Posts by Kelly Jennings
When Is The Best Time To Collect Social Security Benefits?
Over 69 million people in the United States receive social security benefits — so needless to say, it’s a pretty important topic. Understand that the government is simply giving you back all the money they deducted from your paychecks (“FICA”) while you were working. But with the many nuances and complexities of the social security…
Read MoreThe SECURE Act 2.0
On December 29, 2022, the SECURE Act 2.0 was signed into law by Congress. As you may recall, the original SECURE Act (2019) made several changes that impacted retirees: The goal of the SECURE Act was initially to encourage retirement savings and make it easier for businesses to support their employees with these types of…
Read MoreThe Important Lessons Gratitude Can Teach You About Money
When you think of gratitude and money, you probably don’t imagine the two go hand in hand, but the connection is undeniable. Gratitude has the power to boost serotonin and prompt the brain to produce dopamine, the chemical that makes you feel “good.” So, the more you practice gratitude, the better you’ll feel. It’s not…
Read MoreThe Fed Hiked Interest Rates: What This Change Means For You & Your Wallet
You’ve seen the headlines: “The Federal Reserve hiked interest rates to historic levels.” They raised the target federal fund rate by 0.75%, which marked the most significant increase in 28 years. While this news might sound bad, don’t panic! Here is what this interest rate means for you, your wallet, and the economy. Why Did…
Read More4 Smart Ways To Invest In Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency has quickly become a mainstream alternative investment strategy. It’s a digital form of currency that can be exchanged online for goods and services (depending on the company)—essentially, it’s virtual money. If you’ve gotten this far in your research, you probably know that cryptocurrency is a highly volatile market that isn’t for the faint of…
Read MoreWhat Is Behavioral Finance? And How It Impacts Your Money Everyday
When it comes to money, it’s not just about the decisions you make—why you make them plays an equally critical role in developing healthy financial habits that last a lifetime. There’s a science to your “why,” and that’s what we like to call “behavioral finance.” What is behavioral finance, and why is it important? Let’s…
Read MoreFinding Peace In Times of Turmoil
We wanted to take a moment to address recent current events. By now, you’ve likely seen that Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine, and the world capital markets didn’t react kindly. And amid these unsettling geopolitical tensions, an important life lesson comes glaringly into focus: actions have consequences. The weight and gravity of those consequences vary dramatically,…
Read MoreWhat is A Family Mission Statement, and Why You Need One
Building a family is one of the most monumental journeys we have in our lifetime. The bond within a family is vital, and one way to help strengthen that bond is by creating a family mission statement. Crafting a family mission statement can be a meaningful way for your family to come together and agree…
Read MoreWhat You Need To Know About RMDs for 2021
After a brief hiatus in 2020, required minimum distributions (RMDs) made their re-appearance for 2021. The Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act waived RMDs in 2020, meaning that seniors and retirees were not required to take money out of IRAs and workplace retirement plans. However, what most impacted RMD rules was the establishment…
Read MoreShould You Loan Money To Family and Friends?
By Kelly J. Jennings, CFP® We’ve all been in a vexing financial situation—the dog gets into the pantry, your kid unexpectedly falls and hurts themselves, or the air conditioning and water heater break on the same day. Sometimes it can be challenging to come up with the money on the spot, so we turn to…
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