When it comes to saving for your retirement, every penny counts. Regardless if you are just starting to save or in the home stretch to retiring, making the wrong financial decisions could have a big impact on your retirement goals. With social security no longer being a sustainable retirement option, it’s important to make sure that you set yourself up for the future. Continue reading “Saving for Retirement? Here are some pitfalls to avoid”
If you are looking for cash to invest in real estate, pay down high-interest loans, complete a home improvement project, or pay off an emergency medical bill, you might be wondering which the better option is: borrowing from your 401k or your home equity via a loan or line of credit. The answer depends on how you plan to use the money, how much money you need, and how long it will take you to pay it back? Continue reading “I need cash – should I borrow from my 401K or my home’s equity?”
High Deductible Health Plans have become very popular over the past few years as insurance premiums have continued to rise. High deductible plans allow you to use an H.S.A. or Health Savings Account to manage your upfront expenses. Each year, the IRS sets the contribution limit for funds that you are allowed to put into your H.S.A. bank account. If you don’t pay attention to the contribution limits each year, you put yourself at risk of paying extra taxes to the IRS – let’s be honest, no one wants to do that! Continue reading “H.S.A Contribution limits and what you need to know”
Over the past 10 years, you may not have noticed but there has been a quiet revolution transforming the 401(k) landscape. As a result, you’re probably saving more consistently and investing in a smarter mix of stocks and bonds without even knowing it. Employers have also been increasingly automating financial moves that you might otherwise drag your feet on – it’s not exactly a fun Saturday night in! Be honest, do you really remember to boost your contribution percentage every year? Continue reading “401Ks – Potential ways to maximize your dollars for retirement”
The trend toward employers offering high-deductible health plans (HDHP) — and no other option — seems here to stay, like it or not. HDHP coverage is growing at a 15% pace, annually. In 2005, such plans covered 1 million people. Now, they cover more than 15 million, including 10% of those in Connecticut who are under 65 and have private insurance.
Some consumers fear a HDHP because they worry about being on the hook for that deductible, should they need significant medical care. The silver lining, though, is the ability to pair an HDHP with a tax-advantaged Health Savings Account (HSA).
Continue reading “Health Savings Accounts: Get the details and grab the tax benefits”
