If you’re nearing retirement and are worrying about having enough money, there’s a huge mistake you should know about. This big mistake is taking Social Security benefits as soon as possible. Instead of signing up to receive Social Security retirement benefits at age 62, wait until you’re 70 (if you can afford it.) Why should…
Continue Reading
At Define Financial, we are big fans of tracking your spending. But it’s not because we’re nerds who love spreadsheets. (Although, that is true of your humble author.) We’re big fans of tracking your spending because we think that tracking your spending can have a profound effect on your life. When you track your spending,…
Continue Reading
Do you need disability insurance if you’re nearing retirement age? Like most financial planning questions, there is no single answer for every situation. Whether or not you need disability insurance near retirement depends on a few different factors, including: how much money you plan to save over the rest of your working career, the size…
Continue Reading
Recently, we were working with a client entering retirement. We were helping with her long-term financial plan and she had big (read: expensive) plans. For her golden years, she dreamed of a six-figure remodel on her current home — or maybe even purchasing another, larger property. The good news is that she can afford it. The…
Continue Reading
Remember that famous Jerry Seinfeld joke about public speaking? He references a study that said people are more fearful of speaking in front of a crowd than death. If true, it means the average person attending a funeral “would rather be in the casket than doing the eulogy.” This one: That’s me. I’m one…
Continue Reading
At the tail end of 2017, I signed up for my first only Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament. In an effort to be competitive, I set a goal: lose 10 lbs. (This is because you compete by weight class.) Losing 10 lbs meant a strict diet of meat and vegetables. Now, as ridiculous as a strict regimen of…
Continue Reading
Why is cybersecurity so important? The internet is fraught with scammers and rip-offs. And since our entire lives live online, it’s more important than ever to learn how to protect yourself. What You Will Learn Cybersecurity 101: Use Complex PasswordsUse Anti-Virus SoftwareKeep Your Software UpdatedEnable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) to Improve CybersecurityAlways Use a VPN over…
Continue Reading
The Investment Policy Statement (IPS) is a document that dictates how you invest your money. If you are working with a financial planner, the Investment Policy Statement (IPS) will also dictate how they invest your money for you. Here’s why creating this document is a good move: While your financial planner will make plenty of…
Continue Reading
