I can, I will, I can’t, I won’t. Those are all responses we’ve heard in the past two years about deciding to retire. The response you give or the response you get is directly related to the U.S. economy.   Before COVID, American workers age 55 and above were retiring at...
Well, the IRS hasn’t hired those 87-thousand new agents approved by Congress last year. But even without them, the cost of underpaying your taxes just got more expensive. The interest rate charged for not paying your taxes on time has gone up.   As of January 1, 2023, the underpayment interest...
Social Security is usually thought of in terms of an individual’s retirement benefit. But it’s equally important to understand the benefits of Social Security for married couples. Whether you’re a Baby Boomer spouse with limited work history because you stayed home to raise the kids, or a married couple...
In December 2022, Congress and the president did what they do best—spend more money--$1.7 trillion. The spending includes $858 billion for the military, $772 billion for domestic priorities, another $45 billion for Ukraine, and oh, by the way, enough money to keep the government running until September 2023, which...
Student loan debt has become one of the largest classes of consumer debt in the country. In fact, it affects as many as 43 million Americans. According to a report from Forbes, student loan debt reached almost $1.5 trillion in early 2019, with the average borrower from the class of...
Gifting is a great financial planning tool, especially at the end of the year. Alhambra's Bob Williams goes through the basics.
So, you’re almost eligible for Medicare. For many who have struggled with health insurance since Congress passed Obamacare in 2010, going on Medicare is a step up from the expensive, high deductible, limited option plans available to them. But Medicare can be problematic too if you don’t know what...
You need more than a Will or Trust to round out your estate plan. Alhambra's Bob Williams lists other Must Have planning documents.
Social Security is one of the most recognizable names around. And it should be. After all, it began in 1935. So, you’d think after 87 years Americans would have a really good understanding of what Social Security is and how it works. The 2022 Social Security Survey conducted by...
Well, here’s a shocker—the cost of healthcare is getting more expensive all the time—much more. And with the highest inflation rate in forty years draining people’s purchasing power, more Americans are finding it harder to pay their medical bills too. It wasn’t much easier in 2021. The Kaiser Family...