We usually talk about the importance of saving for retirement by taking advantage of employee pensions, employer-matching, getting a personal IRA and maximizing your tax deductible contributions. But what if you are self-employed? Is the self-employed freelancer or business owner a lost cause when it

Did you skip going on a vacation last year because money seemed too tight? Does it seems as if saving for a vacation is out of reach? If so, it is time to make some changes to your spending and savings habits so you can

Congratulations, you’re expecting a new baby! In nine short months you will have a new life to care for, feed, bath and love. In the midst of thinking about what they will look like or what impact they will make the world, you can easily

Are you a first-time homeowner? Have you recently closed your first mortgage? If so, you’re probably feeling equal parts of excitement and anxiety about making this important step toward financial well-being. Now that you’ve purchased this huge responsibility, it will be helpful to know how

Perhaps you have changed jobs. Maybe your old 401 k isn’t reaching its potential or it’s overly invested in one company. If you find another job with a company offering a 401 k or similar plan, just roll the money over into the new plan

When it comes to investing and finances, we all know that risk means possibly losing some or all of your hard-earned cash. We also understand that a return on investment (ROI) is the amount you earn on an investment. What many of us may not

Are you saving enough to do the things you want to do when you retire? Every summer our children fall prey to the summer slide, losing vital skills as they put down their books for three months of fun; in much the same way, your

Historically, there has been a gender gap in retirement planning due to unequal wages, informal services and interruptions in careers, but according to a recent study, women are beginning to close the gap in retirement plan account balances and savings rates on their male counterparts.

A number of senior baby boomers with a sense of adventure after years of workplace stability are expanding their search for the perfect place to settle down in retirement to destinations outside of the United States. According to the Social Security Administration, more than 346,000

Mortgage refinancing gives homeowners the opportunity to reduce the overall amount interest owed or monthly payments. If interest rates have fallen, the home has been remodeled, your credit score has improved or are interested in switching your loan type, then you may be considering refinancing

Are your current water and power bills blowing your budget? Looking for some easy ways to cut your monthly expenses? Interested in ”going green” and cutting your personal carbon footprint? Here are a few simple strategies can help you reduce your home energy consumption, limit

Credit Cards can be a frightening financial tool, but when used correctly they can help build a solid credit history and credit score so you can qualify for affordable home mortgages and business loans. If you’re just starting to build a credit history or aim

If you are looking to buy or sell a house, here are some real estate tips to help you negotiate an advantageous deal for all parties involved: Price it Right Price it high and negotiate down or price it low and look desperate. Perhaps those

As the complexity of commercial and investment real estate products and services increases, so does the knowledge base required for the real estate investor. Real Estate investments are substantially more complex than that described by the basic economic transaction model. We will explore the financial

When you sit down with your financial advisor to plan your retirement, remember to assess the value of real estate ownership and investment as tools to maintain your lifestyle or pay your expenses. Owning real estate can keep a roof over your head but it

I was not long ago that the only way to deposit or withdraw money from your bank account required a time consuming visit to your local branch office. Then came the ATM machine, which laid the groundwork for quick and easy electronic banking. Today, we