The Money Blog

What Pre-Retirees Need to Know About Government Spending Cuts If you're in your 50s and planning your retirement, there's a good chance you've heard the recent buzz about major federal spending cuts. One of the biggest questions on everyone’s mind is: Could my Social Security benefits be affecte...

When planning for retirement, most people focus on the big picture: 401(k)s, Social Security, and how much they need to retire comfortably. But what often flies under the radar is how they manage their short-term savings—the “safe money” that’s meant to cover near-term expenses. If you’re keepin...

If you're frustrated with earning just 3% on your certificates of deposit while banks profit handsomely from your money, it's time to explore alternatives that could significantly boost your retirement savings without unnecessary risk. The Bank Profit Problem Banks are for-profit institutions, ...

Maximize Your Tax Savings in 2025: Key Moves for Retirees It is 2025 and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) is about to expire. For retirees, this pivotal year marks a critical time to review your tax strategy and make informed moves to protect your wealth. The TCJA introduced favorable tax provis...

For decades, traditional retirement strategies often relied on steady interest rates. The concept was simple: save a substantial amount, invest in bank CDs or similar low-risk options, and live off the consistent interest income. But in today’s economic climate, marked by historically low interes...

The Secure 2.0 Act was finally passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden. This long-awaited update to the first SECURE Act signed by President Trump in 2019 brings significant changes to retirement planning. This law will impact millions of Americans and will change many people's ...

2022 was a big year for tax savers. Tax loss harvesting was huge, and sequence risk reared its ugly head. Congress in the last minute, passed a massive piece of legislation that included many updates for retirees. We'll talk more about those next week. For now, let's talk about some last-minute ...

As we near the end of the year, taxes should be on your mind…and drops in the stock and bond markets often present great opportunities. One particular strategy capitalizes on this year’s market antics: the Roth Conversion. A Roth Conversion is a straightforward process whereby an investor shift...

Nothing will test a relationship quite like a home renovation project. As any couple who has gone through this milestone can tell you, “It ain’t no walk in the park.” Once you start opening walls, things never go as planned… hard and fast “requirements” you had go out the window. That vanity you...

As an avid Leibel on FIRE reader, I am sure you’ve picked up on the fact that I LOVE taxes. Or more specifically, I love minimizing taxes for retirees. In fact, I believe that unnecessary taxation and market losses are the two greatest threats to today's retirees. I also believe that the tax-co...