Before you dive into the house hunt, having a good handle on your budget is crucial — specifically, how much you can afford to pay monthly on your mortgage payment. There are several ways to gauge this, but one of the most popular strategies is called the “28/36 rule.” Here’s how the 28/36 rule can … Read more
Stocks fell on Monday, with the woes of the three major indexes continuing in the final week of the year as an otherwise strong 2024 comes to a close. The benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) slipped more than 1% while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) fell roughly 1.2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) fell about … Read more
Hey Everyone! Have you seen the movie Wicked? We watched it at home last week. It was so good! We saw Wicked on stage about 16 years ago. I loved it then and wasn’t sure if the movie adaptation would be good. Fortunately, the movie version was magnificent. You can tell everyone involved put their … Read more
Home » Podcasts » Our Retirement Planning Process and Philosophy Part 4: EDU #2420 May 15, 2024 Jim and Chris continue their walk through of their philosophy and approach to retirement planning while sharing details on elements like the Minimum Dignity Floor, Secure Income, See-Through Portfolios, Asset Positioning and the ever-popular Fun Number. Podcast: Play … Read more
In recent years, Reforms Affect Homeowners in the UK have been bracing for higher inheritance tax (IHT) bills due to proposed changes aimed at reshaping the financial landscape for estates. On November 21, 2024, new reforms were introduced to address IHT and its impact on estates. These changes include freezing tax-free thresholds and incorporating pensions … Read more
Home » Podcasts » Social Security, Roth Withdrawals, and IRAs: Q&A #2426 June 29, 2024 Jim and Chris sit down to discuss listeners questions relating to Social Security, Roth withdrawals, and IRAs. (13:00) Georgette has been getting mixed messages about her survivor and spousal benefit options. (26:30) A couple reevaluates when to begin taking Social … Read more
Home » Podcasts » Is There a Simpler Approach to Retirement Planning?: EDU #2427 July 3, 2024 Jim and Chris say goodbye to their Annuity Awareness Month and pick up where they left off discussing their process. In this episode they respond to an email from a listener who feels they might be overcomplicating it. … Read more