Before you make any extra mortgage payments, consider some factors. Should you pay off your home and own it free and clear before you retire? At first glance, the answer would seem to be “absolutely, if at all possible.” Retiring with less debt … isn’t that a good thing? Why not make a few extra [...]

Useful savings plans for the smallest businesses. Do you own a small business with a few employees? Are you self-employed? In either case, the SEP IRA may be the ideal low-cost, easily administered retirement savings plan for you. This is a simple pension plan using a traditional IRA. (SEP stands for Simplified Employee Pension.) It [...]

A little “delayed gratification” may help you retire more comfortably. Baby boomers are known for wanting more out of life – and for living life on their own terms. They also get a bad rap as a generation weaned on instant gratification – wanting it all now, wanting to have it both ways. It is [...]

These two objectives are not mutually exclusive. It can be done. All across America, families are meeting a mighty financial challenge – the challenge of paying college costs with retirement potentially on the horizon. How do they do it? They go about it consistently; they also get creative. First, make sure the priorities are in [...]

These lower-cost, easily administered plans may be appealing in a sluggish economy. What do you know about the SIMPLE 401(k)? Most business owners have heard of it, yet don’t know much about this retirement savings vehicle. When times are tight, it might be an excellent choice. Do you have a business with fewer than 100 [...]