Finance

This article is for those individuals who are single and have never been married. Most articles written about Social Security claiming strategies address the analysis for a married couple. This is simply because planning for married couples revolves around these 3 criteria: Maximize the high earner Social Security benefit. Coordinate…

Every great financial advisor has heard some version of the following from a client or prospective client: “I wish I’d met you sooner!” The apparent assumption is that if they had met on an earlier date, they’d have become a client sooner, they’d have better positioned themselves financially, and they’d…

Mortgage payments are up from a year ago but haven’t quite crossed the threshold many mortgage experts recommend that homeowners stick to. It’s often recommended homeowners don’t spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs. Currently, the average monthly mortgage payment for single-family homes typically requires 24.2% of…

Retirement waits for no one; it’s coming fast for the youngest Baby Boomers and oldest Gen-Xers. The stark reality is many people are not ready, and studies show more than half of us wish we’d saved more and had a solid retirement plan. With retirement looming, financial stress is a…

A small group of Americans who took out cheaper but riskier mortgages several years ago are about to see their monthly payments skyrocket. Since 2019, more than 1.7 million homes have been bought using adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), which initially offer a lower, more affordable interest rate than their fixed-rate…

Between half and three-quarters of older adults are diagnosed with pre-diabetes. But what does it mean? And what should you do if you get such a diagnosis? Increasingly, many experts say older patients should not overreact. A diagnosis of pre-Type 2 diabetes often produces anxiety and confusion in seniors. It…

© 2025 Finances Smart. All Rights Reserved.