Ah, to be in your 20s. Brunches are frequent, hangovers are less debilitating, and all the big, serious life stuff seems so far away. So top off your bottomless mimosa, my friend, because you’ve got absolutely nothing to worry about when it comes to your finances … or do you? Well, I’ve got good news and bad news. The bad news is you always need to think about your finances, even when you’re just … [Read more...] about 8 Money Mistakes to Avoid in Your 20s
Life and Money
The Role of Career Planning in Financial Planning
When I work with financial planning clients, I tend to ask a lot of questions that don’t seem to be directly related to money at all. Where do you want to live? Do you have any upcoming travel plans? Do you like your job? Here’s the thing: most decisions you make in your life are connected to your financial situation in some way. Travel can be expensive, and the city you move to affects your cost … [Read more...] about The Role of Career Planning in Financial Planning
Retirement Planning if You’re Self-Employed or a Small Business Owner
Many people refer to retirement savings plans as “401(k)s” even if they’re not, because so many financial advice articles out there focus heavily on 401(k)s.The reality is that there are a variety of ways to save for retirement, and the options you choose can depend on what kind of company you work for, or if you work for yourself. And since 401(k) plans can be complicated and expensive for … [Read more...] about Retirement Planning if You’re Self-Employed or a Small Business Owner
How to Create Your Own Benefits Package When You’re Self-Employed
When you’re a full-time employee for a company, you might take for granted all the benefits you get in addition to your actual salary. It turns out that of your total compensation package, 30% goes toward benefits like health insurance, disability insurance, life insurance, 401(k) matches, paid vacation and sick leave, and more. But nearly a third of U.S. workers are self-employed or work for a … [Read more...] about How to Create Your Own Benefits Package When You’re Self-Employed
How Do I Protect Myself After the Equifax Breach?
After news of the Equifax security breach broke, many of my clients have asked me what they should do to protect their personal information. I wanted to share my recommendations with all of you. What Happened? Equifax is one of three major credit bureaus, which means they compile and use a lot of consumer data to help determine creditworthiness. You credit score is based on information in your … [Read more...] about How Do I Protect Myself After the Equifax Breach?
How Ditching Your Car Could Save You Thousands
For those of us who grew up in the ‘burbs, the idea of living without a car seems as foreign as driving on the opposite side of the road. How will you haul home groceries? How will you get to work? For many Millennials, especially now that we’re buying suburban homes and having kids (or buying homes because of our dogs), a car will make your life a lot easier. But if you live in a relatively … [Read more...] about How Ditching Your Car Could Save You Thousands