Investing is kind of like sex: everyone’s doing it, but no one’s talking about the basics. Instead, it’s the sensational aspects that get all the airplay. The result is an essential topic that’s often misunderstood and over-sensationalized. Here we’ll look beyond the facade to tackle the nitty-gritty essentials of investing and provide some practical perspective on key questions.
Your Year-End Financial Checklist
Tackling Income Disparity within Couples
Nearly 30% of married women in the U.S. now earn more than their husbands. This reversal of the traditional norm of male breadwinners can lead to conflict, depression, and downright awkwardness, as both The New York Times and The Huffington Post examined this month in worthwhile articles. But the reality is any substantial income disparity within couples — regardless of gender — invites friction. Here’s how couples with an income disparity can develop a more unified front for their finances:
Financial Independence or Financial Freedom: Which do you need?
How do your savings stack up?
Is saving important? Absolutely. Can a personal finance guru tell you exactly how much you need to save? Not a chance. I’ve never liked the use of formulas or bright lines as a measure of financial success. The best anyone can offer without knowing the specifics of your situation are guiding principles and habits, such as living below your means and planning for financial emergencies.
Re-Imagining Retirement
The financial burden of retirement is growing. Today’s Americans are more likely to live longer, have aging parents to care for in retirement, face steep medical bills, and spend more on travel to visit far-flung family members. But recent research challenges our understanding of retirement as a long-awaited reprieve from work.