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The mere thought of “financial planning” can sometimes feel overwhelming or discouraging, but the truth is, if we start where we are, and take small steps, one at a time, dealing with our money becomes simple and […]

Financial stress rates in the U.S. are among the highest they’ve been during the last five years, according to the findings of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ 2016 Employee Financial Wellness Survey. More than half of res […]

If you’re thinking of refinancing your mortgage, but wondering what’s involved and how to negotiate the best deal as painlessly as possible, here’s what you need to know. Good news: The process is probably simpler […]

Not negotiating a fair salary at the beginning of your career is a mistake that is incredibly costly over time. Why? Because even a small bump in pay translates into bigger annual raises and possibly bigger […]

A SUM180 member recently asked us about long term care insurance. “Is it worth it? Couldn’t I just start saving in an IRA or Roth IRA account myself, and eventually use that for long term care?”

Here’s how I […]

Many studies have shown that women don’t negotiate as often as men.  According to NPR, for instance, men are four times more likely than women to ask for a salary raise. Women don’t think of asking; or if they […]

Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney, Ranking Member of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC) released a report outlining the potentially devastating long-term effects of the gender pay gap on women, their […]

SUM180 member Doreen McGettigan recently asked, “What type of life insurance (term or whole life) would you suggest for a self-employed, married 58-year-old woman. Healthy except for high blood pressure, c […]

In the Atlantic article, The Secret Shame of Middle Class Americans, author Neal Gabler described a survey by the Federal Reserve Board that revealed one remarkable fact:
When asked how they would pay for a $400 […]

Your 50s are a tremendously important decade for your financial health. Retirement is 10-20 years away, so the pressure is on to prepare, but you still have plenty of time to grow your savings. You’re also in y […]

I’ve written and spoken about this issue before, but it bears repeating because this truly is a national crisis: The single worst money mistake you can make is to fail to maintain a cash cushion for emergencies. A […]

I recently posted 3 things to do first to protect your money after being laid off. Some of that advice was subsequently featured on GoBankingRates.com in an article that includes even more valuable advice for […]

Today, Americans carry $2 trillion in consumer debt and 78% of us live paycheck to paycheck. It’s a deeply stressful situation for individuals, families, employers, and communities nationwide. And then once a y […]