Eight years ago, Judy Freedman’s husband died just before her 50th birthday. Within the next year, her two children moved out of the house for university and work. With so many big changes, Freedman decided it was time to take a good look at her life as a corporate communications director — and think about
One of the best decisions you can make as a 20-something is to start saving money early and often. Because thanks to compound interest, you’ll end up with more money than you put away when you’re ready to retire. But many people wonder, is there a benchmark for how much I should be saving? According
Everyone knows it is a good idea to reduce your debt load. With less debt, you save money on interest charges and reduce your risk of financial catastrophe if your income is disrupted and you are unable to make payments. If you don’t have enough to make debt payments, you can fund investments and build
Is peer pressure a bad thing? Most parents of middle schoolers would surely say yes. But comparing yourself with others may provide a helpful nudge when it comes to some areas of your adult life, such as saving for retirement or staying healthy. And yet, like those fraught relationships in middle school, it’s complicated. Behavioral
As a general rule, true creativity is lauded across the globe. From the iconic Burning Man Festival, which is held annually in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada, to ever-diversifying International Women’s Day, there are recurring events that celebrate the innate abilities and the creative potential that exists within us all. Conversely, creativity is typically viewed
I opened 529 college-savings accounts for both of my grandsons. One of them just won a four-year scholarship to college. If I don’t use the money for college expenses, do I have to pay a penalty? Generally, if you withdraw money from a 529 for anything other than eligible college expenses, the earnings portion of