Personal bankruptcy is not a topic that is relevant to most of us—until it is. The number of people filing for bankruptcy over the last 20 years ranges from a low of 374,000 in 2022 to over 2,000,000 in 2005. The top reasons that cause people to declare bankruptcy...
No one deliberately sets out to make bad financial choices. We usually think we are doing the right thing at the time. Even so, all of us make money mistakes and have to deal with the consequences. When a bad financial choice crosses the line into something unethical...
KISS: “Keep It Simple, Stupid.” It’s a catchy phrase, but what does “simple” actually mean? Does it mean to make complex topics understandable, or to not make simple communications overly complex, or to not oversimplify complex topics? Tim Mauer, CFP, author of Simple...
I’ve received more emails and calls from clients on the failure of SVB Bank than I did the stock market crash in April of 2020. That tells me there is wide concern today about the stability of the economy and financial markets. When you listen to politicians and...
In writing last week about hidden “junk fees,” I ended with a recommendation. Before choosing a phone plan, booking a hotel stay, buying an airline ticket, or making many other types of financial commitments, ask, “What other fees or charges are there I need to know...
In his State of the Union address, President Biden announced his intent to “take on junk fees.” These are the hidden fees involved with many of the services we purchase. I have written previously about undisclosed fees related to investments (annuities, private REITS,...
