David Lerner Associates: How Interest Rate Hikes Affect Your Financial Well-Being
For the first time in nearly a decade, the Federal Reserve announced an interest rate increase - from zero percent to .25 percent immediately with more increases to come in 2016. That quarter percent might seem insignificant, but it is going to impact your finances.
David Lerner Associates: Confidence Plays a Part in the Financial Gender Gap
Women in the U.S. lag behind men in three main areas of their finances: earnings, investments, and savings. A recent Fidelity study identified a major factor that contributes to this issue - women lack confidence when it comes to handling their finances. Just 28 percent of respondents said they felt confident when it comes to picking investments without help, and 37 percent felt confident about handling retirement planning on their own.
David Lerner Associates: 5 Ways to Simplify Your Finances in 2016
Better health and fitness and an improved financial situation are on most Americans minds at this time of the year. Simplifying your finances not only improves your situation, but it can also save time and relieve stress. It makes your goals easier to accomplish.
Rethink Your Retirement Strategies
One important area of your financial well-being you should be thinking about in January is retirement. The good news is that Americans saved more in 2015 - 5.1% up from 4.6% in 2013. The bad news is that less of this money went to retirement funds.
David Lerner Associates: Financial Confidence Lower for Women and Seniors
Consumer sentiment fell slightly in December, according to the latest University of Florida consumer survey. The greatest decline was among women and people age 60 or older. The sentiment number is based on five components, and four of the five were down for women. Seniors perception of their person financial situation took a 13.6 point dive.
David Lerner Associates: Long Term Care Awareness
Long-Term Care and Alzheimer is Disease. Both topics deserve our attention and are serious issues in need to greater awareness. Nearly 70 percent of Americans 65 and older need long-term care at some point, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
David Lerner Associates: Five Financial Threats That Could Derail Your Future
We all make plans for our future and try to cover all the bases. As much as we should like to believe that everything will go according to plan, we know that there are likely to be bumps and setbacks along the way. These five events are probably the most serious threats to a successful financial future.
Baby Boomers Working in Retirement Need Skills
For many Baby Boomers in the U.S., working during retirement has become a necessary part of the plan. This could mean finding a new job or moving from full-time to part-time in the job they have now. A new study shows that the number of available jobs in the middle-skill level (41% of all jobs) is decreasing, while low-skill and high-skill jobs have increased. This means that Baby Boomers expecting to work in retirement might need to rethink their plan.