cjcagle As I discussed in my last article, there are two major areas of concern when it comes to protecting your identity and preventing theft and fraud. The first is your paper assets such as financial statements and the digital assets that you manage and control on your personal devices (computers, tablets, smartphones, etc.). The second … Read more
I often write about using various online and computer-based tools and services to help simplify and manage your personal and financial life. These can very helpful and convenient, but they also carry the risk of being compromised in some way. Even mishandling physical documents, such as account statements you receive in the mail, can lead … Read more
In my last article on annuities, I discussed the different types of annuities and their use inside retirement accounts. As you could probably tell, I’m not a huge fan of variable or indexed annuities, especially when used for retirement saving and investing inside an IRA. My biggest concerns have to do with their complexity and high costs relative … Read more
I was inspired to write this article by something that a young man shared with me in a men’s books study meeting early this morning. He reminded me that I had been one of his teachers in children’s ministry in our church many years ago. He admitted that he wasn’t a model student, but now … Read more
As a financial coach, I often work with folks who are in the accumulation/growth phase of planning for retirement (i.e., 5 to 10 years or more away). Sometimes I come across someone who has either: 1) received a recommendation from their stock broker or insurance salesperson to purchase a fixed-rate, indexed, or variable annuity product … Read more
Generosity is part of this blog’s tagline: “helping you to save diligently, invest wisely, give generously, and live abundantly.” Generosity is of great importance during all stages of life, but according to the data, we Christians aren’t nearly as generous with our money as you might think. I recently looked through a six-week study book … Read more
In previous articles, I discussed Medicare and other health insurance options in retirement. One of the big myths about Medicare is that it pays for everything. Well, it doesn’t – nor does Obamacare or most other plans. In almost all cases, you will be responsible for premiums, co-pays, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket expenses, depending on … Read more
My wife and I are both closing in on Medicare eligibility at age 65. So, I thought it was time to take a hard look at it so that we can make the right decisions at the right time. In this article, I will share what I’ve learned so far. Our situation is similar to many … Read more
Your medical insurance choices will depend greatly on whether you are young and a long way from retirement, an “early” retiree and a few years away from Medicare eligibility, or 65 or older and eligible for Medicare. In this article, I discuss the medical insurance options that younger people and “early retirees” may consider. In … Read more
