While the cost of nuptials has held steady over the past few years, too many couples are planning to borrow to cover the cost. Here’s how to avoid the debt trap.
What comes to mind when you think of investment risk?
• Picking the wrong mutual funds for your 401(k)?
• Buying into a tech bubble?
• Purchasing a stock based on a tip from your buddy?
• Having too many stocks in your portfolio too close to retirement?
Indeed, some of these things quite legitimately could be considered risky. 
The three-legged stool is a metaphor that retirement planners use to describe the three most common sources of income for retirees. At one point in time, the three legs referred to Social Security, pension and personal savings — the multiple sources of income generally needed to achieve a financially secure retirement.
Those sensuous, shiny bubbles of sheet metal are seductive. They can also be dangerous to your financial health.
It’s the biggest purchase most people ever make, and with good planning and some preparation, it can be a solid financial move.
Perhaps you’ve lost a job, faced an illness or have been delt a family crisis that emptied out your emergency fund. What are your next steps?
You’re eyeing center-hall colonials in your neighborhood and dreaming about the garden you want to plant in the backyard and all the holiday celebrations you’ll host. You’ve saved toward this goal and think you’re ready to pull the trigger. But the real question is: How much house can I afford?
Or is it?
Social Security’s financial cliff is coming closer into view. Experts project that the fund that pays for government retirement benefits through FICA taxes will be depleted within the next 15 years.
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