Why Starting Today Beats Starting Tomorrow (By a Lot) Let me tell you about two people. We'll call them Sarah and Mike. Sarah starts saving for retirement at 25. She puts away $200 a month for 10 years, then stops completely. Just stops. Never contributes another dime. Mike
Teaching Your Children Financial Habits That Actually Stick Let me ask you something. When was the last time you had a real conversation with your kids about money? Not the "money doesn't grow on trees" lecture you give them at Target when they ask for the
Understanding Your Retirement Income and How to Make It Last If you're approaching retirement or already enjoying it, there's probably one question that keeps you up at night: Will my money last? You're not alone. According to surveys, running out of money is the
How to Keep Your Cool and Make Smart Decisions During Market Volatility You wake up, check your phone, and there it is: the market's down 500 points. Your stomach drops. You open your investment account and see red numbers everywhere. Your first thought? "Should I sell everything
Why Every Family Needs a Plan (And What That Plan Should Include) Let me guess. When you hear "estate planning," you picture wealthy people in expensive suits arguing over who gets the summer house in the Hamptons. Yeah, that's not what we're talking about
A Straightforward Guide to Understanding Your Healthcare Options Medicare. Just the word makes people's eyes glaze over. There's Part A, Part B, Part C, Part D, Medigap, Medicare Advantage, open enrollment, and about a thousand other terms that make no sense. And here's the
The Decision That Could Cost You Thousands (Or Save You Thousands) You turn 62 and suddenly you can claim Social Security. The money's right there, waiting for you. Why wouldn't you take it? Well, here's why: claiming at 62 instead of waiting could cost
Employee Benefits That Actually Attract and Retain Great People Let's be honest. When you're running a small business, you're competing against companies with bigger budgets, fancier offices, and HR departments that actually have more than one person in them. But here's something
How to Build Wealth on a Regular Person's Budget Let me guess. You've thought about investing but figured you needed a pile of cash to get started. Maybe you've heard people throw around numbers like $10,000 or $25,000 as if that'
When “Diversification” Turns Into Financial Clutter Every year or two, I get a familiar call. “I’ve got another $50,000… maybe $100,000. Let’s open something new.” A new account. A new annuity. A new CD. On the surface, this sounds responsible. Prudent, even. Money is being saved.
Preparing for the Storm You Can See, and the Ones You Can’t Every winter, the forecast follows the same script. A storm is coming. Snow. Ice. Wind. Power outages. Someone on TV points at a colorful map and tells you to “prepare now.” Most people nod, scroll, and figure
Next up in our Iron Eagle Code series, Rule #1. The foundation of it all..... Rule Number 1 is where the whole Iron Eagle Code really starts to bite: Rule #1: No one will ever care more about your money than you do. Not your employer. Not the government. Not
I am introducing a series based on a set of rules we call the Iron Eagle Code. I am beginning the series with Rule #5, "The Future Belongs to Those Who Plan For It". Why start with #5 and not #1? It is simple, really. The path to
Yes, I know that we haven't even put on our Halloween costumes yet, but spending for the holidays starts earlier every year. Don't wait to make better financial decisions, because the best way to give yourself some cheer this holiday season may just be not having
Imagine you’re cruising down a road, thinking you’re heading toward a sunny resort (that’s early retirement), when the GPS suddenly flashes: “Turn around...you’re off-course.” That’s what confronting average retirement savings data often does, it jolts you. The recent data (via an MSN/Investopedia) about
When the Federal Reserve announces a rate cut, the ripple is felt everywhere. Borrowing costs drop, mortgages become more affordable, and the stock market often reacts with excitement. Yet behind the headlines lies a more complicated truth. A Fed rate cut has the power to shape inflation, move the markets,
Starting July 1, 2025, Virginia residents with Medicare Supplement (Medigap) coverage will have a new reason to celebrate their birthdays, an annual opportunity to shop around for the same Medigap coverage at potentially lower cost. This new consumer protection, known as the “Birthday Rule,” levels the playing field for Medicare
I have heard from several clients lately over concerns of Tariffs. Many are either scared or concerned about how their own lives can, or sometimes already are, being affected. It is easy to point out higher prices everywhere we turn. I wanted to share a story about a couple, their
For decades, financial media has painted a picture of retirees strolling off into the sunset with seven-figure nest eggs, sipping cocktails on a beach while their 401(k) quietly hums along in the background. It’s a compelling vision, but reality paints a much different portrait. The latest data from
Picture this: you’ve spent decades faithfully contributing to your 401(k). You finally cross that milestone, seven figures. One million dollars. It feels like victory. But before you pop the champagne, let’s pause for a reality check: how much of that million is actually yours? The answer may
On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law. Beyond the name, this legislation makes permanent some long-debated provisions, tweaks others, and adds brand-new opportunities for tax savings. For households, whether you’re raising a family, heading toward retirement, or already retired, this Act
Markets crash on Mondays. Inflation spikes on Thursdays. Politicians argue about Social Security every other Tuesday. If you’ve ever tried to plan retirement while watching the news, you know the feeling: it’s like building a sandcastle while the tide rushes in. Chaos isn’t an accident , it’s
Picture this. You’re grinding through a long week, Friday rolls around, and that paycheck hits. Bills, groceries, gas, it all disappears fast. But most people forget someone important when they’re splitting up dollars: Future You. Future You is the one who still wants a roof overhead, vacations that
Most folks I meet don’t have time to memorize Wall Street jargon, and frankly, that’s a blessing. You don’t need a finance degree to make smart decisions; you need clear, practical steps that actually work in real life. Think about it like tools in a toolbox. You