Stories of Living on Social Security and Why it’s Important to Invest for Retirement

Living on Social Security

Since you are reading this blog, I know I am preaching to the choir but, unfortunately, many people are living on Social Security checks and have nothing saved for retirement. In fact, according to the Social Security Administration, 23 percent of married couples and 46 percent of single people receive 90 percent or more of [...]

Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps and Crown Money Map Review

MoneyMap2

Do you prefer Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps or the Crown Money Map?  Dave Ramsey created the Baby Steps and Crown Financial Ministries created the Money Map for prioritizing and setting financial goals.  I think both are great resources that help provide focus and prevent you from diluting your efforts in trying to work on too [...]

5 Retirement Costs to Consider and How to Minimize Them

When we think about our golden years you might think about retirement, slowing down a little bit, and maybe even doing some traveling.  In fact, I’ve often wondered what I would like to do when I retire and endless possibilities come to mind. However in this ever changing world it would be great to believe [...]

Financial Fitness Tips: Merry Christmas, Club Store Shopping, Make Saving Money Easier and More

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas!  I hope you’ll find the time to relax and enjoy your loved ones and most importantly, celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, our savior, Jesus Christ. With that, I’m going to set a good example of rest and spending time with family by [...]

Baby Boomers Retirement Poll Results | Are You Ready for Retirement?

Beginning this past January, more than 10,000 baby boomers a day will turn 65.  This pattern will continue for the next 19 years.  The Associated Press and LifeGoesStrong.com recently conducted a Baby Boomers retirement poll among those born between 1946 and 1965 to see how ready they were for retirement.   The results were not pretty. [...]

How Spring Is Like Saving for Retirement

Ah, spring is finally here – at least in my part of the country.  The birds are chirping and the flowers are blooming.  Once the weather begins to get warmer, many start thinking about summer and want to lose weight to look good in their bathing suits.  Why do so many wait until it gets [...]

How Much To Save For Retirement

How Much to Save for Retirement

I recently received an email from my company’s 401k plan manager asking me the question: “have you got enough cushion?”  In other words, they were asking, based on the amount of money I’m contributing to retirement today, if it will be enough?  Further into the note, their suggestion was to save as much as I [...]

Early Retirement Planning Lessons from a Snow Storm

Early Retirement Lessons from a Snow Storm

As I am typing this, the snow has blanketed my yard and road. School has been closed for three days and our city is pretty much at a stand-still. I know for many, 8 inches of snow would not do much but, here in the South, this is like a blizzard. The storms came late [...]