On Nov. 2, President Obama signed into law a budget deal that affects certain Social Security claiming strategies. The changes mainly affected two strategies that helped retirees increase their lifetime benefits: File-and-suspend: A strategy in which one spouse (typically, the higher earner) files and suspends a claim for benefits to allow delayed retirement credits to accrue while enabling the other spouse or a dependent to claim benefits on the higher earner’s … [Read more...] about Social Security Changes And Your Retirement Picture
Ascendant Financial
Teaching Your Children About Money
Are the young people in your life financially literate? By helping them learn about money, you give them an important head start on important life skills like developing good savings behavior, living within their means, and avoiding many common financial pitfalls. Unfortunately, many young Americans are not learning the right financial lessons. Research shows that 46 percent of teens don’t know how to create a budget and 55 percent would like to know more about managing money. Here are some … [Read more...] about Teaching Your Children About Money
Preparing Your Pets for a Future Without You
If you have a furry friend, you know your pet relies on you for every need. What would your pet do without you? Although pets are legally considered to be property, to those of us who own pets, they’re more like members of the family. And so, just as you make preparations to care for the human members of your family after your passing, you need to think about how to look after your pets as well. Here are some options that can help you ensure your pets are cared for if something happens to … [Read more...] about Preparing Your Pets for a Future Without You
