No matter when you retire, you want to know what role Social Security will play in your financial future. Will it go away? How much can you expect? When should you start benefits? When Social Security started in 1935, it was created to provide support for workers (and their families) who could no longer work […]
Retirement Planning
What is a 403(b) Plan and How do You Use it?
You’ve almost surely heard of a 401(k) plan, but what in the world is a 403(b) plan? Simply, a 403(b) plan is a tax-advantaged retirement account for employees of schools, churches, and nonprofits. In order to offer a 403(b), a non-profit has to be tax-exempt under the 501(c)3 code section of the IRS. A 403(b) […]
What Is Your Retirement Number?
Retirement can be a daunting concept, especially if you have thoughts like “Will I ever be able to retire?” or “ I have no idea how much I need in retirement” floating around in your head. Truth is, these are common concerns for many people who are considering their future retirements. Even if retirement is […]
Why Gen X Women are anxious about their finances [+ How to cultivate financial power]
It’s 2020; old age is looming closer, accompanied by the threat of a lackluster retirement. Of course, you’re anxious about your financial future. But you’re too busy taking care of everyone else to do anything about it. According to this study by Employee Benefit Research Institute, members of Generation X feel less confident about retirement […]
AgeUp Review: Helping You Fill Future Financial Gaps
This post is sponsored by Haven Life. There’s a good chance you have family or friends who have lived into their 90’s. Or maybe even a few to age 100 or beyond! The Social Security Administration reports approximately one in three 65-year olds today will live to be at least 90. In 2020, there are […]
Should I Rollover My 401(k) or 403(b) After Changing Jobs?
Millennials are job switchers. Gallup polls have found that 21% of millennials report changing jobs within the past year. Outside of learning the new company org chart, job switching presents another challenge: what to do with your old 401(k) or 403(b). Currently, many millennials do nothing. As a result, a 2017 study found that 59% […]
Retirement 101: Kick your retirement planning off right [Book Review]
Retirement. Whether you’re 5 years or 35 years away from trading your time for money there’s a lot to consider. How will you spend your days in retirement? Where will you live? And how you will pay for it all? If you’ve not yet considered how much money your retirement years will cost you, or […]
457(b) Plan: What is it and who qualifies for one?
There’s a good chance you’ve heard a lot of talk about retirement savings plans. In particular, most people are familiar with 401(k) plans. But if you work in the public sector, you likely won’t be able to get your hands on a 401(k). Instead, your employer probably offers a 403(b) option. Those retirement plans are […]
Health Savings Accounts: Pros, Cons and Contribution Limits of HSAs In 2021
During health plan or open enrollment time, your place of employment probably looks like many others. There are lots of “water cooler” conversations about different plans, past experiences, deductibles, and copays. Health savings accounts or HSAs are drawing your attention, and you want to learn more. Let’s say last year you spent $8,000 on the […]
Saving for Retirement While Helping Kids & Parents
If you’ve asked yourself how you’ll save for retirement while also financially helping your kids and parents, you’re not alone. A few years ago, the Pew Research Center reported that almost half of all adults in their 40’s or 50’s were either raising a child or supporting a grown child, while also helping a parent […]
Is a Backdoor Roth IRA Right for Me?
When it comes to retirement savings accounts, there are several options available. But your choices for individual retirement accounts can seem limited if you’re a high-income earner. This is especially true when you look at the Roth IRA. A Roth IRA (Individual Retirement Account) is an excellent way to save for retirement. Though you pay […]
Is Investing a Lot Of Money at Once the Best Idea? [or Spread it Out?]
It’s the week your big bonus from work hits your bank account. Or you receive a sizeable cash gift or inheritance from a relative. Perhaps you have proceeds from the sale of your home or cash from a rollover retirement account. Or you’ve just been saving money for a few years and now understand why […]
Healthcare Costs in Retirement – Avoid These Big Mistakes
Many of us don’t think about retirement or saving for it until it’s too late. When we do save, we plan for money to cover rent, utilities, groceries, and insurance. However, many people overlook saving for healthcare costs in retirement. This is by far one of the biggest mistakes you can make during your time […]
What Savings Goals Should You Focus on First?
You’ve been working hard to cut expenses and quit living paycheck to paycheck. You negotiated a raise or landed a higher-paying job. Your side gig is creating a buffer in your budget. No matter the reason, it’s time to put the extra money in your bank account to work. But now you’ve got questions on […]
Work Optional: Retire Sooner to Live Your Best Life [Book Review]
If you’ve spent any time reading about personal finance lately, you’ve likely heard about the “FIRE” movement. FIRE means Financial Independence – Retire Early. Suze Orman got headlines by announcing she hated the FIRE movement (but she changed her position a few weeks later.) While Clark Howard “FIRE’d” before it ever became a popular thing […]
Prepare for Retirement to Enjoy Being a Lifetime Fan
This is a sponsored post for Prudential. Recently, Vicki (one of the co-founders of Women Who Money) enjoyed a beautiful fall afternoon partnering with Prudential at a “lifetime fans” event outside of the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The event promoted the importance of protecting lifetime income to help pay for your essential expenses […]
401(k) Loans: What are their pros and cons?
If you contribute to a 401(k) plan through your employer, it could be one of your most substantial assets besides your home. And if money is tight and your savings account balance is running low, you might wonder how you can tap the funds in your 401(k) for a loan. But you suspect there are […]
What Is an IRA and How Does it Work?
Saving for retirement is critically important and should be a part of everyone’s financial picture. But what can you do if you are already maxing out your employer-sponsored retirement plan? Left behind an old 401(k) when you changed jobs? Or just don’t have access to one? It’s simple. You can start investing by opening an […]
Protect Your Retirement Day with Prudential – A Women Who Money Review
This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/Prudential. Recently, Amy and Vicki (the co-founders of Women Who Money) participated in Protect Your Retirement Day in New York City as a partner of Prudential. The event was sponsored by the Alliance for Lifetime Income, a nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization educating people on the importance of, and the ability […]
What are Those Target Date Things in My Retirement Plan?
If your employer offers a retirement savings plan, chances are one of your investment options is a target-date fund. They may be grouped under a heading such as “Do the Investing for Me”, “Balanced”, or “Asset Allocation”. You’ll recognize them because they have a year in their name, such as 2045. You may have some […]
I Love Part-Time Work so How do I Plan for Retirement?
Work. Even though we know we have to work until we are financially independent, many of us have a love-hate relationship with it. We love the money we earn, but we aren’t always thrilled with our jobs or how much of our lives revolve around work. The description of a “traditional” career has changed over […]
Personal Capital Review: Best Free Financial Tools
Women Who Money wants to help women (and men) at all levels take control of their finances! Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to improve your financial health. Personal Capital is high on our list of must-have tools for managing your finances. This Personal Capital review is by […]
How Do I Use My 401(k) to Build Wealth?
Whether you’ve just started a new job or you’ve been with the same company for years, it’s critical for you to understand your retirement plan benefits. Knowing the fundamentals of your 401k savings plan will enable you to make wise choices about saving and investing for your retirement. This is an incredibly important issue for […]
Spousal IRA: What is it and can I benefit from one?
Stay at home parents and spouses who have little-earned income can fall behind when it comes to saving for retirement. But, for those who are married and file a joint tax return, a spousal IRA may be well worth your investment consideration. Although there are a number of requirements (mentioned below) the spousal IRA can […]
Retirement Plans for Self-Employed: What to choose?
You know you should be stashing money away on a regular basis, but anyone who’s working for themselves knows earnings can vary drastically month to month. Also, you’re not sure what the best retirement plans for self-employed individuals are. So, what’s a busy entrepreneur with an inconsistent income and no time to research retirement plans […]
