Family and Relationships

Your spouse, children, aging parents, and friends can all have a profound impact on your overall financial wellness in both good and bad ways.

From inheritances (what you might get and what you might leave behind), funding college, boomerang kids (adult children who return home or otherwise need financial assistance), and figuring out how to care for parents who need medical assistance to simply planning retirement with your spouse, there is a lot of value and problems that friends and family can pose.

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revisiting estate plans

Revisiting Your Estate Plan: Ensuring Your Wishes are Fulfilled

Revisit your estate values and plans annually to make sure everything is up to date and to ensure your long term wishes are fulfilled.

January 25, 2024
marry or live together

Shack Up and Save? What Are the Financial Advantages and Disadvantages to Marriage Later in Life

More and more couples over the ages of 60 are favoring cohabitation over marriage.  In fact, cohabitation among people over the age of 60 more than quadrupled between 2000 and 2020. What is Driving the Trend Toward Cohabitation? There are quite a few factors driving the trend toward cohabitation for people over 50 or 60.…

January 15, 2024
sudden wealth event

A Guide to Managing Sudden Wealth: Key Financial Considerations

Inheriting money? Won the lottery? Here is what you need to know for long-term financial security after experiencing a sudden wealth event. 

December 20, 2023
financial gift

Holiday Gift Guide: Great Financial Wellness and Investment Gifts for Everyone in the Family (Even the Kids)

This gift guide is focused on helping you give long term financial success and happiness to everyone on your list, young and old.

December 6, 2023
family money

Family and Money: 12 Tips for Discussing Finances and Retirement with Your Loved Ones

The holidays can be an important time to discuss finances with your family. Get tips for how to have a productive talk with those you love!

November 15, 2023
is college worth the cost

Economic Viewpoint: Is College Still Worth the Cost of Tuition?

Are college costs worth it? A degree promises higher earnings, but not always more lifetime wealth.

September 14, 2023
when does happiness peak

You Probably Haven’t Hit Peak Happiness Yet: Find Out When It Will Happen!

One of the happiest ages in life occurs in what many would consider “old age.” Find out which two years will be (or were) your happiest ever.

August 14, 2023
divorce after 50

Divorce After 50: Don’t Let “Gray Divorce” Ruin Your Retirement

Here are 16 tips to help you stay financially stable following a divorce after 50. Get the information you need.

June 6, 2023
529 savings plan

Is a 529 Plan Right for You? Tax and Estate Benefits Are Amplified for Certain Income Brackets

A 529 plan can be a tax advantaged way to fund education. However, the real benefits of these accounts are greater for some.

June 1, 2023

The Retirement Calculator for Married Couples (or Any Couple)

Retirement calculators designed for couples have special features to make results reliable and useful. Find out what you need.

April 7, 2023
survive retirement with your spouse

Survive Retirement with Your Spouse: 9 Topics to Tackle Now for a Happily Ever After

Cover these 9 topics to survive retirement with your spouse. Communication is key to any good partnership, especially when it comes to money.

February 9, 2023
new books best life

5 New Books with Surprising and Useful Ideas for Living Your Best Life

5 new books offer compelling arguments and strong evidence for surprising habits that will result in a healthier and happier life.

January 12, 2023
Giving money to family

Giving Money to Family? Are You Handing Out More or Less than Average?

Giving money to family can be rewarding, but at what cost? Explore 6 important facts about supporting family members.

December 14, 2022
financial values

How and Why to Pass on Financial Values to Your Heirs

The best gift to leave heirs isn’t a lot of money. What’s really valuable is to pass along strong financial values and knowledge. Learn how.

September 21, 2022

Cross Class Friendships: Why Having Friends with Money is a Good Thing for Long Term Wealth and Security

New research on cross class friendships is another data point on why we are better off when we mix across wealth, health, and age.

August 4, 2022

10 Reasons Why Talking About Money Can Give You a Better Future

Talking about money with friends, family, and peers can improve your financial outcomes. You’ll make better decisions.

August 3, 2022

9 Tips to Help Your Grandchildren Financially and Otherwise (I Bonds Are a Hot Topic)

You may want to help your children or grandchildren financially. If you have the money, here are 9 tips for passing it on. Learn more…

May 12, 2022
average inheritance

Average Inheritance: How Much Are Retirees Leaving to Heirs?

This article explores average inheritance numbers. Find out if you can you afford retirement and a financial legacy and explore tips regarding inheritance.

March 17, 2022

What Happens When You Inherit Money? 7 Ways to Prepare

Inheritance is only one aspect of what can be a very emotional time period. It can be useful to know what happens when you inherit money or assets. Below are 7 ways to prepare. 1. Don’t Expect It The old adage, “don’t count your chickens before they hatch,” rings true when it comes to inheritances.…

February 17, 2022
social security strategies

Social Security Strategies: 15 Easy Tips for Making the Best Decisions

Choosing the right Social Security strategies can be a $100,000 (or more) question. Find out how to make the most of this benefit with 16 easy tips.

June 30, 2021

The Retirement Calculator for Married Couples

Retirement planning is complicated. Retirement planning when you are married – or part of any kind of committed couple – is doubly complicated. If you are married, you need to use a retirement calculator with inputs designed for couples. When you are part of a couple, there are double the financial considerations. Furthermore, your values…

May 1, 2021
empty nest

Empty Nest? Why It’s a Great Time to Fill Up Your Retirement Nest Egg!

As you prepare for children to fly the coop, it is worthwhile to consider what type of empty nest parent you might be. Are you: Super proud that they are setting out on their own? Still supporting them financially? Relieved and happy to have more time on your own? Sad and lonely that your children…

April 29, 2021

6 Meaningful Ways to Leave a Financial Legacy to Your Heirs

When approaching retirement, it’s common for people to start thinking about legacy planning: how they’ll be remembered and what they’ll leave behind. In most cases, leaving a legacy for children, grandchildren, or charities – and other causes people are passionate about –  takes careful planning and the advice of a financial planner. Read on for…

July 7, 2020

Boomers Have a Retirement Problem: Boomerang Kids

Baby boomers who are still financially supporting their adult children (a group that is sometimes referred to as “boomerang kids”) are increasingly finding that doing so is keeping them from reaching retirement, a study shows. In fact, only 21% of baby boomers who support their adult children are retired–compared with 52% of baby boomer households…

July 3, 2020

NewRetirement Planner

Take financial wellness into your own hands and do it yourself retirement planning: easy, comprehensive, reliable.