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1 week ago | 
moneytalksnews.com | Kathleen Coxwell
Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on Boldin. Applying for Social Security is very straightforward. In fact, applying is perhaps too easy for such an important decision. The more important and complicated question: When to apply? Let’s get started with the easy part. To apply for Social Security, just follow these five steps. Step 1: Make sure you want to applyMake sure you make the right decision about when to apply. This is a decision that impacts the rest of your life.
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2 weeks ago | 
moneytalksnews.com | Kathleen Coxwell
PaeGAG / Shutterstock.comEditor's Note: This story originally appeared on Boldin. There is a lot of buzz around “financial wellness.” But unlike many fads, financial wellness is definitely a worthwhile pursuit. Overall, financial wellness is about achieving financial stability and satisfaction, both in the short and long term. And isn’t that what we all want?
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2 weeks ago | 
boldin.com | Kathleen Coxwell
When most people think about retirement planning, they think about savings goals, investment returns, or net worth. But according to Nobel laureate Robert C. Merton, that’s the wrong place to start.
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2 weeks ago | 
boldin.com | Kathleen Coxwell
At Boldin, we believe in planning. We believe in identifying your dreams, running the numbers, stress-testing your future, and adjusting when life throws you curveballs. In other words: thoughtful planning. But for some people, too much planning becomes a trap. That trap is can be called analysis paralysis. Boldin advocates for time-tested financial best practices when it comes to planning. And, these best practices for planning the rest of your life involve a lot of analysis.
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2 weeks ago | 
boldin.com | Kathleen Coxwell
When you think about your financial future, you probably picture a number: the sum of your savings, investments, and home equity, minus your debts. That’s your net worth. But here’s the problem: that number only tells part of the story. Net worth is a widely used financial metric, but it’s also a limited one. It undercounts the assets and guarantees that provide true long-term financial stability.
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2 weeks ago | 
boldin.com | Kathleen Coxwell
Early retirement is a dream for many Americans, but one that few are sure they’ll be able to reach. In fact, findings from the Boston College Center for Retirement Research have found that the average retirement age has actually risen to 65.7 for college-educated men and 62.8 for college-educated women (while remaining at around 62 for high school graduates).
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3 weeks ago | 
boldin.com | Kathleen Coxwell
Having adequate emergency savings is the basic foundation of financial wellness for anyone at any age. In fact, emergency savings should be your first priority when it comes to taking control of your money. Be it a flood, fire, health event, job loss, a downturn in the economy, or anything else, emergency savings can help you get through any tough spot without going into debt. Emergency savings is money that is easily accessible and set aside to be used for emergencies or unexpected expenses.
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3 weeks ago | 
boldin.com | Kathleen Coxwell
Want to retire early, live well, and feel proud of the path you’re on? Start by getting to know your future self. It’s not as weird as it sounds—and it’s one of the most powerful ways to make smarter decisions today. Because when you can clearly picture the life you want, it gets a lot easier to build it. Cultivating a friendship with a version of who you will be in the future helps you gain a sense of direction, motivation, and accountability.
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3 weeks ago | 
moneytalksnews.com | Kathleen Coxwell
Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on Boldin. There are thousands and thousands of well-worn financial suggestions — bits of conventional advice that people rattle off here and there. And a lot of these adages provide great guidance given the right set of circumstances. However, real financial wisdom is a little less common. Here are some financial suggestions that are better than the conventional advice you probably already have rattling around in your head. 1.
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3 weeks ago | 
moneytalksnews.com | Kathleen Coxwell
Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on Boldin. It isn’t too late! You can start retirement savings at 50 (or 55 — or even later) and still retire comfortably by age 62. I know. Most people assume you need to start saving in your 20s or 30s to have any chance at a secure retirement. While early saving is certainly ideal, it’s not the only path. In fact, your 50s can be one of the most powerful decades to build wealth, if you take the right steps.
