Debt and the American way of life have become synonymous. From the 1850s when the Singer sewing machine company first introduced installment loans so that more homes could purchase its revolutionary appliance, a rising standard of living and debt have gone hand in hand.
Think you know how much you’ll need to retire comfortably? You might want to think again. According to the Schroders Global Investor Study 2018, which surveyed more than 22,000 investors from 30 countries, 15% of retirees lacked sufficient income to support a comfortable retirement.
Imagine two farmers. One farmer’s crop consists entirely of corn. The other grows a mix of corn, wheat, soy and potatoes. Then one season a terrible blight destroys many corn plants and significantly reduces yields. Which farmer is going have more of a problem?
Consumer debt surpassed $14 trillion in the beginning of 2019, and it’s a trend that’s showing little signs of slowing down. Home mortgages, student loans, credit cards, payday loans, home equity loans, personal loans, car loans — it seems there’s no shortage of ways to dig yourself into a financial hole.
A credit score is assigned to you by each of the three major credit reporting agencies. The most common is the FICO score. Calculated based on the information in your credit report, it’s purported to measure your overall credit worthiness. FICO scores range from 300 to 850 — the higher the better.
Saving for a secure retirement can often seem like a daunting task. But when you have even loftier goals it can feel near impossible. What would it take to become a millionaire, or even a multimillionaire? Would you need a big inheritance, some luck when playing the lottery? Do you need to spearhead a super-successful tech start up? Or become a doctor or a lawyer?
It’s an age-old question: Can money buy happiness? The answer, it seems, is not straightforward.
Setting up the nursery, taking birthing classes, picking names, reading parenting books … there’s so much to do when you’re expecting. But don’t forget these important financial tasks as you prepare for the arrival of your little bundle of joy.
Millennials are facing difficulties as they attempt to navigate in stormy financial seas according to PwC’s report: Millennials & Financial Literacy— The Struggle with Personal Finance. The study was conducted in partnership with The Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center at George Washington University.
Can you believe that half the year is already gone? It’s time for a midyear financial checkup to make sure you’re on track to meet your retirement and other financial goals. This is a great time to set up an appointment with your NFP financial advisor or just take the opportunity to review some of the following areas of your financial wellness plan on your own.
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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