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For many, owning a home is part of the American dream and one that the United States government actively encourages through a variety of subsidies that are designed to give more Americans the keys to their own home. Homeownership is thought to create stronger communities, build family wealth and foster economic development. Creating incentives to expand homeownership has been a staple of U.S.

On November 2nd, following months of buzz but few details, the House of Representatives introduced the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act”, the opening salvo in what is sure to be a contentious process of turning complex legislation into law before Congress’s self-imposed year-end deadline.

Summary of the Bill

It’s that time of year again. If you’re one of the roughly 45 million Americans enrolled in Medicare, get ready for some year-end shopping. Medicare open enrollment for Medicare Supplement and Advantage plans and Medicare prescription drug plans runs from October 15th until December 7th. Open enrollment presents a great opportunity for seniors to manage their health care costs for the coming year. On offer is the opportunity to switch from one Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement or Part D prescription drug plan to another, switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan (also known as Part C), or enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan. Any changes or new enrollment will become effective on January 1, 2018.

If you’re a fan of political dramas on televisions, you’ll know that the turbulent world of politics has an affect on the global financial markets. But what about in real life? How much does art - if you can call shows like Scandal, Veep, and House of Cards art - imitate life, and vice versa?

If you’re a fan of political dramas on televisions, you’ll know that the turbulent world of politics has an affect on the global financial markets. But what about in real life? How much does art - if you can call shows like Scandal, Veep, and House of Cards art - imitate life, and vice versa?

Anyone who has ever rented a car knows that cringing feeling that comes up when the rental agent asks whether you want to purchase rental car insurance. It’s made worse when the agent goes into a pitch about how most people’s auto insurance won’t cover all of the costs incurred should the car be damaged or stolen.

Social Security benefits provide the foundation that most Americans will rely on in retirement, and decisions related to the claiming of benefits can have a profound impact on retirement income and overall quality of life. Despite the heavy reliance on Social Security- it provides over 90% of the retirement income for one in three recipients-less than 5% of seniors avail themselves to strategies designed to maximize their benefits. 

Effective claiming strategies may be quite simple in certain cases, and rather complex in others. A basic understanding of Social Security benefits and how they are calculated can help you determine whether you can go it alone, or if expert guidance is called for. This article will explore some common, but distinct, scenarios and the claiming considerations associated with each.

The importance of Social Security cannot be overstated. The program provides approximately 60% of America’s seniors with half of their monthly retirement income, and for a third of recipients it comprises over 90% of their income.

Young investors are often told to embrace risk in their portfolios. The ups and downs of the markets are an ally in the pursuit of long-term growth, and losses only matter when they’re realized. Rarely is this common and often correct advice applied to investors that are nearing retirement. But indeed it should. Not because sixty is the new forty, but because investment allocation decisions should be based on when the invested funds will be needed, not on how old you happen to be.

Retirement planning involves a delicate balance between adequately planning for a long retirement and maximizing the enjoyment of the money you’ve worked hard to accumulate. In most cases, a retirement that lasts 35 years will require far more financial resources than will one that lasts 20 or 25 years.