July 1, 2019 - August 31, 2019

The world of finance and investments is notorious for its extensive use of jargon. With a goal of enhancing financial literacy and making the finance world more transparent, we are rolling out a “monthly jargon” post that will focus on debunking the financial terms that are continuously tossed around sans explanation.

This summer, I was thrilled to celebrate my mom’s next step in life’s journey – Retirement. While many people might be yearning for the day they can enter the “work optional” lifestyle, officially taking that step can be very overwhelming and anxiety inducing.

Here are some questions to ask yourself as you begin to transition into Retirement:

There are a lot of champions for credit card rewards programs - if you’re going to be spending the money anyway, you should take advantage of receiving free stuff in return, right? In theory, the idea of a rewards card is very appealing, and can often feel like a small win whenever you redeem your points, miles, cash, or whatever it may be.

For those who are able to use a credit card and pay it off in full every month without fail, then sure, go for it – beat the credit card companies at their own game. However, studies have shown the majority of Americans are not following this process, making the perks that come with a rewards card fail to outweigh the negative effects of carrying a balance.

We're coming into the busiest time of year, and naturally your schedule may be filling up with family gatherings, delicious food, and year-end adventures. 

Before you get consumed by holiday parties and egg nog, take a moment and ask yourself these three questions to make sure you are ringing in the New Year knowing your retirement plan is in good order and up to date.

Retirement may be a dream you've been working towards your entire career. Your last day of work might be an exciting occasion where you will now be able to see how all your hard work and savings comes to fruition moving forward in this next phase of life. For others, retirement does not necessarily conjure the same images of leisure, travel and relaxation after a long career. Many people feel anxiety around transitioning into retirement: They might not have enough saved, don't have a plan, or simply are unsure of what life will bring when they aren't working. 

Chances are you have been wooed by a credit card company at some point in your life. Whether through promises of amazing rewards, low-interest rates, or payment forgiveness, credit card companies will do almost anything to get your business. Plus, credit cards have become an everyday necessity for many people, as illustrated by the fact that the average U.S. household held over $15,000 in credit card debt in 2015.

One of the key pillars to financial wellness is building an ample emergency fund. We know

it: how easy it is to succumb to everyday temptations instead of putting more money away for a rainy day. We have some simple steps which you can implement today to help you build a cushion for when you need

Are you on the other side of school? Are you one of the 70% of students who graduated with an average of $28,400 in student loan debt? Have no fear – there are plenty of strategies you can put into effect to help get those loans paid off.