Last fall, recession fears were running high. It was hard to escape the conversation; predictions for the next big crash flew all over the media while clients, friends, acquaintances, and others constantly asked the team at my financial planning firm if a recession was really about to happen. Our answer to that question never changed,
It’s easy to underestimate what you need to set aside in an emergency fund. A dual-income household with reliable cash flow should keep at least three months’ worth of living expenses in a savings account or short-term certificates of deposit. But if you are the sole provider, have an irregular income or face steep child-care
January 2019 is a month that will go down in Chicago history. Record-breaking low temperatures struck the Midwest, and even Chicagoans—known for their tough resistance to severe winters—were not immune to the frigid temps. It felt like the entire city and surrounding suburbs shut down, bracing ourselves for windchills in the -50s. Chicago gave in
There’s nothing more satisfying than paying off a loan and closing a debt chapter of your life. At the same time, sometimes paying off debt requires a strategic approach, which can make it difficult for you to determine in what order you should tackle your debts. With that in mind, here’s what I know about
Countless workers pay into Social Security and hope to collect benefits once it’s their turn to retire. But unfortunately, most Americans are relatively clueless when it comes to understanding the program’s ins and outs. With that in mind, here are three things the average person needs to know about Social Security today. 1. You can
Kids often view money as having one function only: to buy stuff, right now. Give a young child $5 and he’ll likely spend it all, often looking for things that cost $5. Parents play critical roles in teaching children financial fundamentals, including the importance of saving. Here are 10 ways to teach children to make