year, 8% mortgage of …
If you like roller coasters, you might be enjoying the ride on Wall Street these days, as the stock market spikes then tumbles, then hits bottom and careens up again. But for most of us, whose stomachs clench at such high jinks, these are unsettling times. But take heart – those reckless gyrations may actually …
Selecting stocks can be tough. But stock selection is much easier once you understand stock market and economic cycles. Diversification is key. To build a portfolio, you should own several different stocks in several of the eight market sectors: consumer cyclicals, technology, financial, energy, industrials, basic materials, consumer non-cyclicals and utilities. Decide which of the …
San Diego is growing. There are thousands more cars on the road every day – and they are all in my lane! I’m normally a cautious driver, but when the freeway lane I’m in slows to a crawl while those in adjacent lanes are flying by, I’m tempted to change lanes. But as soon as …
Changing Lanes: Getting Ahead in the Financial Markets Read More »
My cat Augie loves to lie in the sun all day. Who wouldn’t? But even in sunny San Diego, it sometimes rains. Augie hates that, and he turns away from the open door in disgust. Then he goes to a different door to be let out. He’s looking for the door where it isn’t raining …
Uh oh, the stock market slid again. So what else is new? Even patient optimists have gotten fed up with the market, which is exactly why it’s going down. As the last rat (excuse the expression) bails off the ship, there will be no more sellers left. With only buyers left at the party, the …
If you have been contributing to Individual Retirement Accounts over the years or have rolled a lump-sum pension distribution into an IRA, you have taken solid steps toward building a strong retirement nest egg. But three common blunders can keep you from getting the greatest income possible when you retire. Blunder #1. Too many IRA …
This article was excerpted from the book Your Next Fifty Years: A Completely New Way to Look at How, When, and If You Should Retire by Ginita Wall, CPA, CFP and Victoria Collins, CFP If you are one of the four million baby boomers who turned 50 in 1996 or the seventy-three million more who …
Trouble is, there’s always so much more in your life that requires time and money that it’s not always easy to devote those precious resources to a retirement that is years away. Here are five painless ways you can begin saving for your retirement without unduly busting your budget. 1. Let your employer do it. …
It’s Never Too Early to Start Planning for Your Retirement Read More »
Most people in their twenties and thirties have other things on their minds than retirement. But as we get older, we suddenly realize we have to save for retirement! If you’ve procrastinated in planning for retirement, you may not be as far behind as you think. Perhaps your employment benefits include a defined benefit retirement …
I Can’t Believe I Forgot To Save For My Retirement! Read More »
For many people, retirement means picking up and moving to warmer climates. Here are a few tips to help ease your move. When you think about retirement, do you imagine sandy beaches, a mountain cabin, settling down in a resort community or hitting the road in a mobile home? Many people decide to move when …
Got records? Most people do. But can you find last month’s bank statement? A copy of your will? The manual for your DVR? If your answer was something unprintable, you need to get a bit more organized. The beginning of a new year is an excellent time to set up a financial record-keeping system for …
When you think of the holiday season, what comes to mind? Gift exchanges? Holiday parties? Home-baked pies? Taxes? We know you have a lot of other things to do this time of year-baking those pies, for example-but, as your WIFE, we must remind you of those important details that are so easy to overlook. The …
Politicians are always promising to completely revamp the tax code, but on the whole, our current tax policy has remained stubbornly consistent, with only minor changes over the years. Likewise, smart tax strategies will stand the test of time. As tax season bears down upon us, here are some reliable and long-term tax strategies that …
These Long-Term Tax Strategies Will Help Savvy Women Stretch Their Dollars Further Read More »
I was widowed this year, and a friend told me she heard there are some tax breaks for widows. Can you help? Yes. As a widow, you may file a joint return for the year he died. In addition, if you still have a dependent child at home, you may use the joint return …
UN-tying the Knot? Everything You Need to Know When Prince Charming Leaves the Building
My husband moved out of the house six months ago. I don’t think I can afford to buy him out, and so I am considering moving into the rental condo we have, which means we’d sell our house. But my husband thinks that I should stay in the house until our son leaves for college …
As a part of my divorce settlement, I am supposed to get a portion of my husband’s retirement plans. I’ll need some of the money to live on, but I’m only 53, so I’m too young to receive retirement benefits. What’s the best way to handle this retirement plan distribution? Generally, a Qualified Domestic Relations …
Getting Income From Retirement Plans After Divorce Read More »
I have just been through a divorce, and I feel as though I’ve been through the wringer. I have a great therapist who is helping me through the emotional aftermath, but I don’t know where to begin to get my financial life back on track. Unfortunately, “splitting the sheets” also means splitting the assets and …
Getting Your Financial Life Back On Track After Divorce Read More »
Question: My husband is a spendthrift and we are deeply in debt. Money, or rather, the lack of it, is a constant source of irritation in our marriage, and we have talked about divorce in the past. Now, due to his business problems, my husband says we may be facing bankruptcy. If I go ahead …
I know that California says that I get half of the property my husband and I have accumulated during our marriage. But what we have is mostly debts. What’s the best way to deal with them? Unfortunately, its not unusual for couples these days to have more debts than assets. The general rule is that …
Today’s women are no longer the weaker sex financially. Recent census figures show an unprecedented societal and economic shift. About 27 percent of married households identify the woman as the head of household, earning a greater income than her husband. The number of women earning $100,000 or more has quadrupled in the last decade. Women …
Each year, nearly 2.8 million men and women go through the emotional and financial trauma of divorce. During divorce, many women are concerned about financial survival—and with good reason.
Happy days are here again! The economy is flourishing, real estate is booming, and Internet stocks are going to the moon. We’re saving less, and no wonder. There’s no need to save, with all the wealth being created under our noses. But how much of the wealth is real, and how much is illusion? Here’s …
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