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It's never too early to start thinking about saving for college, and a 529 plan can help with that. A 529 plan is great for saving on taxes, but its lack of flexibility makes it less valuable to me. She's had a 529 plan since she was only a few weeks old. Your contributions can grow tax-free in a 529 plan. This is a fantastic benefit that can give families the ability to diversify the taxability of accounts for a 529 plan beneficiary in the future.

Persons: It's, —, She's, Roth, doesn't Organizations: Service

My client's pet insurance rose from $25 a month to $125 over a decade. That was the case for this client who asked us if they should keep their pet insurance policy. Get Pet Insurance Quotes Find affordable pet insurance policies with Petted. When it makes sense to drop pet insuranceOur client first got pet insurance coverage for their new puppy. For our client, they ultimately decided to keep their pet insurance coverage.

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I always tell my financial planning clients to keep an emergency fund — but I don't keep cash on hand. We recommend keeping that money in a highly liquid vehicle, like a high-yield savings account or money market account. Your priority for your emergency fund should be access and safety, not returns. I have a much more intricate understanding of market risk and the impact of market downturns. The rule I refuse to break: Save (at least) 25% of gross incomeI urge my financial planning clients to prioritize their savings and investments.

Persons: —, We've, It's, what's, doesn't Organizations: Service

We can't predict what the Fed will do or how that will impact mortgage rates. Yes, even as high interest rates make buying a home with a mortgage more expensive! On one hand, interest rates may drop so buying a home with a mortgage is more affordable. Or we could say there's still massive demand in the Boston market despite the jump in interest rates. Get the lowest mortgage rate you canPretty obvious advice if you want to get a mortgage now, right?

Persons: —, doesn't Organizations: Service, National, ARM Locations: Boston

As a financial planner, I have clients asking about investing in real estate on a regular basis. Real estate shouldn't be seen as passive income — it takes a lot of work and a lot of risk. But most people who are curious about investing in real estate have a lot of false assumptions and little knowledge or experience. Start Investing in Real Estate without Getting a Mortgage Fundrise is one of the best real estate investing apps for non-accredited investors looking to make long-term investments in real estate. But virtually no real estate investment is truly passive income.

Persons: shouldn't, — Organizations: Service Locations: Real

Our experts answer readers' investing questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess investing products). As a financial planner, I've witnessed plenty of big investment mistakes. In my opinion as a financial planner, you need to invest if you want to grow wealth. Avoiding investments altogetherThere's no shortage of investment mistakes you can make. Have a strategic way to determine how much cash you truly need on hand — then consider investing the rest.

Persons: I've, —, Get, they'll, Warren Buffett Organizations: Service, SEC, Invest

☆ How to Prepare Every Part of Your Life for a Recession
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Tanza Loudenback | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +13 min

But a recession brings other threats too, like the potential for major stock market swings that can derail financial goals. As soon as the line begins to tick upward again, the economy exits a recession and enters an expansion. Are we in a recession or is a recession coming? How to preparePreparing your finances for a recession isn’t all that different from practicing good money habits in your daily life. You’ll likely have to make some real-time adjustments to meet short-term goals while enduring a recession, McCoy says.

Persons: Loudenback, it’s, ”, Ross Hamilton, Raymond James, you’ve, Hamilton, aren’t, “ You’ve, Eric Roberge, ” Roberge, Megan McCoy, “, ’ ”, McCoy, You’ll, ” Hamilton, you’re, “ There’s, there’s, ” McCoy, Roberge, ‘ I’ve Organizations: Wall Street, National Bureau of Economic Research, Kansas State University Locations: U.S, Bethesda, Md, Boston, Hamilton

☆ The vicious cycle of homeowners insurance: It's increasingly expensive to protect homes in the disaster-prone areas that need it most
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Earlier this year, Allstate joined State Farm in no longer offering new home insurance in California over climate risk. Across the country, 83% of prospective homebuyers said climate risk factored into where they are shopping for homes, according to a recent Zillow study. Danny Collins of Hobe Sound, Florida, told Insider in July how the bank holding his mortgage raised his monthly rate by $1,000, citing increased flood insurance. Matheus told Insider. Have you moved or are you considering a move because of climate risk and extreme weather events?

Persons: Carolyn Kousky, Berkshire Hathaway, Vox, Dave Jones, they'll, Danny Collins, Collins, Bob Stephens, Stephens, Martha Flanagan, Jason Beury, Charles Matheus, Kelly Roberge, Matheus, Dan Latu Organizations: Service, The Washington Post, Environmental Defense Fund, Allstate, Berkshire, Nationwide, National Association of Insurance, . Erie Insurance Group, Washington Post, State Farm, Farmers Insurance, Insurance, Wall Street, Journal, Hobe, Marathon Locations: Florida, Kansas, New York, California, Louisiana, United States, Coral, Florida's, Hobe Sound, Arizona, Brooklyn , New York, Kansas City , Kansas, Utica , New York, dlatu@insider.com

As a financial planner, I have to be honest with you and say passive income is a bit of a myth. This is a realistic, achievable, and accessible way for most people to build passive income. Start a business (or invest in one)You can create passive income if you can build a business that operates without you. This path to passive income is one of the most narrowly available to a small group of people, though. But if your goal is passive income, earning royalties provides an avenue to achieving that for your future self.

Persons: it's, Read, doesn't Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon

As a financial planner, there's certain tough advice my clients never want to hear. Advice like, buy less house — and don't expect your home to be a good investment. As a financial advisor, I'm constantly giving people good advice they don't want. I know no one wants to hear this kind of money advice. No one wants to imagine a worst-case scenario, but if something actually went sideways in your financial life, you'll be glad you had multiple levels of safety net built into your overall plan.

Persons: I'm, it's, We'd, doesn't, Get, you'll, It's Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon

There's plenty of information available about how to reach financial independence and retire early. That's not the route I take with my financial planning clients who want to set a goal to retire early. When our clients want to retire early, we support that choice — and we want to build a realistic plan for doing so. It might not be all you hoped for, however, if you're trying to retire early just because you hate your job. If someone has values like Contribution, Community, and Meaningful Work — then early retirement might be a terrible goal!

Persons: That's, It's, Robinhood, — Organizations: Service, Robinhood Locations: Wall, Silicon

I'm a financial planner, and I remind clients to look at a long timespan and plan for the worst. A long-term financial plan that works accounts for inevitable shifts in goals, values, priorities, and circumstances. Look for ways to earn morePersonally, I've shifted from "retire as soon as possible" to a more balanced approach with my financial goals. My financial plan can accommodate this choice for two main reasons:First, I saved aggressively when I could for almost a decade. Remember, frugality will only get you so farNo matter what you want to do, you'll need money to afford your chosen lifestyle in the future.

Persons: I've, Read Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon

As a financial planner, my clients often ask how much cash they should have on hand in their bank accounts. I recommend keeping enough to cover your expenses, plus any cash you may need in the next five years. For cash you'll need in 10 years (but less than 20), I tell my clients to invest it — a savings account will lose value over time. How much cash you need on hand right nowThe first thing you need to account for is your normal, month-to-month living expenses and spending. The only extra cash you need sitting around for this need might be a small buffer in your checking account to guard against accidental overdrafts.

Persons: it's, shouldn't Organizations: Service, Vanguard, Fidelity Locations: Wall, Silicon

Interest rates are high right now, so we'll rent for the time being, which brings many advantages. Plus, putting more than 20% down may help lower your interest rate. I like to focus on what I can control within my financial plan. An adjustable-rate mortgage, by definition, leaves me with an interest rate that will change in a way that I can't control. Be open to renting while interest rates are highLike I said, we're currently selling our house.

Persons: We're, I've, we've, outsized, we're, … Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ The 5 U.S. metro areas with the highest single-family rents — 3 are in California
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Downtown Los Angeles. However, financial experts warn consumers about some of the unexpected expenses. "Probably the most overlooked hidden cost is when you are looking for the next job," said certified financial planner Michael Hansen, co-founder and managing partner of Frontier Wealth Strategies in Walnut Creek, California. What you might save in dollars, you may lose in connection, collaboration and community. Eric Roberge Founder of Beyond Your Hammock

Persons: Michael Hansen, Eric Roberge Organizations: Downtown, TheCrimsonRibbon, Getty, U.S Locations: Downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Long Beach , California, Anaheim , California, Diego, Carlsbad , California, Naples, Florida, Immokalee , Florida, Marco Island, Bridgeport , Connecticut, Stamford , Connecticut, Norwalk , Connecticut, Jose , California, Sunnyvale , California, Santa Clara , California, Rock , Arkansas, North, Conway , Arkansas, Montgomery , Alabama, Birmingham , Alabama, Hoover , Alabama, Louisville , Kentucky, Jefferson County , Kentucky, Indiana, Cleveland , Ohio, Elyria , Ohio, Walnut Creek , California

Learn about the best real estate investing apps »Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. Let's break down some of the myths around real estate as an investment that can mislead you — and in the process, show why real estate isn't a prerequisite for building assets. Real estate isn't always a good investment (or an investment at all)"Always" and "never" don't have a place in a savvy investor's vocabulary. You can invest in REITs, or real estate investment trusts. Start investing in realestate with a real estate investing platform »

Persons: We're, isn't Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, Boston

☆ People are fleeing Arizona's heat for upstate New York and Florida's flooding for North Carolina. Have you moved over climate concerns?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Nearly 40% of Americans moving say climate concerns have influenced their decision, said Redfin. Have you moved states over concerns about the climate crisis? We want to hear from you: Have you moved over concerns about the climate crisis? Tell us in this form how the climate crisis is affecting you and where you live. An estimated 30 million Americans moved between March 2021 and March 2022, according to a Brookings Institution analysis of the latest available US Census Bureau data.

How much you pay (or don't) in taxes has the potential to shift what's possible in your overall plan. When it comes to your taxes, making mistakes can mean losing money. Thankfully for my financial planning clients, I catch some common missteps before they are made — that's one of the benefits of working with a certified financial planner. Using tax software can be a great solution that saves money when your financial situation is very simple and straightforward. Using a CPA can help you avoid mistakes that would cost far more than the fee you pay to retain them.

In 2023, my family will deliberately be saving less money. We'll reinvest in our businessThe biggest way we're "spending more" in 2023 is by reinvesting in the financial planning firm that my wife and I run together. We're spending money on childcare for the first timeIn 2022, my wife was the lead parent to our infant daughter. The fact that we didn't have to pay additional money for childcare did help our budget last year. That includes having the wiggle room in our financial plan to make an adjustment like saving less, at least for this year.

☆ There’s still time to reduce your 2022 tax bill with these last-minute moves
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Getty ImagesThere's still time to reduce your 2022 tax bill or boost your refund, but the last chance for certain strategies is fast approaching, according to financial experts. And the deadline for many tax-slashing moves is Dec. 31, leaving limited time amid the busy holiday season. After reducing your 2022 investment gains, you can use additional losses to lower regular income by $3,000 and carry the remaining losses forward to future tax years. watch nowOf course, you'll want to know how the conversion affects your 2022 taxes because more adjusted gross income may trigger higher Medicare premiums, among other tax consequences. For 2022, the standard deduction is $12,950 for individuals and $25,900 for married couples filing together.

☆ Yellen sees her signature printed on US bills for the first time
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Betsy Klein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Yellen became the latest Treasury secretary to sign US currency and the first woman Treasury secretary to have her signature on a US banknote. It’s been tradition for more than a century that both the US treasurer and the Treasury secretary sign currency to make the bills legal tender. The newly printed bills feature the signatures of “Lynn Roberge Malerba” and “Janet L. Yellen,” both written in clear, legible script. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and U.S. Treasury Chief Lynn Malerba sign banknotes. Currency, Yellen said, “plays a critical role in our economy” but also “has a deeper social purpose.”“Currency is something we use and we touch every day.

My financial planning clients always want to now: How much do I really need to save every year? The more expensive your goals and the faster you want to achieve them, the higher your savings rate needs to be. If you're saving 10 to 15% of your income: This is the baseline many experts recommend for a savings rate. If you're saving 15 to 20% of your income: Saving at this level is likely where you start to see a little bit of flexibility in your future. If you're saving 20 to 25% of your income: You're on pace with the baseline my company recommends for our own financial planning clients.

☆ We moved from Arizona to upstate New York after droughts and wildfires scared us into meticulously researching the most climate-resilient spots in America
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Charles Matheus, 55, and Kelly Roberge, 54, lived in Prescott, Arizona, for over eight years. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Charles Matheus, a leadership consultant, and Kelly Roberge, who works in communications and graphic design. They were renting in Prescott, Arizona, when fears over the climate crisis prompted them to search for a new home. The spreadsheet that Matheus and Roberge used to evaluate and rank their relocation options. Courtesy of Charles Matheus and Kelly RobergeWe looked at Harrisburg and Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.

Let's break down some of the myths around real estate as an investment that can mislead you — and in the process, show why real estate isn't a prerequisite for building assets. Real estate isn't always a good investment (or an investment at all)"Always" and "never" don't have a place in a savvy investor's vocabulary. Insider's Featured Real Estate Investing Platforms FundriseYieldstreet Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. You don't have to purchase a property to invest in real estate, anywayNone of this is to say that buying real estate is a bad move or won't work out in your favor. By investing in an REIT, you invest in a company that professionally buys, sells, and manages real estate properties for profit.

Our experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here's how). Now, I spend $725 a month on lawn care, housecleaning, and meal kits, and I wish I'd done it sooner. They taught me that you don't spend money you don't have, a rule I took so seriously I never had a single cent of consumer debt to my name (not even student loans). Spending money this way has given me back a lot of mental space, energy, and hours in the day. This is where spending money looks more like an investment than a waste of funds.

Persons: —, I'd, who'd, I've, I'm, spender Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon

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